Atreyu - A Death-Grip on Yesterday

[crazytoledo]

I admit that I’ve always liked Atreyu. ‘The Curse’ was one of my favorite CDs I bought in 2004 and ‘Suicide Notes’ was easily one of the better purchases I made in 2005. I don’t know if it was Brandon Saller’s strong singing, the refreshing, dueling guitars of Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, or if it was just the entire package. Atreyu always felt like the complete package for a metalcore band and I’ve always been interested in what ever they did (besides the Bon Jovi cover on the Mr. and Mrs. Smith Soundtrack).

‘Ex’s and Oh’s’ is the first single off of ‘Death Grip’ and it showcases the main difference in Atreyu. While at times they still stick with their tried and true metalcore formula (‘Creature’), a lot of the songs are cleaner (‘Our Sick Story’) with a lot of the songs being driven by Saller (who also played a bigger role in writing the songs). Also, when Alex Varkatzas isn’t shouting, he throws in some surprisingly good clean vocals, with Marc McKnight helping out with some extra backing vocals. ‘Ex’s and Oh’s’ is highlighted by the melodic guitar solos by Miguel and Jacobs and the majority of the song is driven by Saller’s singing, which has taken a huge rise above his mediocre and over produced vocals on ‘The Curse.”

The rest of ‘Death Grip’ follows the pattern. At times it’s the older, straight up metalcore Atreyu you either love or hate. At times it’s the evolved Atreyu in which the maturation has lead to catchy and chaotic rock songs with melody, strong hooks, and loads of melodic and technical solos. It feels like a throwback to the 80s with a mix of the melody of the Cure, and the shredding and soloing of Iron Maiden. The combination between the two styles leads to a unique experience, as the band shows that they can be more than just a metalcore band, which they pull off better than what Avenged Sevenfold tried to do.

‘You can’t affect how other people feel, so don’t let them affect how you feel’ was a message Alex Varkatzas received from a fortune cookie and luckily the band decided to follow the message. Sure, Atreyu could have easily made the same old songs and still would have been extremely popular, but their search for what satisfies them allows for them to reach out and achieve what they truly want to do, which makes ‘Death Grip’ even more satisfying.

Few bands have been able to evolve and achieve what Atreyu have done. On their debut album they crafted the metalcore album that bands have been trying to do for years. With their third release, Atreyu has fine tuned their craft even more and have created one of the best albums of 2006.


[originally written for Punknews (http://punknews.org)]

[3DaysIn]

I thought the Bon Jovi cover kicked ass. nice review anyway. i'm pretty excited about this, only 2 more weeks.

[LilRyan732]

You should be reviewing for AP.net.

[WakingTheMisery]

i can't sit through any of their albums. the single is far too catchy though.

[Dudebroham]

When will this band go away.

[crazytoledo]

I thought the Bon Jovi cover kicked ass. nice review anyway. i'm pretty excited about this, only 2 more weeks.

The Bon Jovi cover wasn't that bad, just not up to standards. It really came out cheesy and a little uneven and it's one of the only songs by Atreyu that I never gotten into.

[Roboman]

When will this band go away.

Be quiet.

[elvis2x]

This review is really far off. I was disappointed with this album.

[brutusUbastard]

wow. your writing got a little bit better, but your understanding of music is still shitty.

[feigningapology]

The length of this album is disappointing considering they had two years to write between albums. They should have waited a little longer. I feel like I'm listening to practically an ep with only 9 songs and feel shortchanged in someway. I'll just look forward to Thursday now instead of this.

[thelimbeckband]

When will this band go away.

i'm with him........

[ADDisfunforme]

suicide notes>deathgrip>the curse

this album gave me hope for atreyu

[thesunsasleep]

dude, atreyu is the worst band on the planet and you are a complete idiot to say its one of the best albums of 2006.

[crazytoledo]

The Best of 2006 potential is pretty obvious as there hasn't been anything really great this year. No Trigger, the Lawerence Arms, Darkest Hour (reissue) are the only bands off the top of my head that have released something really good.

Victory dominated my 2005 top 5 with two cds in 3, those being Darkest Hour and Between the Buried and Me's release, each are a must buy to any metal fan.

[Aaron Troy]

this cd is surprisingly very good.. nice review. you just have to accept that fact no one here is going to admit to liking it.

