History
Early Years
Atreyu formed in sunny, bright Orange County, California back in 1998. Originally under the name Retribution, but found out that another band from Hemet, California already used that name. They changed their name to Atreyu, after the character from the fantasy movie The Neverending Story.
Atreyu's independent EP release, Visions was released somewhere between 1998 and 1999, and was sold at their live performances. Their second release, Fractures in the Facade of Your Porcelain Beauty was a short EP released by underground label Tribunal Records and featured tracks that would be re-worked in later releases. Atreyu signed with Victory Records in 2001, and their most critically acclaimed works would be to come from these releases.
Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses
In 2001, Atreyu signed with Victory Records, who were famous for signing young, upstart metalcore bands and making them successful. In 2002, Atreyu released their first full-length release, Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses. The album was a smash-hit among critics and metalcore fans worldwide. The band's aggressive, raw riffs mixed with Alex Varkatzas's mind-blowing throat-led screams made the album a success. The band also introduced another singer, Brandon Saller, the drummer, who would become more prolific in their later releases, but in this album, his parts were most confined to choruses, and only in certain songs at that.
Commercial Success (The Curse, A Death-Grip on Yesterday)
Atreyu's second album, The Curse, was a radical departure from Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses, as the album had slightly more singing, and focused a lot more on song structure and deep, dark lyrics.. The album also had somewhat of a metal vibe, that only increased due to the song titles, lyrical subjects, and Victory Records' multitude of successful metalcore acts that came from that label. Despite Victory's history of metal bands, Atreyu still remained distant from anything emo and had much more of a dark and gothic feel.
In 2006, Atreyu released their third full-length LP, entitled A Death-Grip on Yesterday that helped further Atreyu's move towards the mainstream. The album was another musical change for Atreyu, yet remained too heavy for radio play, despite the hits Ex's And Oh's and The Theft. The album focused a bit more on a good balance of Brandon Saller's melodic singing vocals and Varkatzas's aggressive screaming, although Varkatzas' can be heard exploring a more melodic side of vocals. The album was met with positive reviews though, as IGN called the album "A brief but potent hissy fit." [3]
Lead Sails Paper Anchor
In early 2007, Atreyu signed a record deal with Hollywood Records, and began to prepare their next album, Lead Sails Paper Anchor. The rumor was that Atreyu would continue in the more mainstream path A Death-Grip on Yesterday had taken them on account of the success of the short EP. In early 2007, Atreyu released a jigsaw puzzle on their website of sorts, as the goal was to put all the audio clips of their new single, Becoming the Bull into correct order, forming the whole song. The album leaked a few days before it's release, and in matter of no time, reviews came out that criticized the album, as the album itself features very little of Atreyu's once prolific, trademark screaming, in favor for more singing as a whole. In 2009, they added Richmond, Indiana guitar player Craig Isaacs to the line-up because they felt it would re-connect them with their hardcore roots.
Touring
In 2006, 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 were featured on the Family Values Tour 2007 with Korn, Evanescence, Flyleaf, Trivium, Hellyeah and Neurosonic. After Family values, They were invited by Linkin Park to accompany them on the Projekt Revolution Tour, 2008 along with: Armor For Sleep, 10 Years, Hawthorn Heights, Street Drum Corps, Ashes Divide, The Bravery, Chris Cornell, and Linkin Park. They will embark on a Full US and EU tour carrying them into winter.
Atreyu's fifth studio album, Congregation of the Damned, was released on October 27, 2009. The album, which was produced by Bob Marlette (Ozzy Osbourne, Airbourne) and mixed by Rich Costey (System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine), was said to be "darker" and "heavier" than the band's previous albums. Prior to release, the album was expected to contain heavier tracks such as "You Were the King, Now You're Unconscious" and "Bleeding Is a Luxury," as well as slower songs such as "Wait for You." According to lead singer Alex Varkatzas, the record is a "mix of everything we've ever done. For every song that's more melodic or rock-driven there's a total shitkicker, and I think that's what makes us a well-rounded band."
The band started a co-headlining tour with Hollywood Undead, Escape The Fate and The Sleeping in October, and as promotion of album have debuted songs like "Bleeding Is A Luxury" at K-Rockathon 14 in New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, NY., and "Gallows". Atreyu has also promoted their new album in many other ways. For example, 5 webisodes, between September 1 to October 20 every two weeks, have been released advertising the album. They describe the album to "Make more sense than the other ones because they finally realize what they are".
