Attack!Attack! - Attack! Attack! Album Review

Attack! Attack!

Photo: Marianne Harris

Album Review

Attack! Attack! Appear to have all the makings of a major band in the future. The band has already toured with such prestigious acts as Lostprophets, Funeral For a Friend and The Blackout, as well as headlining Leeds & Readings festivals BBC introducing stage.

Their success is unsurprising, with their debut album proving a mix of infectious pop-punk with elements of rock chucked in for good measure. Tracks such as Honesty sounds like a splice between Lostprophets and Fall Out Boy, loaded with the addictive lyrics yet has enough musically to please rock fans too. Similar things can be said for This Is a Test, which wouldn't sound out of place within mainstream punk music. Opening with a bass riff reminiscent of Nirvana, it switches styles and genres throughout the song keeping listeners on their toes. As with the majority of the album, it proves an easy listen and sooner or later you find yourself singing along to it.

Lights Out is one of the more addictive numbers from the thirty two minute CD, likely to be a future single or at the very least a fan favourite for the future. Final song Time Is Up features a fine piece of guitar work, with the riffs leaving more of an imprint on the song than the lyrics.

Attack! Attack! Have made a debut album which surpasses all of its current pop-punk rivals. It carries the same enthusiasm throughout that you'd expect from You Me at Six and the same addictive songs as Kids In Glass Houses. The offering of more complex songs into the mix makes the band stand out; their varied riffs being refreshing a genre that hasn't produced anything outstanding since Blink 182. Still, it's not without its fault. The variation on offer isn't great enough to make the album a classic; it lacks a slower or acoustic number that propels a band into greatness. Might be a tad critical, but it's what separates the mediocre from the great. Attack! Attack! Are likely to take the U.K by storm on their upcoming tour, and with an album like this, there's no reason why they shouldn't.

Tom Crowther