Lately, I have taken up a liking to a rather unknown, and unpopular genre of music, Techno/Screamo. As the name suggest, this genre combines the dark, masculine growls and screams of hardcore and screamo, with the soothing, popish sounds of techno and electronic music. Although separately I enjoy listening to both (Yes, I do dance...sometimes), when you combine them, you get this incredible blend of head banging and hip moving at truly gives you a full body workout. Anyway, when I first found this genre I was disappointed to find that many of the bands incorporated messages of sex, drugs, and excessive drinking into their lyrics, at least that was until I found the band Attack Attack! (Yes, they do actually have an exclamation point in their name, which makes them all the more awesome). At first, I figured they were a secular band since I found them on a compilation album of many well known punk bands, but after listening to their songs, I kept thinking I heard words like "Grace, Lord, God" being played, so when I at last looked up the lyrics, I discovered I was correct, and that nearly every one of their songs had a Christian message in it, which puts them in top rank for my favorite Techno/Screamo band...very exclusive title.
Hot Grills, and High Tops
Needless to say, when I first saw this title, I was already questioning if whether or not I should even check this band out. But after listening to the song itself, I was even further discouraged, but luckily I didn't give up just yet. This song sounds nothing like their others, it sounds more like a rap song performed by Lil Wayne than a hardcore band, but thankfully it is only a minute long. It doesn't have much of a meaning, since well, I can't understand the lyrics. I think the mood is simply just to get you pumped up for the rest of the album, but it did a poor job for me.
Rating-3/5
Stick Stickly
Now we blast right into the hardcore stuff not even five seconds into the song. The song starts out with a bunch of seemingly random burst of screams and growls, before it levels out into the first verse. Throughout the rest of the song, it switches between hardcore growling and deep voice sounds, to regular singing, to distorted singing with a heavy techno sound to it. By far, my favorite part of the song though, is after the bridge when they randomly start playing this techno part that makes just about anyone want to dance. The meaning of the song at first glace seems confusing, since for many people, they can't understand unearthly growl sounds too well. It's moments like these that I'm very thankful for lyrics websites. So after doing some research, I discovered that the song has very strong Christian influences and is a song about God's grace, and the fact that He died so that you may be saved. He also sings about how being a Christian was never meant to be easy, and that you'll always have challenges. One line that I find to be to be the most interesting, was the verse where the guy sings in a technoish voice "You know I'll wait for you, You know I'll wait for you." I don't know why, but that line seems to stike that many songs can't. I'm going to skip the mood for this one, since I don't believe hardcore songs really have much of a mood to them since they always sounds dark, and techno songs always sound happy. Rating-5/5
Bro, Ashley's Here
When I first heard this song, the first thing I was thinking was "Oh boy, here comes the song about sex". Thankfully though, I was totally wrong. This song, much like the previous one, is about God. The melody is probably one of the catchiest ones on the album, and in my opinion, is the "softest" song on the album. The lyrics speak of a girl who has no faith, and the lead singer is telling him to "Get up get up, He's calling your name". As we go further into the song, we find out that this girl was someone very special in his life, and that he is starting to get frustrated by her lack of faith. I feel this is yet another powerful song on the album. Rating-4.5/5
Shred, White, and Blue
This was actually the first song I ever heard by them, and the title once more prepared me for a song about rebels, anarchist, and occults. I was once more proved wrong though. This song is very similar to the last one, in the sense that it is about a person the singer loves who has no come to God yet, and he is explaining to them what got has done for him and how "This is an open door". I feel however, that the most powerful line in the song is by far the one that sums up Christ's mission on earth in one sentence "You never asked me to repay the price You payed", truly amazing. Rating-4/5
Party Foul
I find it amazing that a Christian band can have so many song titles that sound so disturbing, although I suppose they aren't as bad as Demon Hunter. This is one of my least favorite songs on the album. The beat is rather annoying, and if it weren't for the awesome techno sounds that are mixed in it would be getting a much lower rating. But worst of all, it no regular singing in it, big no no in my book. The meaning is also vague, and from what I can tell it is about who has come to faith, and no she is learning to give up her earthly world where she is her own god.
