Brandon Saller
Brandon Saller | |
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.jpg) Saller at Rock am Ring 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | June 24, 1983 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Origin | Orange County, California, U.S. |
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| Instruments |
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| Labels | Hollywood |
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Brandon Kyle Saller (born June 24, 1983) is an American musician, singer and multi-instrumentalist. He is the lead vocalist, keyboardist and former drummer of the metalcore band Atreyu. He is responsible for the melodic singing found in the band's music. He is the band's primary songwriter, along with guitarist Dan Jacobs. Following Atreyu's hiatus in 2011, Saller focused on his side project Hell or Highwater, where he is the lead vocalist. In 2011, the group released their debut album, Begin Again, in 2011. The band released an EP, The Other Side, in August 2013. Saller returned to Atreyu in 2014 and has remained a full-time member of the group since. He became the lead vocalist of the band after original singer Alex Varkatzas announced his departure.[1]
Atreyu
[edit]
At 13, Saller was invited by his older brother Ryan to join a band started by some of his friends, Dan Jacobs and Alex Varkatzas. The three of them formed a street punk band called Retribution, which by 1998, had adapted a heavier sound and changed names to Atreyu after the main character of The Neverending Story.[2] The band signed to Victory Records in 2001 and released 3 albums under the label, Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses in 2002, The Curse in 2004, and A Death-Grip on Yesterday in 2006. The band later joined major label Hollywood Records and released 2007's Lead Sails Paper Anchor and 2009's Congregation of the Damned. After over 10 years of worldwide success, the band embarked on hiatus, but returned in 2014. They released their sixth studio album, Long Live in 2015.[3]
Vocal duties
[edit]Saller did not sing on the band's 1998 EP, Visions, as he only played drums for the band at that time. Between Visions and Fractures in the Facade of Your Porcelain Beauty, Saller learned to sing while playing drums and became the band's clean vocalist. On Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses, his vocals were largely confined to choruses, however, as Atreyu's career went on, Saller's vocals would get more and more frequent, and they would become a major part of Atreyu's sound. After vocalist Alex Varkatzas departed from the band in 2020, Saller began performing as the band's primary vocalist alongside Porter McKnight.[4]
Hell or Highwater
[edit]Formerly the Black Cloud Collective, Hell or Highwater resulted out of Saller's solo material and eventually became a full band. He is solely the band's vocalist. The band released their debut album, Begin Again, independently on iTunes in 2011. After touring for over a year, the band recouped and released an EP, entitled The Other Side in August 2013. May 19, 2017, the band released their 2nd LP "Vista". Available on iTunes.[5]
Equipment
[edit]Early days
[edit]In the early days of Atreyu, Saller used Spaun Custom Drums and Zildjian cymbals. He would later endorse Istanbul cymbals in late 2004.[6]
Drums
22x20 Kick
12x8 Rack Tom
16x16 Floor Tom
13x7 Snare Drum
Cymbals
14" A New Beat Hi Hats
18" A Custom Projection Crash
19" A Custom Projection Crash
20" A Custom Projection Ride
18" China Boy High
Brandon also used a set of 14" A Custom Mastersound Hi Hats, an 18" oriental China Trash, a 6" Zil Bel, and two 19" Z Custom crashes throughout the early days of Atreyu. With Istanbul, Saller used the Alchemy series. He used a set of 15" hi hats, two 20" crashes, a 20" ride, and a 20" china.
2006 to 2010
[edit]In 2006, Saller endorsed Truth Custom Drums and Zildjian cymbals, of which he had an iconic black acrylic drum kit that featured three bass drums.[7][8]
Drums
22x20 Bass Drum (3x)
10x7 Rack Tom (added on in 2009)
12x8 Rack Tom (added on in 2007)
13x9 Rack Tom
16x16 Floor Tom
18x16 Floor Tom
14x8 Snare Drum
Cymbals
15" A New Beat Hi Hats
19" A Custom Medium Crash
20" A Custom Medium Crash
19" K Custom Hybrid Crash
20" A Custom Projection Ride
12" A Custom Splash
20" China Boy High
2014–present
[edit]When Atreyu reformed in 2014, Truth created a new drum kit for Saller for use on the Aftershock and Knotfest festivals, as well as to record Atreyu's 2015 album, Long Live
24x16 Kick Drums (3x)
10x7 Rack Tom
12x8 Rack Tom
13x9 Rack Tom
16x16 Floor Tom
18x16 Floor Tom
14x8 Brandon Saller Signature Snare
Saller also uses Remo Drumheads, DW hardware, DW 9000 pedals, and Vic Firth drumsticks.
References
[edit]- ^ "Atreyu – Atreyu is pleased to announce we are making new..." Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2014 – via Facebook.
- ^ "LAMB OF GOD — Burn The Priest". Metal Express Radio. Archived from the original on September 17, 2009. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
- ^ "Fright Exclusive Interview with Atreyu's "Big Dan" Jacobs!! : Icons of Fright – Horror News | Horror Interviews | Horror Reviews & More!". Iconsoffright.com. July 16, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
- ^ "ATREYU Part Ways with Founding Vocalist Alex Varkatzas". Lambgoat. August 22, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
- ^ Monger, James Christopher. "Hell or Highwater Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Atreyu interview by Toazted". YouTube. July 27, 2012. Archived from the original on May 23, 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
- ^ Category: Who Plays What. "Atreyu – Brandon Saller Drum Kit Gear and Equipment". Uberproaudio.com. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
- ^ "Truth Custom Drums " Atreyu/ Hell or Highwater". Truthdrums.com. August 9, 2011. Archived from the original on February 14, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
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