ATREYU (BAND)

'Atreyu' is a Metalcore/Post-Hardcore rock band formed in Orange County, California in 1998. It consists of vocalist Alex Varkatzas, guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, bassist Marc McKnight and drummer and vocalist Brandon Saller. The band was originally named "Retribution" but later changed their name to "Atreyu" after the character from the fantasy movie ''The Neverending Story'' of the same name (suggested by a friend, Scott Lloyd) ^[4] when they found out that another band from Hemet, California had been using the name.^[5]

Contents

Biography

Touring

Band members

Discography

Albums

EPs

Compilations

Singles

References

External links

Biography

It is unclear when their debut EP, ''Visions'' was released. It was sometime in 1998 or 1999 and was recorded with original bassist Brian O'Donnel. Their second EP, ''Fractures in the Facade of Your Porcelain Beauty'', was released in 2001. Both were released on an underground label named Tribunal Records, owned by Matt Rudzinski of Greensboro, NC.
Atreyu signed with Victory Records, and released their debut album ''Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses'' in 2002. It spawned two singles, "Ain't Love Grand" and "Lip Gloss And Black". Touring almost nonstop in support of the record, the group's lineup changed as bassist Marc McKnight replaced Chris Thomson(Cold War) before the recording of their second album.
Atreyu's second album, also recorded while signed to Victory Records, was ''The Curse'' in 2004, with singles released from the album being "Right Side Of The Bed" and "The Crimson". It was re-released with an accompanying DVD a year later. Their sound slightly changed as this album was much more polished than ''Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses''^[1] and some emo influences were also introduced which resulted in many reviewers incorrectly referring to the band's style as screamo or emo.^[7][8][9]
In 2006 they contributed a track to the soundtrack to and in the same year in March their third album entitled ''A Death-Grip on Yesterday'' was released with singles being "Ex's and Oh's", "Shameful", and "The Theft". This album started the bands downhill slope for the band when they decided to take the song "Her Portrait In Black" off the album and only release 9 songs on it.
In November, 2006, Atreyu parted with Victory Records (their last album on Victory was ''The Best of...'') for major label Hollywood Records and Roadrunner Records outside of America. Their latest album was released on August 28, 2007, produced by John Feldmann. They chose ''Lead Sails Paper Anchor'' as the title. On June 6, 2007, Atreyu released their new single "Becoming The Bull" in the form of a game on www.atreyurock.com.
Also, very unexpectedly, in August Atreyu released a live music video for the song "Untitled Finale."
The band came under fire after the release of Lead Sails Paper Anchor because of the drastic change in the band's sound with many people believing they "sold out". Though with drastic change Atreyu could still hold their own with hits off the CD like Doomsday, Lose It, Becoming the Bull, and the 80's metal song Blow. Atreyu is now signed to Hollywood Records and Roadrunner Records.

Touring

In 2006, they they went on tour with Every Time I Die, Chiodos, and From First to Last. They kicked From First To Last off of The World Championship Tour because the band's lead singer could not perform with them due to vocal nodules. From First To Last wanted to stay on the tour and Chiodos front man Craig Owens offered to fill in on vocals but Atreyu insisted that they could not stay on the tour. They also were on the Ozzfest 2006 second stage alongside Black Label Society, Norma Jean, Bad Acid Trip, Between The Buried And Me, Walls of Jericho, Full Blown Chaos, The Red Chord. As well as Taste Of Chaos 2006 with Deftones, As I Lay Dying, Dredg, Funeral For A Friend, Thrice, Silverstein, Story Of The Year, Thursday, Greeley Estates, The Receiving End Of Sirens, Millionaire, Adair, Broke, The Smashup, Pellican, Street Drum Corps, The Confession. They are currently playing on the Family Values Tour 2007 with Korn, Evanescence, Flyleaf, Trivium, Hellyeah and Neurosonic. After Family values, They will embark on a Full US and EU tour carrying them into winter.

Band members

★ Brandon Saller - drums, vocals (1998-present)

★ Alex Varkatzas - vocals (1998-present)

★ Dan Jacobs - guitar (1998-present)

★ Travis Miguel - guitar (2001-present)

★ Marc McKnight - bass, backup vocals (2003-present)

Discography

Albums

Title	Release date	Notes
''Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses''	2002
''The Curse''	2004	#32 (U.S.)
''A Death-Grip on Yesterday''	2006	#9 (U.S.)
''Lead Sails Paper Anchor''	2007	#8 (U.S.)

EPs

Title	Release date	Notes
''Visions''	1998
''Fractures in the Facade of Your Porcelain Beauty''	2001

Compilations

Title	Release date	Notes
''The Best of...''	2007	#103 (U.S.)

Singles

Year	Title	Chart positions			Album
		U.S. Hot 100	U.S. Modern Rock	U.S. Mainstream Rock
2002	"Ain't Love Grand"	-	-	-	''Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses''
2002	"Lip Gloss and Black"	-	-	-	''Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses''
2004	"Bleeding Mascara"	-	-	-	'' The Curse''
2005	"Right Side of the Bed"	-	-	-	''The Curse''
2005	"The Crimson"	-	-	-	''The Curse''
2006	"Her Portrait in Black"	-	-	-
2006	"Ex's and Oh's"	-	-	24	''A Death-Grip on Yesterday''
2007	"The Theft"	-	-	-	''A Death-Grip on Yesterday''
2007	"Shameful"	-	-	-	''A Death-Grip on Yesterday''
2007	"Untitled Finale"	-	-	-	''A Death-Grip on Yesterday''
2007	"Becoming the Bull"	-	36	21	''Lead Sails Paper Anchor''

References

1. "Interview With Punk Band Atreyu." TruePunk.com
2. Rough Edge - SURREAL SUCCESS: An Interview with Travis Miguel of ATREYU Ray Van Horn, Jr.
3. "Interview With Punk Band Atreyu."
Hard Rock
TruePunk.com
4. metalunderground - Interview With Dan Jacobs From Atreyu darkstar
5. "Atreyu History." Atreyu
6. "Interview With Punk Band Atreyu." TruePunk.com
7. PopMatters - Atreyu - The Curse Review Adrien Begrand
8. punkbands.com - Atreyu - The Curse Review
9. Deadtide.com - Atreyu - The Curse Review Peter Johnston

External links

★ Official website

★ Official fan club

★

★ Interview with Alex of Atreyu

★ Atreyu on Stereokiller