Back with their tenth album, Atreyu have been incredibly stable over the years with Brandon Saller (lead vocals, keyboards, backing vocals), Dan Jacobs (guitar, backing vocals), Travis Miguel (guitar, backing vocals) and Porter McKnight (bass, unclean vocals) having been there for decades and this is the third album to feature “newbie” Kyle Rosa (drums). They have certainly managed to move on from the departure of founding lead singer Alex Varkatzas in 2020 and have now returned with what the band are calling their heaviest album yet.
When I first came across their second album, ‘The Curse’, all the way back in 2004 I knew this was a band who were a little out of the ordinary, and alongside Killswitch Engage and Avenged Sevenfold they really set the scene alight. Since then I have kept a close eye on their output, and there is no doubt this is probably their finest album since then in my opinion. They combine metalcore, post hardcore, punk and pop to be quite unlike anyone else, highly melodic when the time is right with loads of hooks and crunching with growls when they decide to take it in a different direction. Acoustic guitars and soaring harmonies? Why not. But then contrast “Wait My Love, I’ll Be Home” with “Children of Light” which features a certain Max Cavalera and the mosh is immense as the band move in a very different direction indeed. Nearly 30 years on from their inception Atreyu are proving with their tenth album that they are still incredibly relevant and rocking up a storm.
Rating: 9/10
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Atreyu/
https://www.spinefarmrecords.com/