Alex Varkatzas

Alex Varkatzas
Varkatzas with Atreyu in 2006
Background information
Born	(1982-01-17) January 17, 1982 (age 35)
Genres	Metalcore, post-hardcore
Occupation(s)	Vocalist

Alex Varkatzas (born January 17, 1982) is the lead vocalist and lyricist for the metalcore band Atreyu. He performs the screamed vocals found in the band's music, but began performing more clean vocals starting with the band's 2007 album Lead Sails Paper Anchor. In 2011, following the band's hiatus, Varkatzas also started a hardcore project with Bleeding Through vocalist, Brandan Schieppati, named I Am War.

At 14, Varkatzas, along with guitarist Dan Jacobs and drummer Brandon Saller, formed a punk band called Retribution. By 1998, when Varkatzas was 16, Retribution developed a heavier style and changed names to Atreyu, as seen on their 1998 independent release, Visions. After their 2001 EP, Fractures in the Facade of Your Porcelain Beauty, fell into the hands of Victory Records, the band signed to Victory and released their debut album, Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses in 2002. Since then, the band has released four other albums before embarking on hiatus,: The Curse in 2004, A Death-Grip on Yesterday in 2006, Lead Sails Paper Anchor in 2007, and Congregation of the Damned in 2009. After ten years of worldwide success, the band went on hiatus.

On July 1, 2014, the band officially announced their return from Hiatus by playing several festivals including Aftershock and Slipknot's Knotfest. A new single was released on their official YouTube channel titled "So Others May Live" and plans for a new album titled "Long Live". Long Live was released on September 18, 2015.