American metalcore band, Attack Attack! was formed in Westerville, Ohio in 2007. The band was initially named “Ambiance” in 2005 before it was later changed to “Attack Attack!”.
The quartet of Johnny Franck, Andrew Whiting, Nick White, and Andrew Wetzel met Austin Carlile while touring and playing in high school bands and invited him to join Attack Attack! Caleb Shomo was recruited into the band as a Keyboardist and the band got signed by Rise records in 2008.
Over the years, the band has witnessed several lineup changes. However, the current lineup constitutes; Andrew Wetzel, Andrew Whiting, Cameron Perry, Chris Parketny, and Ryland Raus.
Attack Attack! went on hiatus in 2013 after some members left the band. The band converged again in 2020 with old members Wetzel and Whiting and the new members that joined. In the same year, they released one of their top singles “All My Life”.
When Attack Attack! first came together, they were notable for producing songs with religious themes, most of which looked like Christian songs. This caught the attention of listeners and raised questions about the religious status of the band. The issue has been a source of debate on various crowdsourcing platforms. While some listeners feel that the band is “Christian” others have strongly disagreed, each with compelling reasons. If you are also wondering if Attack Attack! is a Christian band, then you are in the right place. This article will provide answers that will clear your doubts.
Is Attack Attack! A Religious Band?
Although we discovered some religious messages in songs by Attack Attack! especially the songs made when the band first came together, we can’t label the band a religious band. Some members of the band belong to different religious groups but the band has been very clear in its stance that they are not a religious band.
In various interviews, members of the band have outrightly stated that they are not a Christian band. A former member of the band, Austine Carlile was sent away for repeatedly claiming on stage that the band is religious while being drunk.
Although the band is not collectively religious, some members of the band have religious backgrounds which have somehow influenced songs by the band. Here are lyrics from some of their songs with religious influences:
In “Stick Stickly” by Attack Attack!, the songwriters are talking about Jesus Christ of the Christian religion who was believed to die for the redemption of humanity, out of love. Below are some lines from the song:
“Woo! This is the best part of the message
And it only took one
We live for what he’s worth
And that’s more than you’ll know
He died for what he loved
And what he loved was you!
This is the time to let yourself go
Lord, pick me off the ground
You never said this would be simple
So pull me in and turn around, woo”
The lyrics below from “Last Breath” by Attack Attack! are asking for answers from a supposed Supreme and religious being. One can easily interpret this as the songwriters asking God for answers and guidance when facing problems. Below are the lyrics:
“Is this my last breath? I can’t breathe
I’m choking on my own condescending words.
Answer me
Will you ever answer me?
Are you gonna answer me?
When I am crying out your name and I’m lost in shame.
Lead me on my way
And give me words to say.
‘Cause I can’t see
That I’ve lost my dreams
Carry me, cause my heart is weak
Is this my last breath?
The song “A for Andrew” by Attack Attack! talks about putting other things above God even when he is always there for us and why we need to stop doing such. Here are some lines from the song:
“I’ve put so many things above you
But you still are always there for me
I don’t know who I am anymore
If I even knew who I was”
What Kind of Music Band is Attack Attack?
Attack Attack! is an American Metalcore band. This genre of music is a fusion of elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, characterized by screaming vocals, death growls, clean vocals during the chorus, double bass drumming and breakdowns, heavy guitar riffs, and occasional blast beats.
The band blends subgenres like screamo and electronicore with metalcore to produce well-crafted and melodic sounds that will appeal to a diverse audience. Their songs are usually entwined with themes like; faith, fear, love and affection, regrets, heartbreaks, betrayal, trust, religion, uncertainty, pains and anxiety, challenges, etc.
Attack Attack! has existed for over 15 years. The band released its first EP “If Guns are Outlawed, Can We Use Swords? in 2008. In the same year, they released their first full-length album “Someday came Suddenly”. “Attack Attack!” was released in 2010, followed by “This Means War” in 2012. It is rumored that the band is currently working on a new project to be released sometime this year.
Is Attack Attack! a Christian Band?
Before deciding if Attack Attack! is a Christian band or not, we’ll first address what Christianity entails and what it means to be a Christian band.
A Christian is a person who lives according to the teaching and practices of Christianity. A Christian puts his faith and trust in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and not mere churchgoing.
Similarly, a Christian band is a band whose songs and lifestyles depict true Christianity. The songs should contain Christian messages and themes and make references to the Bible and other pillars of Christianity. Members of a Christian band must be identified as Christians from their lifestyle as well as their musical style and lyrics.
Also, the band must clearly label itself a “Christian band”. Attack Attack! since its inception has been rumored to be a Christian band. At some point, listeners were describing the band as a Christian band and some of their songs were listed on Christian music sites and charts. However, the band came out later to refute the claims of being a Christian band.
In an interview with Andrew Wetzel and Dallas Observer, Wetzel revealed that Attack Attack! is not a Christian band. In his words “It’s very complicated. The Christian label is easier to go for because it’s a hot or cold kind of label except, if you are a Christian band, you’ve restricted yourself to that market. Some people will not listen to you simply because of that. It can be a shitty label to have, but I think most people don’t give a shit about it either way”.
In 2010, the band’s guitarist and former member, Johnny Franck said that he was leaving the band to refocus his life on God and take care of other personal needs. This says a lot about the religious status of the band.
The band has publicly stated it is not a Christian band and from our observations and analysis, we’ve come to the conclusion that Attack Attack! is not a Christian band.
Attack Attack! Christian Songs
Attack Attack! is not a Christian band but many of the band’s songs contain Christianity-based lyrics and themes. Some of the songs have been listed on Christian music websites and charts as contemporary Christian songs. Below are some songs from the band that has been listed as Christian songs.
- Catfish Soup: Though the song has complex and somewhat hilarious title, it portrays Christianity with some deep lines. Here are the lyrics below:
“And here’s your escape as He calls out
your name
You fall to your knees and answer His call
But here’s your escape, He calls out your
name
You fall to your knees and answer His call
Lord, I will be anything for You…….
Hallelujah, I’ve been saved by grace
Hallelujah, saved by grace
And this is why I’ve been saved by His
grace”
- Shred, White, and Blue: this song by Attack Attack! talks about the love of God for humanity and his faithfulness. Below are the lyrics:
“So is this what you call love?
My Savior’s in sight.
I will wait for you to understand,
I will take your hand,
My God is ever true.
Too many times I have gone astray…..
You never asked me to
Repay the price you paid,
You’ll see the person you’re supposed to.. So you say it’s okay, you’ve called my
name.
He lived and died for all and everything.
Love is, in-store,
This is an open door.
Gut the lights out,
Down out and on the floor,
This love is just like an open door,
He is waiting right here,
This is your chance to step inside
He is right here waiting.”
Some other songs considered Christian songs by the band are; Stick Stickly, Last Breath, Bro, Ashley’s Here, and A for Andrew.
Is Attack Attack! a Satanic Band?
No! Attack Attack! is not a Satanic band. A satanic band releases songs that glorify the devil and promote demon worship. The themes of their songs are usually dark and creepy. Since the band has not associated itself with practices that depict a satanic band, produced songs that promote Satanism, or publicly showed some affiliations with Satanism, we do not consider Attack Attack! a Satanic band.
Conclusion
Since Attack Attack! came into existence, the band has been misconstrued to be a Christain band. However, the band has made counter statements about this claim. Their songs are more like a generic expression of personal experiences and ideals which they use to connect with audiences from diverse backgrounds.
From our analysis, we don’t consider Attack Attack! a Christian band.
Think we were wrong? Write your reasoning in the comments and prove us wrong!