The album's lead single, "Walkin' Shoes," achieved minor chart success and moderate airplay.

The recording session produced a few songs that the band would ultimately release on an EP, To Rock to Roll, in 1987.

[7][8] When it came to songwriting, guitarist Keith Douglas cited Memphis blues as an influence on some of the songs that ended up on Surprise Attack.

Lead singer Anthony Corder received help from a friend named Thomas Howard in writing some of the album's songs, including "Hard Times," "Phantom Rider," and "She's Good, She's Bad.

One of the songs released was a demo of "Walkin' Shoes" recorded prior to the one that wound up on Surprise Attack.

Hardy was more experienced and had previously worked with ZZ Top, while Surprise Attack was one of Ebersold's first projects, as he was relatively new to Ardent at the time.

[13] By late March 1990, the album had sold 300,000 units and was expected to reach 500,000 sales, which would have granted it gold certification.

[21] The Commercial Appeal staff writer Ron Wynn gave the album a positive review, complimenting the band's "exuberant spirit and hard-rocking presentations" and singling out "Phantom Rider," "Walkin' Shoes," and "Guilty" as the standout tracks.

"[24] In a negative review, Steven Miller from the Daily Utah Chronicle criticized the album for "[ripping off] various successful metal bands," having a "total lack of musical personality," and offering "utterly generic headbangers with lyrics running the gambit from partying, women and fast cars, to partying with women in fast cars."