Search - Hawkwind :: Sonic Attack

One of Hawkwind's finest

BENJAMIN MILER | Veneta, Oregon | 10/22/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sonic Attack might sound like a name of one of their endless (often useless) compilation albums, but it was actually an album of brand new compositions, with the exception of a reworking of the title track. This album was originally released in 1981 on RCA, during one of those times the band just witness yet another endless shift of personnell. At this point Ginger Baker and Tim Blake had left, with Martin Griffin returning, and Harvey Bainbridge now also handing the synthesizers as well as bass. Sci-fi author Michael Moorcock also guests on vocals on "Coded Languages" which comes to show the one thing he isn't particularly good at is singing. 1981 is smack in the middle of a big prog rock dry spell, but for some reason, Hawkwind was able to make it through that decade without any problem, as Sonic Attack is some of their most energetic and exciting works I have ever heard! Just listen to "Rocky Paths" and you'll know what I mean! The album seems to be a concept about the invasion of privacy, abuse of technology, the suppression of free thought, surveillance of the population, it seems to reek of George Orwell's 1984, but what really scary about this album (like 1984) is a lot of this stuff is coming true. Several songs addresses these social problems that seem to be coming true like "Psychosonia", "Living On A Knife Edge", and "Coded Languages". While many of the other progressive rock bands had pretty much disappeared by 1981, like Yes, Gentle Giant, ELP, or started turning to a less interesting direction, like Genesis, for example, I am amazed how this band was able to go through the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s and released great albums through each of these decades (but of course, Hawkwind had the habit of giving us a lot of useless compilations and live albums from tiny labels as well). Because of the fairly consistent work of Hawkwind that you can't claim with lots of other prog bands, it's no wonder why this band had kept such a loyal audience through the years (that's also a big reason why Ozric Tentacles also received quite a loyal audience through the years as well). If you're a Hawkwind fan, pick up a copy of Sonic Attack, you won't be disappointed!"

Hawkwind - 'Sonic Attack' (Griffin/EBS)

Mike Reed | USA | 04/16/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"'Sonic Attack' was originally released in 1981,in the UK only.Two original members are present,Dave Brock and lead guitarist Huw-Lloyd Langton.Brock and Langton supply most of the vocals on this eleven track CD although world reknown science fiction writer/poet Michael Moorcock lends his vocal chords on "Coded Languages".The best cuts are "Psychosonia","Living On A Knife Edge","Disintegration" and "Streets Of Fear".There's a cool bonus track added "Trans-Dimensional Man" which I believe is a tough-to-find b-side of an old single 45.Comes with a keen 8 page full color booklet."

Starting to sputter

Chromefreak | 06/08/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The brave Hawkship sailed on through the 80s and 90s, even after it was fairly clear that their time had passed. Listening to Sonic Attack seems to confirm the suspicion that by this time, the silver engine had begun to sputter a bit. The previous year's Levitation (the group's last true masterpiece) was--and still is--a stunning testament to the band's resiliency. Sonic Attack is certainly entertaining, if somewhat inconsequential, and there are several excellent tracks that make the album a worthwhile effort: the blazing "Angels of Death" is an instant classic, while Huw Lloyd-Langton's aptly titled "Rocky Paths" smashes through the sound barrier at Mach 3; "Living on a Knife's Edge" and the Moorcock-penned "Coded Languages" also light up the intergalactic dustlanes with fiery guitar work and crashing synths. For hawkfans, it's another enjoyable trip, but the decision to rework "Sonic Attack"--how can you improve upon the original?--was a mistake, one which would ultimately lead Dave Brock on future Hawkwind albums into further self-parody. To be sure, Hawkwind certainly did far worse later on as they moved further and further away from the signature psychedelic space rock sound they pioneered in the 70's. Sonic Attack still finds the group in good form, even if it's quite obvious that Brock and crew were beginning to run out of ideas as the 80's dawned. Definitely worth hearing if you're a dedicated roadhawk."