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Atreyu

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Atreyu

Atreyu is an American metalcore band from Orange County, California, formed in 1998. The band consists of vocalist/lyricist Alex Varkatzas, guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, bassist Marc McKnight and drummer/vocalist Brandon Saller. The band was originally named "Retribution" but later changed their name to "Atreyu" after the character of the same name from the fantasy book (movie) The Neverending Story when they found out that another band from Hemet, California had been using their original name.[1] Originally a Hardcore punk [1] band formed in 1998, the band have since released four studio albums, Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses, The Curse, A Death-Grip on Yesterday and Lead Sails Paper Anchor, each of which has sold more than 200,000 copies. In 2008, they were on the Projekt Revolution tour with Linkin Park and headlined the smaller revolution stage along with 10 Years, Hawthorne Heights, and Armor for Sleep. [2]

History

1999-2000: Independent years

Atreyu currently consists of drummer Brandon Saller, vocalist Alex Varkatzas, bassist Marc McKnight and guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel.[3][4] During the independent years though, the members were only Brandon, Alex, Dan and Kyle Stanley. The band changed its name to Atreyu, which was suggested by a friend, Scott Lloyd, aka The Mess.[5]

In 1999, Atreyu released an independent 7-track EP titled Visions. The album was sold at their live performances. Their second release, was a short 5-track EP released by underground label Tribunal Records and featured tracks that would be re-worked in later releases. Atreyu signed with Victory Records in 2001, and their most critically acclaimed works would be to come from these releases.[6]

2001-2006: Victory Records

In 2001, Atreyu signed with Victory Records, who were famous for signing young, upstart metalcore bands and making them successful, later releasing in 2002 their first full-length album Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses. The band also introduced another singer, Brandon Saller, the drummer, who would become more prolific in their later releases. But in this album, his parts were largely confined to choruses.[7] 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.

The group's second album, The Curse, was released in 2004, selling 300,000 copies.[6] The band was then featured on the soundtrack to the film Mr. and Mrs. Smith with a cover of Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name".[8] Atreyu was also featured on the soundtrack to Underworld: Evolution with "Her Portrait in Black." "Right Side of the Bed" also appeared on the Burnout 3 Soundtrack, a racing video game.

In 2006, 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.[9] The album was said to have a balance of Brandon Saller's melodic singing vocals and Varkatzas's aggressive screaming.[10] The album was met with positive reviews."[11]

2007-2009: 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. 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.[12] The album was received with mixed reviews, and was a notable change in sound for the band.

Lead Sails and a 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.[13] 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.

They toured in the United States, in the Taste of Chaos 2008 tour, alongside bands such as Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet for My Valentine, and Blessthefall. The band also toured with co-headliners Avenged Sevenfold and Bullet for My Valentine in Australia and New Zealand, to positive reactions from audiences and stated on a blog on their MySpace that they're planning another tour down there later in the year.

On April 22, 2008, Lead Sails Paper Anchor was re-released with two previously unreleased bonus tracks, a DVD, and a digital booklet. It also featured new cover art. A trailer was released promoting the CD on their MySpace page.

On May 23, 2008, Varkatzas was forced to drop out of two shows — the shows being May Day in Indianapolis and Balloon Fest in El Paso - due to a throat infection, which resulted in Saller and McKnight taking over vocal duties for both dates.

Apart from being on the US Taste of Chaos they are also headlining the international leg of the tour. Other bands playing are Story of the Year, As I Lay Dying and Mucc. Travis Miguel stated that the band will do "whatever it takes" to get food on the road. [14]

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. Several interviews with various band members have stated that the tour was one of the best touring cycles they've been on, and cited Chris Cornell as the most surprising performer on the tour for his performance of his various projects, and his introduction of his new music from his latest album entitled Scream, produced by Timbaland.

2009–present: 5th studio album

Atreyu entered Henson Studios in Los Angeles with producer Bob Marlette (Black Stone Cherry, Shinedown, Ozzy Osbourne) to begin work on the follow-up to 2007’s ‘Lead Sails Paper Anchor’.

