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. Upon the release of Someday Came Suddenly, it peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart and number 193 on the Billboard 200, with sales of more than 3,600 in its first week despite its mediocre to overwhelmingly negative reviews.
Later, halfway through a tour supporting Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, 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[/label’] 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. 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.
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. 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.
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. With this news also came a clip of a new song featuring Caleb Shomo doing both clean, and unclean vocals. Sean Mackowski of My Ticket Home was 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. The music video featured Sean Mackowski of My Ticket Home and Cody Anderson, the former unclean vocalist of In Fear and Faith. Attack Attack! performed on the main stage at the 2011 Vans Warped Tour.
The band re-issued 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. 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." On December 13, 2011, they premiered a song from the album entitled “The Motivation”. 30 seconds of the whole track list were released on Amazon.com and pre-orders were also opened in many stores. On January 12, 2012, the band debuted the music video for the first single off the album, “The Wretched”.
The band recently announced their departure from Rise Records, simultaneous with an announcement that they have completed ten songs, produced by John Feldmann, for another album. The band stated that they "don’t have another record label or anything lined up and [are] probably not planning on going to another one." The band went on the This World Is Ours Tour with Escape The Fate and The Word Alive, but had to reschedule the South American This World Is Ours Tour as their drummer Andrew Wetzel was suffering from pneumonia. By the end of 2012 Attack Attack! released a DVD where they talk about Warped Tour and the real reason why Austin left the band in 2008.
The band split in 2013 and several members are now in the group Nativ. Caleb is now the lead singer in the group Beartooth
In 2021 Attack Attack! got back together and dropped Kawaii Cowboys.
In the fall of 2021, Attack Attack released an EP called "Long Time, No Sea".
In spring 2023, Attack Attack! released the single and EP titled "Dark Waves".
Kickin' Wing Animal Doctor
Attack Attack! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fun since spring break '96,
That's right I said it, let's do this, oh yeah.
I'm rockin' I'm rollin, I'm ready to go,
I'm up on the stage I'm singing the notes.
Are you ready to get lost tonight,
And lose all control?
When in doubt, when in doubt,
And you can be what
You found on my head,
I'll tape this up and tear it down,
You'll look so wonderful dead.
I'll tape this up and bring you down,
This is not a test.
So sad to see the way that you look at him,
I bet you're so vain you like looking thin.
He sees right through you.
He sees right through you.
Come on, tell me the truth, tell me the time.
This is the life, this is the way,
That you want me to be.
This is a lie, this is a strike,
And you don't get three.
I've taken all this time to
Show to you my lines,
To read you my rhymes,
You'll never memorize,
Please don't forget me.
Now you have taught me
How to live by grace,
And I will do this until my dying day.
How could I ever fall away from you?
You taught me how to live like Christ,
And how to show my face in the worst of times,
And all I can say is thank you.
Take it, here I owe you, all my affection.
Take it, here I owe you, all my affection.
The lyrics to Attack Attack!'s song Kickin' Wing Animal Doctor seem to be a mix of different ideas and themes. The first section talks about having fun and losing control, implying a desire for excitement and spontaneity. The line "When in doubt, he will save you" suggests a reliance on someone or something to get through difficult situations. The following lyrics are a bit more aggressive, with references to violence and death. "You'll look so wonderful dead" is particularly unsettling, and the line "He sees right through you" hints at disapproval or a desire to expose someone's flaws.
The tone shifts again towards the end of the song, with a verse about gratitude and spiritual growth. The lines "You taught me how to live like Christ, and how to show my face in the worst of times" suggest a deep appreciation for someone who has had a positive impact on the singer's life. The final repetition of "Take it, here I owe you, all my affection" seems to emphasize this sentiment, as if the singer is expressing their indebtedness and willingness to give back.
Overall, the lyrics of Kickin' Wing Animal Doctor are somewhat disjointed and difficult to parse, but they seem to touch on themes of rebellion, violence, spirituality, and gratitude.
Line by Line Meaning
We haven't had this much
Fun since spring break '96,
We are having so much fun right now that it's comparable to the legendary spring break of 1996.
That's right I said it, let's do this, oh yeah.
I said what I said, and let's continue to have fun.
I'm rockin' I'm rollin, I'm ready to go,
I'm up on the stage I'm singing the notes.
I am excited and energized, performing on stage and singing the lyrics.
Are you ready to get lost tonight,
And lose all control?
Are you ready to have an unforgettable night, where you let yourself go and lose all inhibitions?
When in doubt, when in doubt,
He will save you.
In moments of uncertainty, seek help from someone who can offer salvation.
And you can be what
You found on my head,
I'll tape this up and tear it down,
You'll look so wonderful dead.
You can have the hat I'm wearing, but I'll take it back and destroy it, making you look like an amazing corpse.
I'll tape this up and bring you down,
This is not a test.
I will fix something temporarily to then destroy it again, and this is not just a test of my abilities.
So sad to see the way that you look at him,
I bet you're so vain you like looking thin.
It's disappointing to see the way you look at him, and I bet you're so selfish that you only care about looking thin.
He sees right through you.
He can see your true intentions and character, which you can't hide.
Come on, tell me the truth, tell me the time.
Please be honest with me and tell me what's really going on, what time is it?
This is the life, this is the way,
That you want me to be.
This is the type of lifestyle and behavior you want me to have, according to your standards.
This is a lie, this is a strike,
And you don't get three.
This is false and unacceptable behavior, and you only have one strike left before consequences are taken.
I've taken all this time to
Show to you my lines,
To read you my rhymes,
You'll never memorize,
Please don't forget me.
I've put effort into writing and presenting these lyrics to you, but you won't remember them, so please don't forget me.
Now you have taught me
How to live by grace,
And I will do this until my dying day.
You taught me to live with forgiveness and mercy, and I will continue to do so until I die.
How could I ever fall away from you?
How could I ever distance myself from someone who has taught me so much?
You taught me how to live like Christ,
And how to show my face in the worst of times,
And all I can say is thank you.
You showed me how to live a life like Christ, and how to be strong in challenging times, and all I can say is thank you.
Take it, here I owe you, all my affection.
Here, take all of my affection, since I owe it to you.
Take it, here I owe you, all my affection.
Here, take all of my affection, since I owe it to you.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CARLILE, FRANCK, HOLGADO, SHOMO, WETZEL, WHITING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
dannywankenobi
most underrated song they have.
DLRS Nate
this song could have been on OFM&M self titled first release no doubt.
it has that westbound down southern feel to it. Heaviest track on SomedayCS!!
Distant Night
Best album in the genre
Dylan Simon
the part from 1:20 to 1:47 is absoultely amazing
Kandikidacid
that part is the whole reason i listen to this song
julian monico
i miss the old attack attack :(
Meowmeowmeow%-%
Fuckin' amazing... what an album!
I Eat Badgers
I remember them playing this at mingo park in central Ohio before the record label! Those were the best times.
Chasin'Capsaicin
I Eat Badgers man that would be super cool I'm from ohio too!
coldlettersofficial
listening to Attack Attack!'s old stuff wakes you up, if you're tired, man ^^