| Attack Attack! | |
|---|---|
Attack Attack! performing in 2010. From left to right: John Holgado, Caleb Shomo, Andrew Wetzel and Sean Mackowski. |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Westerville, Ohio |
| Genres | Metalcore, electronicore |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | Rise |
| Associated acts | For All We Know, Of Mice & Men, CLASS, Lakeland, The March Ahead |
| Website | www.attackattackoh.com |
| Members | |
| Andrew Wetzel Andrew Whiting John Holgado Caleb Shomo |
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| Past members | |
| Johnny Franck Austin Carlile Nick Barham Nick White Ricky Lortz |
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Attack Attack! is an American metalcore band from Westerville, Ohio, formed in 2005. Attack Attack!'s first release, an independent EP titled If Guns Are Outlawed, Can We Use Swords?, was released in 2008, which lead to the signing of the band to Rise Records the same year. They then released their two full-length albums, Someday Came Suddenly and a self-titled album both through Rise, with a third album entitled, This Means War also upcoming through the label releasing on January 17, 2012
Although some of the group's songs contain Christian-based lyrics, not all members of Attack Attack! are Christian, and do not consider themselves a Christian band.[1]
Contents |
Attack Attack! was founded during 2005 by members Austin Carlile, Ricky Lortz, Andrew Whiting, Nick White, and Andrew Wetzel. Several months later, Ricky Lortz announced his departure and was soon replaced by Johnny Franck as the new vocalist/rhythm guitarist at the time. Later, Nick White also announced his departure from the group and John Holgado was added on bass and in 2008, Caleb Shomo joined the band on keyboard. In early 2008, they self-released their debut EP titled If Guns Are Outlawed, Can We Use Swords?. Later they signed to Rise Records in June 2008 and released their debut album, Someday Came Suddenly, on the label late that year.[2] Upon the release of Someday Came Suddenly, it peaked at #25 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart and #193 on the Billboard 200,[3] with sales of more than 3,600 in its first week despite its mediocre to overwhelmingly negative reviews.[4]
Later, halfway through a tour supporting Maylene and the Sons of Disaster,[5] vocalist Austin Carlile was fired by the group due to personal differences and health issues. Carlile was replaced by Nick Barham, former vocalist of For All We Know. In 2009 for Fearless Records' eighth Punk Goes... album, Punk Goes Pop 2, Attack Attack! covered Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" with Austin Carlile performing the lead vocals, before his departure from the band. Attack Attack! then toured with Escape the Fate, William Control, Black Tide and Burn Halo early in 2009.[6] Attack Attack! was included on Warped Tour 2009 and did signings for the non-profit organization Music Saves Lives where they met with fans who gained special access to the band by donating blood.[7]
Attack Attack! released a music video for their highly criticized song "Stick Stickly", and made its premiere on MTV2's Headbangers Ball. Two music videos were created, with one of them being produced by a company named DecembersEdge. The band decided to go with the other video featured on their Myspace profile. The "Stick Stickly" video has led to a number of criticisms, including lengthy pieces by Buddyhead and the British newspaper The Guardian.[8][9] The band also has a "live" video for the song "Dr. Shavargo Pt. 3".[10]
On October 19, 2009, lead vocalist Nick Barham announced his departure from Attack Attack! just two days short of their headliner tour. He stated in his blog on MySpace that "It was just time for change," and that there was no conflict between him and the other band members.[11] The band then made the decision of Caleb Shomo to be moved as the band's primary vocalist but still remaining at his place as the keyboardist as well.[12]
Near the end of 2009, Attack Attack! toured with I Set My Friends On Fire, Miss May I, Our Last Night, and The Color Morale as part of the "Shred Til You're Dead" tour. Attack Attack! started playing "Sexual Man Chocolate", which was the first song leaked from their self-titled album.
Attack Attack! headlined the 2010 Artery Across the Nation Tour with support from Asking Alexandria, I See Stars, Breathe Carolina and Bury Tomorrow in early 2010. The group performed three songs off their self-titled album live during the tour before its release. The songs performed were "Sexual Man Chocolate", "AC-130", and "A For Andrew".[13] The self-titled album was released on June 8, 2010. The working title for it was intended to be "Shazam!", but was changed due to copyright issues.
The group performed on the Altec Lansing Stage during Warped Tour 2010 for the entire tour. They headlined the This Is a Family Tour in November of 2010.[14]
On November 10, 2010 Johnny Franck announced he had departed from the band to focus on his relationship with God. He has started a new project called The March Ahead.[15][16] With this news also came a clip of a new song featuring Caleb Shomo doing both clean, and unclean vocals.[17] Sean Mackowski of My Ticket Home is now a touring member of the band, singing the clean parts of songs from the first two albums and playing guitar. The music video for "Smokahontas" was released on January 21, 2011 and was directed by Thunder Down Country films.[18] The music video featured Sean Mackowski of My Ticket Home and Cody Anderson, the former unclean vocalist of In Fear and Faith.[19] Attack Attack! performed on the main stage at the 2011 Vans Warped Tour.
The band has announced that they are set to re-issue their self-titled album on July 19, 2011 with four new songs, two acoustic songs, and two remixes. A new track entitled "Last Breath" was released on June 7, 2011, to promote the album's re-issue. It is the first song by the band to feature Caleb Shomo on both clean and screamed vocals, and was produced by John Feldmann.
On November 14, 2011 it was announced that the band's third full-length, This Means War would be released on January 17, 2012. The entire album was produced by Caleb Shomo at his home studio.[20] Along with this news, they also posted dates for the "This Means War Tour" with supporting acts from The Ghost Inside, Sleeping with Sirens, Chunk! No Captain Chunk, and Dream On, Dreamer. More news and the album artwork was released in the Hot Topic website "News." [21] On December 13, 2011, they released a new song from the album entitled "The Motivation".
Attack Attack! have been known to perform the metalcore[22] and post-hardcore[8] genres combined with electronica influences.[23] This combination usually features distinct traits into Attack Attack!'s music which include (but are not limited to) techno-influenced breakdowns and keyboard solos.
| Year | Title | Label | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 200 | US Indie | US Heat | |||
| 2008 | Someday Came Suddenly | Rise | 193 | 25 | 9 |
| 2010 | Attack Attack! | 26 | 1 | - | |
| 2012 | This Means War | - | - | - | |
| Song title | Release date | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Stick Stickly" | June 4, 2009 | Someday Came Suddenly |
| "Dr. Shavargo Pt. 3" | August 25, 2009 | |
| "The People's Elbow" | September 9, 2009 | |
| "Smokahontas" | January 11, 2011 | Attack Attack! |
| "Last Breath" | June 27, 2011 | Attack Attack! (deluxe edition re-issue) |
| "The Motivation" | December 12, 2011 | This Means War |
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