[rubyx]

Atreyu Is The Best Band Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ThisIsAName]

I love Atreyu, I just saw them in concert for Taste of Chaos and they kicked ASS!

[crazytoledo]

You see them in Toledo?

I thought about going there.

[a speedo model]

i really don't like this band.

[Ancora]

stop being haters. its not a bad album at all. just because you may not like them doesn't mean they can't produce good music....fuck, i hate dave matthews, but it doesn't mean hes not talented

[ThisIsAName]

Whats with all the people saying it was a dissapointment? I would quote one but there are to many... It was not a dissapointing album! I kicks ass!

[ThisIsAName]

Dave Matthews does SUCK!!! and I saw them at TOC and they were like the best band there!!

[LostSymphonies]

lol my local record store put this album out a week before it's supposed to be out, enjoying it right now

[GoWaitInTheCar]

Atreyu, I do not like. I have to admit. But I may check this out, only because tons of people are saying it is good, and I can't say I don't like it, if I've never heard it.

[ThriftWhore]

This album is very good, big surprise for me. Wasn't expecting it.

[BigDan]

This album is awesome a bit more raw and old style sounding Atreyu than "The curse", I really enjoy listening to this album and it just blew me away from the start!

[last light]

The Best of 2006 potential is pretty obvious as there hasn't been anything really great this year. No Trigger, the Lawerence Arms, Darkest Hour (reissue) are the only bands off the top of my head that have released something really good.

Victory dominated my 2005 top 5 with two cds in 3, those being Darkest Hour and Between the Buried and Me's release, each are a must buy to any metal fan.

you are an idiot.

[brutusUbastard]

you are an idiot.

this is fact

[Alt_fate83]

this CD makes Atreyu my fav band .. i cant think of another band with 3 totally solid releases in which i cant tell which one i like better than the other

[crazytoledo]

The best cd for the year so far.............

'Kezia' Protest The Hero

[frommelyty]

honestly, probably the most disgusting album put out in the past 5 years.wow!

[DeFiaNT]

wow people are really stupid.. and what happened to the ratings of this album?

it was great.. just great, still that screamo/metalcore parts and the catchy rifs and parts

[hlueck]

okay, so here I am.. looking to buy the new Atreyu cd, and Im thinking well maybe I should read some reviews first.. figure out what I can expect.. then I get here, and now Im just frusterated.

so.. what I dont understand is those people that post comments like:

"When will this band go away."

and

"Dude, atreyu is the worst band on the planet and you are a complete idiot to say its one of the best albums of 2006."
(this one comment here I have to point out is so narrowminded its ridiculous. No one in the world has even heard EVERY band on the planet so no one can judge which is the worst- even though Im almost 100% positive Atreyu would not even be in the top 1000- think of how many truly shitty bands there are out there AND to top it all off calls someone a complete idiot for stating there opinion. No one said you had to agree with the review "dude" but name calling went out with finger painting and naptime, so grow up.)

and

"i really don't like this band."

and

"honestly, probably the most disgusting album put out in the past 5 years.wow!"

So now, for all you Atreyu haters out there that feel the need to express your hate to everyone, I have one quick little question....

WHY WOULD YOU READ THE ATREYU CD REVIEW AND BOTHER COMMENTING ON IT IF YOU ALREADY HATE THE BAND??

Of all the pointless things we people do to waste time, that has always bothered me the most.

What are you doing looking up Atreyu reviews if you dont even like them?

Im not saying you cant say anything negative, by all means, voice your true opinion, like those people that say the album dissapointed them, or there werent very many tracks, but who are you helping by just stating that you dont like the band at all. Go waste someone else's time and let people use, and comment on, the reviews that actually have something useful to say.

[Distortion]

dude, atreyu is the worst band on the planet and you are a complete idiot to say its one of the best albums of 2006.

You call him the idiot and your the one saying dude? Wow you have no room to talk man, get a life.

[deftonesrock44]

I really liked this album, along with the other two that came out before it. Melodic screaming, crunchy guitars, who can't love this? The lyrics seemed like they were put together quickly though... but it's a great CD, and even though this came out awhile ago I still listen to it on a weekly basis.

[Rubbersoul87]

Fav from them so far

[absoluut]

amazing album