Congregation of The Damned debuted at #18 on the Billboard 200, selling 27,412 copies on its first week.
Atreyu went on a hiatus in January 2011, as confirmed by vocalist Alex Varkatzas through a series of Twitter posts. The band stated that they were taking a break from touring and recording to "recharge and focus on other parts of our lives." In their official statement, Atreyu clarified that they were not breaking up but would be taking a long break after 11 years of rocking. During this period, the band members pursued other projects.
Throughout 2012, the members of Atreyu remained involved in their respective side projects.
On May 11, 2013, Atreyu posted a statement on Facebook, asking their fans to repost the message if they wanted the band to write a new song with a sound reminiscent of their second studio album, "The Curse." The band showed an intention to return to a musical style similar to their earlier work.
Atreyu announced their official reunion in July 2014, marking their return to making new music. The band resumed live performances with a headlining show at Chain Reaction on September 11, 2014, followed by an appearance at the Aftershock Festival on September 14, 2014. They released a new song titled "So Others May Live" on their YouTube account and official website on September 5, 2014. Atreyu performed at various festivals and events, including Slipknot's Knotfest in October 2014. In April 2015, they released a limited edition 7" vinyl for Record Store Day featuring "So Others May Live" and a new song called "When the Day Is Done."
In June 2015, Atreyu announced their new album, "Long Live," which was released on September 18, 2015. The album reached number 26 on the Billboard 200 chart. They released a music video for the single "Long Live" in July 2015. The band continued to tour and perform in support of the album.
In 2018, Atreyu revealed plans for a new album and released the single "Anger Left Behind" in August. Their seventh studio album, "In Our Wake," was released on October 12, 2018. They embarked on a tour to promote the album, with support from bands like Memphis May Fire, Ice Nine Kills, and Sleep Signals.
To commemorate their 20th anniversary, Atreyu announced an anniversary tour in August 2019. The tour featured a setlist chosen by fans in an online poll and included support from Whitechapel, He Is Legend, Tempting Fate, and Santa Cruz.
In September 2020, the band confirmed the departure of vocalist Alex Varkatzas. They released the single "Save Us" in October 2020, along with the announcement of several lineup changes. Brandon Saller shifted his focus to clean singing, while Marc McKnight took over unclean vocals. Kyle Rosa joined as the new drummer.
Atreyu's eighth studio album, "Baptize," was released on June 4, 2021, through Spinefarm Records. The album features guest appearances by Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker on the single "Warrior." Prior to the album's release, the band also released the single "Underrated."
Band members
Brandon Saller - vocals (1998-present)
Dan Jacobs - guitar (1998-present)
Travis Miguel - guitar (2001-present)
Marc McKnight - bass and unclean vocals (2002-present)
Kyle Rosa - drums (2020-present)
Former members
Alex Varkatzas - vocals (1998-2020)
Chris Thompson — bass (2001–2003)
Kyle Stanley — bass (1998–2001)
Bryan O'Donnell — bass (1998)
Ain't Love Grand
Atreyu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the back of your head
It's even harder to speak when everything you say
Just comes out wrong
Gutted like a pig, all you want is the world to bleed
Someone somewhere stole your desire
The pain akin', to being punched in the throat
You would rather bleed than be without her
Gone are the tender whispers dancing in your ears
Replaced with lackluster memories you cry
Your screams play in your empty room
It's so hard to see when your eyes are rolling
In the back of your head
It's even harder to speak when everything you say
Just comes out wrong
Your bed swallows you whole as the days bleed together
Torment on the lips of a loved one
And if you try hard enough, you can almost taste her
Feel her pass and scream, oh God why me
You would rather bleed than be without her
Gone are the tender whispers dancing in your ears
Replaced with lackluster memories you cry
Your screams play in your empty room
It's so hard to see when your eyes are rolling
In the back of your head
It's even harder to speak when everything you say
Just comes out wrong
Atreyu's song Ain't Love Grand is a powerful portrayal of heartbreak and the depth of emotions it elicits. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of it, as it talks about how difficult it is to see or speak when you're overwhelmed with emotions. The imagery of eyes rolling in the back of one's head and words coming out wrong help to establish the intensity of what the singer is feeling.
The song then delves into the physical and emotional pain that comes with heartbreak. The metaphor of being gutted like a pig helps to demonstrate just how raw and visceral the pain is, while the image of someone stealing the singer's desire speaks to the loss of all motivation or passion. The physical pain is also addressed through the similes of being punched in the throat and stabbed in the chest.
