Although not mentioned nearly as frequently as their peers Savatage, Queensrÿche, or Metal Church, Attacker are without a doubt one of the gems of the US power metal scene. The band released two classic yet radically different sounding albums in Battle at Helm’s Deep (1985) and The Second Coming (1988) before calling it a day in 1989. Tragedy would strike in the years to follow, as classic members Jim Mooney (guitars), Tom D’Amico (guitars), and John Leone (vocals) would all pass away. This eventually lead to founding drummer Mike Sabatini starting a new incarnation of the band in 2001 and keeping it going ever since.
Considering the iconic status of those two ’80s albums, one likely wouldn’t have minded if the new Attacker had stuck to a permanent “greatest hits” set, drawing half and half from each outing. Instead, they got the ball rolling and started releasing albums that, against all odds, went toe to toe with their ’80s outputs. Yes, amidst the ongoing hipster gentrification of metal throughout the ’00s and ’10s, Attacker stuck to their guns, releasing one opus of pure US steel after the next, never kowtowing to some here today, gone tomorrow trend. This same ethos can be heard on their latest full length, The God Particle.
If heavy times calls for heavy music, Attacker have sure answered the call (no pun intended). The God Particle sees the band firing on all cylinders, delivering their most brutal and aggressive effort since the thrash flavored Second Coming. Right off the bat, Attacker smacks us upside the head with the opening assault of “Knights of Terror”, its ruthless riffage and ear-shattering vocals recalling the power-thrash of early Metal Church. Lucky for us, this isn’t a one off outlier, but rather a sign of things to come. Hard headed cuts like “Stigmatized” and “World in Flames” also dare us not to mosh, walloping the listener with pure audio violence.
For those who prefer their USPM on the purist side, have no fear. “Kingdom of Iron” and “The Mighty Have Fallen” have you covered with their galloping guitars, rampaging rhythms, and soaring vocals. Whether it be intentional or not, these are most definitely descendants of Battle at Helm’s Deep. There’s also some rather exotic epic metal reminiscent of early Maiden, the drama and tension of “Curse of Creation” and “River of Souls” channeling Steve Harris before he became obsessed with being the Ian Anderson of metal. Rounding it all out is a final blitz in the relentless title track, which is bound to keep our heads spinning and ears ringing.
Sorry Europe, but yet again, Attacker have reminded us why USPM will ALWAYS reign supreme. The God Particle captures everything one would want from this genre and then some: Innovative songwriting, tight musicianship, energetic performances, wild vocals, ripping guitars, and raw production, all wrapped up in a metallic ball of bloodlust and valor. Did I miss anything? If so, be sure to explore The God Particle and let Attacker fill in the blanks better than I ever could.
9 out of 10
Label: Cruz del Sur Music
Genre: Power Metal
For fans of: Metal Church, Helstar, Liege Lord