Atreyu is an American metalcore band from Orange County, California, formed in 1998. The band consists of vocalist Alex Varkatzas, lead guitarist Dan Jacobs, rhythm guitarist Travis Miguel, bassist Porter (Marc) McKnight and drummer/vocalist Brandon Saller.
Originally named Retribution, they changed their name to "Atreyu" after the character of the same name from Michael Ende's fantasy book The Neverending Story. The name change came because of a change of members and progressive musical styling.[1] In 1998, Atreyu released an independent seven-track EP titled Visions. The album was sold at their live performances. Their second release, was a short five-track EP titled Fractures in the Facade of Your Porcelain Beauty released by underground label Tribunal Records and featured tracks that would be re-worked for later releases. Atreyu signed with Victory Records in 2001, and their most critically acclaimed works would be to come from these releases.[2]
2001–06: Victory Records
In 2001, Atreyu signed with Victory Records, later releasing in 2002 their first full-length album Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses. The band also introduced a second singer, Brandon Saller, the drummer, who would become more prolific in their later releases. However, for Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses, his parts were largely confined to choruses.[3] Music videos were filmed for the singles "Ain't Love Grand" and "Lip Gloss and Black." The latter video found significant airplay on Headbangers Ball and Uranium in fall of 2003, gaining Atreyu some of its initial mainstream attention.
Atreyu released its third studio album, A Death-Grip On Yesterday, on March 28, 2006. The album peaked at number 9 on the Billboard 200, with sales of 69,000.[5] The band gained further fame when the first single, Ex's and Oh's appeared on the soundtrack to Madden NFL '07. The album was said to have a balance of Brandon Saller's melodic singing vocals and Varkatzas's aggressive screaming, and it was met with positive reviews."[6]
2007–09: Hollywood Records
In early 2007, Atreyu signed a record deal with Hollywood Records for America and an international deal with Roadrunner Records. With a new label, the band began to prepare its fourth studio album, Lead Sails Paper Anchor. A jigsaw puzzle was released on the band's website, as the goal was to put all the audio clips of the single "Becoming the Bull" into correct order, forming the whole song.[7]Lead Sails Paper Anchor was released on August 28, 2007, and debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 43,000 copies.[8] The American release of the album had a bonus track, a cover of the song "Epic" by Faith No More while the European and Australian bonus track was a cover of "Clean Sheets" by The Descendents. The album was received with mixed reviews, and was a notable change in sound for the band.
On April 22, 2008, Lead Sails Paper Anchor was re-released with new cover art, two bonus tracks, a DVD, and a digital booklet. From July to August 2008, Atreyu headlined the Revolution Stage of Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution. Their setlist consisted of 45 minutes of various songs. With them on the stage were 10 Years, Hawthorne Heights, Armor for Sleep, and Street Drum Corps. Atreyu was also a part of the KROQ-FM Epicenter '09 Show where they did a meet and greet to benefit the non-profit organization Music Saves Lives.
2009–10: Congregation of the Damned and Covers of the Damned
Atreyu's fifth studio album, Congregation of the Damned, was released on October 27, 2009.[9] The album, which was produced by Bob Marlette (who has worked with Ozzy Osbourne and Airbourne) and mixed by Rich Costey (who has worked with System of a Down and Rage Against the Machine), was said to be "darker" and "heavier" than the band's previous albums. According to lead singer Alex Varkatzas, the record is a "mix of everything we've ever done. For every song that's more melodic or rock-driven there's a total shit-kicker, and I think that's what makes us a well-rounded band."[9] Atreyu has also described the album to "Make more sense than the other ones because they finally realize what they are".
Lead guitarist Dan Jacobs performing a guitar solo in Spain.
The band started a co-headlining tour with Hollywood Undead, Escape the Fate and The Sleeping in October, and as promotion of album debut songs like "Bleeding Is a Luxury" at K-Rockathon 14 in New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, New York., and "Gallows".[9][10] Atreyu also promoted the album with five webisodes, released biweekly from September 1 to October 20. Congregation of The Damned debuted at No. 18 on the Billboard 200, selling 27,412 copies on its first week. Atreyu announced that they would be recording an EP Covers of the Damned with tourmates Chiodos, blessthefall, Endless Hallway, and Architects (UK). It was to be released on October 12, but was leaked on the internet on October 9. Atreyu toured Australia in November 2010 with the No Sleep Til Festival playing most locations with Dropkick Murphys, Alkaline Trio, Megadeth and many more. In December, along with Bring Me the Horizon they supported Bullet for My Valentine across the United Kingdom.
