Atreyu | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Orange County, California, United States |
Genres | Metalcore, alternative metal, post-hardcore |
Years active | 1998–2011, 2014–present |
Labels |
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Associated acts |
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Website | atreyuofficial |
Members |
Alex Varkatzas Brandon Saller Dan Jacobs Travis Miguel Marc McKnight |
Past members | Chris Thompson Kyle Stanley Brian O'Donnell |
Atreyu is an American metalcore band from Orange County, California, formed in 1998. The band consists of vocalist Alex Varkatzas, lead guitarist Dan Jacobs, rhythm guitarist Travis Miguel, bassist Porter (Marc) McKnight and drummer/vocalist Brandon Saller.
They have released six studio albums: Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses (2002), The Curse (2004), A Death-Grip On Yesterday (2006), Lead Sails Paper Anchor (2007), Congregation of the Damned (2009), and Long Live (2015)
Originally named Retribution, they changed their name to "Atreyu" after the character of the same name from Michael Ende's fantasy book The Neverending Story. The name change came because of a change of members and progressive musical styling. In 1998, Atreyu released an independent seven-track EP titled Visions. The album was sold at their live performances. Their second release, was a short five-track EP titled Fractures in the Facade of Your Porcelain Beauty released by underground label Tribunal Records and featured tracks that would be re-worked for later releases. Atreyu signed with Victory Records in 2001, and their most critically acclaimed works would be to come from these releases.
In 2001, Atreyu signed with Victory Records, later releasing in 2002 their first full-length album Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses. The band also introduced a second singer, Brandon Saller, the drummer, who would become more prolific in their later releases. However, for Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses, his parts were largely confined to choruses. Music videos were filmed for the singles "Ain't Love Grand" and "Lip Gloss and Black." The latter video found significant airplay on Headbangers Ball and Uranium in fall of 2003, gaining Atreyu some of its initial mainstream attention.