"Attack" is the opening track in System of a Down

System of a Down

System of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...

's album Hypnotize

Hypnotize (album)

The album was initially going to start with a Middle Eastern style instrumental track entitled "Hezze", which Malakian stated was one of his favorite songs on the record prior its release. It was dropped at the last minute because the group wanted to open the album with a heavy song and because the...

.

"Attack" was written by Serj Tankian

Serj Tankian

Serj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist...

 (lyrics) and Daron Malakian

Daron Malakian

Daron Vartan Malakian is an Armenian-American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He is best known as the guitarist, songwriter, and occasional vocalist of the heavy metal band System of a Down and as the lead vocalist, lead guitarist, and songwriter of the alternative...

(music). The lyrics are an anti-war protest, protesting against attacking and bombing innocent people from the view of a soldier.

The song starts with a guitar riff, leading into a double-time thrash part and continuing into a soft two-vocal verse with Tankian's baritone and Malakian's tenor and a powerful chorus. After repeating twice the song returns to the beginning's mood with the double-time thrash riff, and after another verse and chorus the song finishes in a coda part.