Rating-3.5/5
What Happens if I Can't Check My MySpace When We Get There
I love bands that come up with long titles like this one, and I must say, I can make a personal connection to this one. This is another one of my favorite songs on the album, due to its very fast paced beat and techno portions. The entire song gives me a feeling of happiness, and is one of the few songs on the album that has a mood to it. The meaning of the song however, is by far the hardest one on the album, and at first this song almost turned me off to the entire band. When I heard the opening lines, "Lay down your head, and sleep with me tonight, lay in this bed." I was a little surprised. But as the song progressed, I got the sense that it was in fact a girl asking him to sleep with her, and he is trying to tell her no, and is battling the temptation. This is seen best in the line "Come on have some selfless-ness, don't give into arrogance. Sleep with peace tonight". Rating-5/5
Interlude
There are few things I love more than when bands put techno songs with no lyrics in the middle of their albums. I feel it gives a bit of a break to whoever is listening, and for people like me, gives them a chance to more around a bit and "dance" to the beat. Rating-5/5
The People's Elbow
There are few things I hate more than when bands put really bad songs after really good ones. Although this isn't the worst song on the album, it comes pretty close. The drums are annoying, and guitars are to loud, and even the techno background music is annoying, plus the screaming. The only thing that saved it from last place was the clean vocals during the chorus and the semi-cool techno sounds in the bridge. The meaning of the song is also different from the rest of the album. This one is about a girl that the singer thought was "The one", but she never gave him any sort of chance, and he has no given up and moved on. Rating-3/5
Kickin' Wing, Animal Doctor
Well here we have it, the worst song on the album, but don't worry, things will get much better. This song is not much different from the last one, except it has no clean vocals, and no techno music which is just a shame. The meaning is meaning is actually pretty good however, since it is about a girl that views God as something that he really isn't, and the singer says how he wishes she wouldn't since "He can save you". Rating-2.5/5
Dr. Shavargo Pt. 3
As promised, the music gets much better here. In fact, this song is in my opinion, the best one on the album. The melody is filled with an equal balance of clean vocals and screaming, and has pleanty of techno sounds and distorded vocals. The lyrics to the song also have some of the best Christian lyrics I have ever heard. Unlike many Christian artist, Attack Attack speaks directly to the person through their lyrics, which I feel is inspiring no matter if you're a Christian or not. With lines like "Take my hand, I'll keep you safe, take my hand." it's hard not to feel a tingle go up your back. The song itself is once more about a girl who has not come to faith, but the singer really likes, and is trying to show her God. Her selfishness however, stands in the way of God. This is seen in the opening lines of the song with "As always its all for you", and evidence of the guys struggle to show her God I feel is best showed in my favorite line in the song, "Come on girl, I've been waiting for you to make your move". Rating-5/5
Catfish Soup
Yet another great title for another great song. This one is a close tie for first place, and if you like softer hardcore songs with piano and techno, then this is your song. The beat is similar to the last one, but I feel is slightly perfected. Unfortunately it doesn't have any techno in it, but the violins and piano make up for it (Hardrock and classical is another favorite combo of mine). The lyrics are once more one of the most inspiring I have ever seen in a mainstream Christian band. This song is clearly a message to someone who doesn't believe in God, and on the day of judgement they will "Look to the sky, and know this couldn't have happened by chance" and that "The decisions you have made will come back to haunt you". My favorite line however is in the bridge, when the leader singer nearly whispers "Hallelujah, Hallelujah, saved by grace." then shouts "Hallelujah, I've been saved by grace, Hallelujah, saved by grace. and this is why, I've been saved, by His grace". Rating-5/5
So there you have it, the best Screamo/Techno band ever in my opinion. Not sure how many other people are fans of that genre, but if you are, I promise you will love this CD whether your a Christian or not. Album Rating-4.5/5
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