The latter half of the song takes a closer look at the aftermath of heartbreak. The singer is so consumed by love or their own grief that they would rather bleed than be without the person they lost. The happy memories have been replaced with sadness and tears, and their screams echo in an empty room.
Overall, Ain't Love Grand is a powerful and emotional song that explores heartbreak and the toll it takes on a person. Through its vivid imagery and raw emotion, it speaks to anyone who has ever experienced the pain of love.
Line by Line Meaning
It's so hard to see when your eyes are rolling
In the back of your head
It's difficult to see where you're going when you feel overwhelmed and disoriented.
It's even harder to speak when everything you say
Just comes out wrong
When you're consumed with emotion, it's tough to articulate your thoughts without stumbling over your words.
Gutted like a pig, all you want is the world to bleed
Someone somewhere stole your desire
The pain akin', to being punched in the throat
And stabbed in the chest
Feeling emotionally destroyed, you crave that others feel your pain; you've lost your passion, and the agony is beyond physical.
You would rather bleed than be without her
Gone are the tender whispers dancing in your ears
Replaced with lackluster memories you cry
Your screams play in your empty room
Losing the person you love causes unbearable anguish; their sweet nothings replaced with dull memories drive you to tears, alone in a now-empty place.
Your bed swallows you whole as the days bleed together
Torment on the lips of a loved one
And if you try hard enough, you can almost taste her
Feel her pass and scream, oh God why me
You're consumed by despair, clueless of the passing days, and a loved one's words inflict more grief; every moment without your significant other is torture, and you scream out of agony and desperation.
It's so hard to see when your eyes are rolling
In the back of your head
It's even harder to speak when everything you say
Just comes out wrong
Feeling disoriented and overwhelmed continues to make it challenging to navigate life and communicate properly.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Brandon Saller, Christopher Gordon Thomson, Daniel Louis Jacobs, Ektor Alexander Varkatzas, Travis William Miguel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
vlad89
It's so hard to see when your eyes are rolling
In the back of your head
It's even harder to speak when everything you say
Just comes out wrong
Gutted like a pig, all you want is the world to bleed
Someone somewhere stole your desire
The pain akin', to being punched in the throat
And stabbed in the chest
You would rather bleed than be without her
Gone are the tender whispers dancing in your ears
Replaced with lackluster memories you cry
Your screams play in your empty room
It's so hard to see when your eyes are rolling
In the back of your head
It's even harder to speak when everything you say
Just comes out wrong
Your bed swallows you whole as the days bleed together
Torment on the lips of a loved one
And if you try hard enough, you can almost taste her
Feel her pass and scream, oh God why me
You would rather bleed than be without her
Gone are the tender whispers dancing in your ears
Replaced with lackluster memories you cry
Your screams play in your empty room
It's so hard to see when your eyes are rolling
In the back of your head
It's even harder to speak when everything you say
Just comes out wrong
Joe Duran
When u completely forget about a song and years and years later you still know word for word. Still gives me goosebumps
F i N Nilrebna
Welcome back. Some of us never left.
shane
isn't it weird how you listen to this as a kid and think of it as just a really good song and now a few years later, you know everything they say and feel it deep down
AMirrorForAFace
Rqvs yeah it's trippy af
LucidDream
I guess I was a little mature for my age, but I felt it even back then....still do. I was in high school when this was out. And was pretty fucked up to say the least. Though I guess it's content probably means a little more to me now, for sure. Because I've been there. One relationship in particular that carried on from the end of my high school days til only about a year ago. "Your bed swallows you whole as the days bleed together." Literally so distracted and depressed that I forget what day it is. Kinda describes the pain I felt towards the end. Even though it only stopped last year...there were problems for many years and I spent a lot of it being depressed and closed off from everyone. Still kinda am. "Replaced with lackluster memories you cry." Like the memories are just bittersweet memories now. They aren't as great as they felt when making them. You miss them, but they are too painful to recall anymore. Because they aren't reality. And you can't feel how good they used to make you feel, at least not in a tangible way.
shane
LucidDream yeah man, i know exactly what you mean bro
Duck Twacy
@LucidDream hope your doing good
XxMayhemxX666
truly said because this song hit really hard some time later down the road for me but that’s what these songs are there for 🤘🏼 to get you through everything
If you like METAL
2020 we bring this back 🤘🤘🤘WHOS WITH ME
Leanna Wolfe
Hail yayuh