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ATTACKER
The God Particle

Cruz Del Sur Music (2024)
Rating: 7.5/10

Drummer Mike Sabatini may be the only original member left of underrated New Jersey metal band Attacker but their thirty-three minute return to the fray still manages to sizzle in all the right places. Attacker released two superb cult records in the 80s – Battle At Helm’s Deep (1985) and The Second Coming (1988) – but by the end of 1989 they were gone. However, like so many, Attacker returned from the grave in 2001 and between 2004 and 2016 released four further studio albums which, sadly, received very little reaction.

Album number seven, The God Particle, is now upon us and comes eight years after the solid Sins Of The World. The present Attacker line-up alongside Sabatini is vocalist Bobby Lucas (Reverend / ex-Overlorde / ex-Seven Witches), axe men Mike Benetatos (ex-Jersey Dogs) and Jon Hasselbrink, and bassist Brian Smith.

Let’s cut to the chase here, The God Particle is no 80s throwback. A song like ‘World In Flames’ epitomises the clinical energy of Attacker; bordering on thrash and led by rasping vocals it’s a track that has more in common with the melodious power of Metal Church. ‘Stigmatized’ is equally destructive in its speed; it’s a contemporary master class of glinting steel that hints at Judas Priest at their most volatile.

Razor riffs, powerhouse drums, damn, if this was a new band the kids would be lapping it up, but no, Attacker will sadly drift along and remain unknown by so many. Even so, those fortunate to know, or maybe stumble upon the band, will revel in its concise nature as comparisons are drawn with Helstar on ‘Kingdom Of Iron’, while ‘Curse Of Creation’ brings those Metal Church shades back into the arena and the crunch of ‘Knights Of Terror’ is not to be smirked at either.

The God Particle is a good metal album that doesn’t hold back but knows its limits too. In a world where metal subgenres are becoming over thought, Attacker just gets down to basics and of that I’m grateful.

Neil Arnold

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