Album Review

Attack Attack!  - This Means WarAttack Attack! - This Means War

Back in the summer I had the horrible task or reviewing the self titled second album by Attack Attack! And by horrible I mean the album was completely shocking so here I am with the task of reviewing the third Attack Attack! Studio album ‘This Means War’ but surprisingly this time around the band have gone back to the drawing board and figured out the good from the bad from their sound and have created quite a tasty third album.

‘This Means War’ is a concept album about war and the emotions it has on everyone involved and those fighting anything and everything and it sees Attack Attack! Adapt a more mature sound that is easily going to please their hardcore fans and also please some of the doubters from the past few years.

The album opens with ‘The Revolution’ and from the start Caleb comes in with some fierce hard-hitting vocals whilst Andrew Whiting knocks out some extremely chunky riffs whilst the rest of the band gel together with a mad flurry of synths, big pulsing drums beats and one hell of a melodic chorus.

‘The Betrayal’ kicks off in a similar hard hitting way as the opening track of the album did but it is Andrew Wetzel who takes centre stage with his outstanding drum beats which come at a million miles per hour sounding like he is fighting his own war as the song progresses it gets extremely infectious during the minute mark with Caleb singing in such a clear and passionate way before going back to his more well known loud and raw vocals.

Each and every song on the album starts with ‘The’, such as ‘The Hopeless’, ‘The Reality’, ‘The Abduction’ and so on and which helps the band keep the concept of the album flowing in a nice way whilst being quite creative.

As the album progresses it does get a tad repetitive due to the fact that there are ten tracks all written and executed in the same kind of way running at 3-4minutes apiece with heavy and melodic moments coming and going throughout but saying that there is still a track which stands out the most on the album and that is ‘The Wretched’ thanks to its melodic ways and technical instrumental work crisscrossing throughout.

This is the first Attack Attack! Album since Johnny Franck left the band which has gave Caleb Shomo time to shine by taking on both clean and raw vocal duties and he has simple nailed it as ‘This Means War’ is the perfect Attack Attack! Which could quite easily make their future look that little bit brighter as in my eyes it is a massive turnaround from their last album.

4/5

Review by Trigger

 Band Members

Andrew Wetzel
Andrew Whiting
John Holgado
Caleb Shomo
 Track Listing
1. The Revolution
2. The Betrayal
3. The Hopeless
4. The Reality
5. The Abduction
6. The Motivation
7. The Wretched
8. The Family
9. The Confrontation
10. The Eradication
 Band Related Links
Attack Attack! MySpace
 Review Score Code
- Top Cheese
- Brilliant
- Pretty damn good
- Ok I guess
- What Was That?