You’ve probably seen videos of Attack Attack! even if you didn’t realize it. With one of the most famous music videos of all time and leading to the development of the wonderful concept known as “crabcore,” the band has undeniably forged their place in metalcore history. With the release of their latest album, Attack Attack! II , they are also continuing to hold their place as one of the scene’s most important bands. To celebrate this release, I chatted with founding member/drummer/keyboard player Andrew Wetzel and vocalist Chris Parketny about not taking themselves too seriously, anime in the studio, and how metalcore and anime turn things up to 11. Tell us a bit about your new album, Attack Attack! II ! Wetzel : AA! II is our first full length album since 2012 and was a happy accident. We didn’t have any intention of making a record, but we answered an important creative question about the band and what we are doing here. As silly as it sounds, we realized we had been trying too hard to make music and instead just needed to focus on writing things just for us. This ultimately led to our album motto of “it’s just not that serious.” Was anime on or around while you were writing or recording? Parkenty : Honestly, yeah. There was always something playing in the background. Sometimes it would be Yu Yu Hakusho or Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba during late night sessions, or just random clips floating around YouTube. The energy of anime, the drama, the chaos, the intensity, kind of seeps into what we do. Even if we’re not sitting there breaking down plotlines, the vibe is infectious. That "everything is on fire but it still looks awesome" energy is pretty much Attack Attack! in a nutshell. RELATED LINK: Oxymorrons on Anime and Creative Freedom Can you tell me a little about your anime journey? Parkenty : I got pulled in the same way most people my age did. Dragon Ball Z after school, Pokémon in the mornings, and way too many late nights watching Yu Yu Hakusho . I wouldn’t call myself a diehard, but I’ve always loved the storytelling side of it. The way anime makes emotions feel huge and world-ending always stuck with me. It’s a lot like writing music; you start with a feeling and then you blow it up into something cinematic. Image via Netflix From that starting point, have you found an anime or genre of anime that is your favorite? Parkenty : I’m big on the darker stuff that still has heart. Attack on Titan, Death Note , and Deadman Wonderland all hit that balance between chaos and emotion. You get brutal visuals and insane music, but underneath it all there’s always that personal struggle. I connect with that as a songwriter because that’s what we do too. We make heavy music, but it’s still human. Are there any other anime series that got you deeper into music or taught you something musically? Parkenty : I’ve always been a big Joe Hisaishi fan. The music in the Studio Ghibli movies is just super well done. I’ve also always liked the soundtrack from Attack on Titan with that big orchestral sound. Stuff like that definitely makes me appreciate how much the music adds to the whole vibe. Did you get into music around the same time as you got into anime? Or were they separate from each other? Parkenty : They definitely overlapped. When I was discovering anime, I was also diving into metal and electronic music. Both hit that same nerve with high emotion, dramatic builds, and insane energy. Anime intros were basically my gateway to loving over-the-top music before I even realized it. RELATED LINK: BAND-MAID on Their New EP and Their Biggest Anime Year Ever Why do you think anime fans are drawn to heavy music and vice versa? Parkenty : Because both are all about intensity. Anime doesn’t half-*ss anything. The emotions, the action, the heartbreak, it’s all turned up to eleven. Heavy music is the same way. You don’t listen to it casually, you feel it. I think the crossover comes from that shared passion for extremes. Which anime have you been watching lately? Parkenty : I just started watching Solo Leveling and it’s been pretty cool so far. I’ve also been rewatching Eureka Seven . It’s kind of hard to find these days but it was one of my favorites when I was younger. It’s got that nostalgic vibe that still hits the same way now. If any of your songs could be used in an anime, which song would you want and what type of show would it be? Parkenty : I think “Dance!” would make a great anime opening. “Without You" would be a solid ending theme too. Both have the kind of energy and emotion that fit perfectly with anime. Is there anything you’d like to plug or say to the Crunchyroll audience out there who may not be familiar with your music? Parkenty : If you’re into anything that makes your heart race, give Attack Attack! a shot. We’re just out here having fun and making loud, emotional chaos. Sometimes you have to remember, it’s not that serious.
