Attack! Attack! – Self Titled
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Lostprophets, via Fallout Boy…
…and not bad.
The opener, ‘Honesty’, would sit pretty on any FOB album, sharing similarities in structure, lyrics, energy and even the vocal style (the faux-American accent grating a tiny bit, upon discovering the bands South Wales roots, but no matter…). This comparison could be seen as negative, but as FOB are one of the biggest bands in the world right now, it’s not half bad. There is also an obvious (I’d say) influence from fellow Welsh rockers Lostprophets, especially Liberation Transmission era, and other such bands.
Sometimes, sharing a sound with such big names can be the death of an upcoming band. But thanks to some catchy-as-hell melodies and a handful of mighty impressive standout tracks, Attack! Attack! manage to side-step that particular trap with ease, developing their own memorable personality.
Early highlight ‘This Is A Test’ is a strong example of this; high-energy, singalong chorus and genuinely exciting to hear. ‘From Now On’ slows the tempo some, but retains the same focus on the chorus line as earlier tracks, and is a nice change of pace that stops the albums sound becoming stale.
If ‘From Now On’ allowed your heart rate to drop, ‘Say It To Me’ drags it right back up again. The energy infused into each track carries the album across any potential low points, covering up the slightly predictable moments and keeping you engaged. ‘Home Again’ brings the FOB comparison slamming back to the fore, this time with less of an impact than ‘Honesty’, but not done badly by any means. It’s a pity, because the few preceding tracks had started to develop a more individual sound for A!A!.
The final two slices on offer here are the best on the album, highlighting a talent for penning strong tunes with a distinctive personality of their own. If the whole album carried this quality throughout, this review would be much more positive. As it is, it’s not perfect, but it showcases a band with talent, heart and much promise for the future.
To sum up Attack! Attack!, I’d say they were a very confident, impressive band who are still getting to know their sound but know how to play to their strengths. It’s not terribly original, but it’s eminently likeable, energetic and more than worthy of your attention. It’s a schizophrenic album at times, with some songs seeming content to borrow heavily from others, and some fighting to leave an original imprint on the listener. Luckily, it’s these tracks that’ll leave the biggest impression on you, and ‘This Is A Test’, ‘Lost For Words’ and ‘Time Is Up’ are impressive and more than justify the bands huge myspace following.
Rating: 
Strong album, but could be improved. Ones to watch.
