I’d been looking forward to this record ever since the first mentions of it appeared. I discovered the Canadian project First Attack on Bandcamp, where two songs were initially released. What immediately caught my attention was the involvement of vocalist and guitarist Greg Huff, known from bands like Glory Stompers, Subway Thugs, The Lancasters, Alternate Action, and Bishops Green.

Out of those, I’m particularly drawn to Alternate Action and the early recordings of Bishops Green. Though with the latter, I later felt like they might’ve grown too big — as if stepping beyond subcultural boundaries didn’t quite suit them. But that’s just a personal impression, nothing I can really back up. Either way, First Attack clearly marks a return to the roots — aimed straight at the skinhead and punk crowd.

In the booklet, along with Greg, I recognized some familiar faces from The Enforcers — on guitar and drums — which made me happy. I saw The Enforcers live this year, and it was a great, high-energy show.

The record was released by Longshot Records for North America and by Mendeku Diskak for Europe. I’m holding the European pressing — gold vinyl with a black cover, limited to 120 copies. There’s also a black vinyl edition for Europe, pressed in 380 copies.

The album features eight original tracks, and it’s clear they come from seasoned musicians. Stylistically, First Attack continues in the vein of Alternate Action and Bishops Green: dual guitars, mostly slower or mid-tempo pace, and Greg’s unmistakable vocal delivery create a streetpunk sound with a slightly melancholic edge. The lyrics are somewhat dark and share a common theme of resistance to society and the desire to detach from it.

The absolute highlight of the record for me is „On The Other Side“ — a total anthem, and possibly the best song I’ve heard this year. That said, the whole album maintains a high standard throughout, and I’m confident it will rank among the best releases of the year. The booklet includes all the lyrics, which I always appreciate.

I’ve been spinning this LP non-stop for weeks now, and I still haven’t found a weak moment. Nothing more to add — top-tier international Oi!/punk in great shape.

TOP TRACKS: On The Other Side, If You Say So, Pull It Over Your Eye