“We started as a heavy hardcore band,” says lead vocalist Alex Varkatzas, “and I think we’ve gotten away from that in recent years. The last record, for example, showcased us as a rock band with heavy parts. With this record, we want to return to our roots while also continuing to move forward. It’s about finding the right balance between the two.”

“This album will scream as a statement of where we’ve been, what we’ve become and where we will go,” adds drummer/vocalist Brandon Saller. “We think this record will be a huge marker in the life of Atreyu and we can’t wait to unveil it.”

According to Varkatzas, the band has demo’d 30 songs and plan to narrow it down to 16, with the goal being to finish recording by June. “The songs definitely have a dark, heavier feel and I think the current climate has a lot to do with that,” says the vocalist. “Personally, I just feel…angry and it’s coming out in the music. Failed bailouts, unemployment on the rise, troops still in Iraq—I watch all this stuff on the news and it carries over to the sessions. It gets me fired up.”

After initial drum sessions at Henson, the band and Marlette will move production to the producer’s Blue Room Studios in the San Fernando Valley in California. “I was anxious to work with these guys,” says Marlette. “They’re a great slamming live band with amazing power and a great signature sound. This is going to be a helluva record.”[15]

In a recent interview with Kerrang! Magazine, (Issue 1269) Varkatzas announced the album would be called Congregation Of The Damned and would be released in October.[citation needed]

Discography

Albums

Title Release Date Label U.S. Billboard 200 Peak Top Independent Albums
Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses June 4, 2002 Victory Records — 30
The Curse June 29, 2004 Victory Records 32 1
A Death-Grip on Yesterday March 28, 2006 Victory Records 9 1
Lead Sails Paper Anchor August 28, 2007 Hollywood Records 8 —
Congregation Of The Damned October, 2009 Hollywood Records — —

EPs

Greatest Hits

Title Release Date Label U.S. Billboard 200 Peak Top Independent Albums
The Best of... Atreyu January 23, 2007 Victory Records 103 6

Band members

Current members
  • Alex Varkatzas — lead vocals (1998–present)
  • Brandon Saller — drums, vocals (1998–present)
  • Dan Jacobs — lead and rhythm guitars, occasional backing vocals (1998–present)
  • Travis Miguel — lead and rhythm guitars (2000–present)
  • Marc McKnight — bass guitar, backing vocals (2004–present)
Former members
  • Chris Thomson — bass guitar (2001–2003)
  • Kyle Stanley — bass guitar (1998–2001)
  • Brian O'Donnell — bass guitar

References

  1. ^ a b SHOEGAZER ROSS. "LAMB OF GOD — Burn The Priest". Metal Express Radio. Retrieved 2008-05-06. Cite error: The named reference "metalexpressradio" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1589723/20080620/atreyu.jhtml
  3. ^ Lumpkin, Sharita (2005-03-13). "Interview Travis Miguel Atreyu". Fourteeng. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  4. ^ "Interview With Atreyu". Euro Punk. 2005-05-23. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  5. ^ "Metal Underground — Interview with Dan Jacobs from Atreyu". Metal Underground. 2005-07-19. Retrieved 2007-06-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b Torreano, Bradley. Atreyu. Allmusic. Accessed December 8, 2007.
  7. ^ Taylor, Jason D. Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses review. Allmusic: 2002
  8. ^ Phares, Heather. Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Allmusic: 2005.
  9. ^ Hasty, Katie (2006-08-05). "T.I. Rules As 'King' of Album Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-01-24. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ Prato, Greg. A Death Grip on Yesterday. Allmusic: 2006
  11. ^ "Atreyu — A Death Grip on Yesterday Review". music.ign.com. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  12. ^ Atreyu: New Album Details Revealed. Blabbermouth.net: June 20, 2007.
  13. ^ Cohen, Jonthan (2007-09-05). "'High School Musical 2' Starts Third Week At No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-01-24. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ Kerrang! Atreyu to headline Taste Of Chaos 2008
  15. ^ [1]
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