Chaos Reforged: Attack Attack! Return with Explosive Sophomore Effort ‘Attack Attack! II’

By Glen Parkes, Jace Media Music

Twelve years is a long time to be gone from the full-length album game—especially in the ever-evolving, often cannibalistic world of metalcore. But Attack Attack! were never the kind of band to do things by the book. With Attack Attack! II, the Ohio-bred provocateurs mark their official return not with a whimper, but with a genre-scorching war cry that’s equal parts satire, sonic ferocity, and calculated madness. Out August 8th via Oxide Records, the album is a triumphant reawakening that reclaims the band’s chaotic crown.

This isn’t just a sequel in name—it’s a bold evolution. While Attack Attack! once pioneered electronic-infused breakdowns during the Myspace-era crabcore explosion, Attack Attack! II is their most modern, meme-aware, and sonically fearless work yet. offers a powerful, retooled ensemble more than ready to unleash unfiltered mayhem on a new generation.

The current lineup is

Chris Parketny – vocals

Ryland Raus – guitar

Cameron Perry – bass

Andrew Wetzel – drums (original drummer, founding member)

Right out of the gate, “ONE HIT WONDER” lands a left hook with snarky self-awareness. This opener is a swaggering, riff-heavy jab at critics and fans alike who thought the band had nothing left to offer. Tongue firmly in cheek, it flexes with addictive grooves and a playfully caustic chorus: a declaration that Attack Attack! are back and know exactly how they’re perceived—and they’re weaponising it.

“Dance!”, the album’s infamous lead single, showed just how far the band is willing to push their satirical edge. Initially disguised with a country teaser rollout (complete with cowboy hats and fake backstories), it dropped like a glitter-covered nuke, featuring none other than Lorna Shore’s Will Ramos. The result is a head-spinning hybrid of electronica, deathcore, and disco-metal breakdowns. It’s absurd, it’s brilliant, and it dares you not to take yourself too seriously. Ramos’ feature is a monster—his inhuman growls intertwined with strobe-lit synths form one of the year’s most WTF moments in metal.

Tracks like “Chainless” and “Walk On Water” tap into the band’s more straightforward metalcore muscle. Here, you get the chugging riffs and gang vocals fans remember, but layered with sharper production and a refusal to fall back on old tropes. The drumming from Whiting is especially tight, crafting rhythms that bounce between precision strikes and double-time stomps.

At the emotional core of the album lies “Karmageddon”, a track that blends fury with atmosphere. Serving as the record’s focus single, it’s a shining example of the group’s balance between chaos and clarity. Guitarists Parketny and Miller push this track into cinematic territory, wrapping the listener in melodic hooks before pulling the floor out with explosive breakdowns. It’s one of the few moments on the album where introspection gets to breathe without the mask of satire, and it’s all the more powerful for it.

Not to be outdone, “i complain on r/metalcore” is perhaps the most biting piece of social commentary on the album. With tongue-in-cheek lyrics that lambast online gatekeepers and keyboard warriors, it’s an anthem for those tired of scene policing. It’s catchy, anthemic, and built on a groove that is both danceable and mosh-friendly. Think Bring Me the Horizon meets Electric Callboy, but with a knowing wink.

Then there’s “Big Booty Britches”—yes, that’s the actual title—a track so unapologetically wild that it could only exist on an Attack Attack! album. With glitchy electronics and an almost trap-metal feel, it’s the kind of song that flips the script mid-way and dares you to keep up. Meanwhile, “Live, Love, & Die” and “Without You” show a more melodic side to the band, with cleaner vocals and emotive choruses that prove Attack Attack! aren’t just meme-lords—they can write genuinely compelling rock songs.

The album closes with “Jump Jump!”, a barn-burning finale that channels the energy of an underground rave through a pit-stirring metalcore lens. It’s a full-circle moment, recalling the band’s early days of chaos while ushering in their future with brutal optimism.

Production-wise, Attack Attack! II is pristine. The mix is clean but not sterile, with every layer of synth and distorted guitar given breathing room. Wetzel’s vocals are more dynamic than ever, moving seamlessly from screamed verses to soaring refrains, while the band’s willingness to break genre walls and inject humour into heavy music is not just refreshing—it’s downright needed.

What truly ties this album together, though, is self-awareness. Attack Attack! II isn’t trying to reclaim past glories. It’s a band knowing they’ve been mocked, misunderstood, and meme’d to death—and turning that into a badge of honour. They’re not just participating in the metalcore resurgence—they’re poking fun at it while dropping one of the scene’s most diverse and entertaining albums of the year.

Verdict: Attack Attack! II is an unholy fusion of digital chaos and riff-fuelled vengeance. It’s not just a comeback—it’s a statement. The band have rebuilt themselves from the meme ashes, and what’s emerged is sharper, stranger, and somehow stronger than ever.

Tracklist – Attack Attack! II

1. ONE HIT WONDER
2. Dance!
3. Chainless
4. Walk On Water
5. Karmageddon
6. Live, Love, & Die
7. i complain on r/metalcore
8. Big Booty Britches
9. Without You
10. Sacrifice
11. Jump Jump!