2011–2013: New projects and hiatus activities
In a short series of Twitter postings, vocalist Alex Varkatzas confirmed that the band was taking a break from touring and recording to "recharge and focus on other parts of our lives."[11][12][13] In these same Twitter postings, Alex also stated that he has been working on a new project with Bleeding Through vocalist Brandan Schieppati called I Am War.
Drummer and vocalist Brandon Saller's side project Hell or Highwater [14] (formerly named "The Black Cloud Collective") has recorded an album titled "Begin Again" released on August 9, 2011. Saller is solely the lead vocalist in this band, and this album does not feature the same metalcore elements as those of Atreyu, voicing a sound similar to bands such as Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace, the band uses only clean vocals.
In December 2011, Travis Miguel added his own endeavors to the list of Atreyu side projects with Fake Figures and their release of the EP "Hail the Sycophants". This project features an all-star lineup which includes Miguel on guitar, Rus Martin (Hotwire), Robert Bradley (Scars of Tomorrow), and Justin Pointer and Heather Baker who were both former members of Nightfall, a project that bassist Marc McKnight played for in 2003 before joining Atreyu. As of July 2012, Steve Ludwig joined Fake Figures as their new drummer and for around 18 months between 2013 and 2014 Travis played as a touring guitarist with Trapt.
On May 11, 2013, the band posted a statement asking their Facebook fans to repost their message "if you want Atreyu to write a new song for your ears to bleed to.", with a second statement explaining that they hope to return to a sound more reminiscent of their second studio album, The Curse.[15][16]
2014–present: Official reunion and Long Live
Atreyu performing in Budapest - 2016
On July 1, 2014, the band officially announced that they're back making new music. It was also announced that the band plans to play live again, starting with a headlining show at Chain Reaction on September 11, 2014 and an appearance at the Aftershock Festival on September 14, 2014.[17]
On September 5, 2014, the band released a new song on their YouTube account titled "So Others May Live" and is available on their official website, free of charge.[18][19] The band was announced as one of the acts to perform in the South by So What?! festival in March at QuikTrip Park in Grand Prairie.[20]
Atreyu played in Slipknot's Knotfest on the weekend of October 25–26, 2014.
On April 18, 2015 A 7" vinyl was released exclusively for Record Store Day. "So Others May Live" was presented on the vinyl followed by a new song "When The Day is Done." Only 1,000 copies were made.
On June 29, 2015, the new album, titled Long Live was announced to be released on September 18.[21] On July 17, 2015, the band released the video for their latest single, "Long Live", via YouTube[22]
On September 18, 2015, the new album "Long Live" was released. It peaked at #26 on the Billboard 200.[23]
In an interview, guitarist Dan Jacobs stated he is a really big '80s rock fan. He then went on to quote "I love all that stuff and I think that is one generation where music was done right and I try to apply that as much as possible to our music"[27] He also went on the discuss Atreyu's influence from Gothenburg metal. A few bands he mentioned that the band loves are: Arch Enemy, In Flames, Soilwork, and all those type of bands.[27]
In an interview with Metal Underground, bassist Porter McKnight stated on behalf of his influences:
I'm a huge fan of Johnny Cash and all that kind of music. All the way through to like Bleeding Through and stuff, well I wouldn't say they're an influence I guess because they're kind of new. I would say that most people or bands now have kind of stemmed out from Green Day and I can say that if it weren't for them, love 'em or hate 'em, a lot of these bands now wouldn't be existing. So I wouldn't say it was mostly musical influence but it got me off my ass and made me want to write ya know?[28]
Band members
Current members
Alex Varkatzas – lead vocals, lyrics (1998–2011, 2014–present)
Dan Jacobs – lead guitar, backing vocals (1998–2011, 2014–present)
^Shoegazer ross. "LAMB OF GOD — Burn The Priest". Metal Express Radio. Archived from the original on November 21, 2005. Retrieved May 6, 2008. ((cite web)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ abcTorreano, Bradley. Atreyu. Allmusic. Accessed December 8, 2007.
^Duncan, Michael (January 13, 2011). "Atreyu Go on Hiatus". Rock Edition. Retrieved January 13, 2011. ((cite web)): Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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