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)
This Flesh A Tomb
Atreyu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And they lacerate my flesh
A pain so good
So put your hand in mine
Never let go
Never wake up
'Cause I'm done with promises
I'm taking blood oaths
My imperfections away
And I would stand
Stand by your side
Until the sun turns the sky
All the colors I see in your eyes
And I'll never need to see the sun again
There's enough light in your eyes
To light up our little world
So take me, take me away
Kill me slowly
I'll never be the same
And I swear to you on everything I am
And I dedicate to you all that I have
And I promise you that I'll stand right by your side
Forever and always until the day I die
The bite marks on my neck
Never felt so good
I'm losing control
And it's all that I can do
Not to blackout
And fall into lust with you
Your kisses infect me
The dark gift is loving you
And I'll never need to see the sun again
There's enough light in your eyes
To light up our little world
So take me, take me away
Kill me slowly
I'll never be the same
And I feel immortal
And I want to make you feel the same
So stand by me
As we immolate
We can burn in each other's arms
And I feel immortal
And I want to make you feel the same
So stand by me
As we immolate
We can burn in each other's arms
Atreyu's "This Flesh A Tomb" is a love song that explores the dark side of a passionate relationship. The lyrics describe a rough physical connection between two people that borders on violence, but is ultimately fulfilling for both. The line "I feel eyelashes on my cheek, and they lacerate my flesh" suggests that the love the singer feels is not gentle, but rather intense to the point of causing pain. The singer has given up on promises and instead takes a blood oath to show his dedication. The line "Feels like you could kiss my imperfections, my imperfections away" suggests that the singer's partner accepts him for who he is, flaws and all.
The chorus repeats the idea that the singer does not need anything else in the world as long as he has his partner's love. The imagery of the sun serves as a metaphor for everything outside of their relationship, which has lost its importance. The line "kill me slowly, I'll never be the same" shows the power that the love has over the singer, as it has changed him forever.
The second verse continues to explore the idea of losing control to love, with the bite marks on the singer's neck representing a physical manifestation of the intensity of the relationship. The line "Your kisses infect me, the dark gift is loving you" suggests that the love is all-consuming, and the darker aspects of it only serve to make it stronger. The chorus repeats again, with the singer feeling like he and his partner are immortal and that their love will never die. The idea of burning in each other's arms suggests a passionate end to their physical connection.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel eyelashes on my cheek
I feel the soft touch of someone else's eyelashes brushing against my skin
And they lacerate my flesh
However, their subtle touch is so intense that it feels like they are cutting into my skin
A pain so good
In spite of the pain, I find it so irresistible that it feels incredibly good
So put your hand in mine
Hold my hand and stay close to me
Never let go
Promise me that you'll never leave my side
Never wake up
Let us stay in this moment forever, never to wake up to reality
'Cause I'm done with promises
I don't want to hear more empty promises anymore
I'm taking blood oaths
Rather, I am committed to taking a solemn pledge and make a strong bond with you
Feels like you could kiss my imperfections
It seems like you are the only one who can embrace even my flaws and mistakes
My imperfections away
Your love has the power to help me outgrow my shortcomings
And I would stand
I vow to stand beside you
Stand by your side
In all moments, good or bad, I will be your unwavering ally
Until the sun turns the sky
I will be with you until the end of time
All the colors I see in your eyes
I see a spectrum of emotions and depths of love in your eyes
And I'll never need to see the sun again
Your presence is more than enough to light up my world, I don't need anything else
There's enough light in your eyes
With you, I have all the light I need
To light up our little world
Together, in our own little world, we can create happiness
So take me, take me away
Take me with you, let's escape from everything else
Kill me slowly
Even if it means slowly losing who I was before, I choose to be with you
I'll never be the same
Being with you has changed me forever, I cannot go back to who I was before
And I swear to you on everything I am
I promise you with all of my being
And I dedicate to you all that I have
I offer you everything that I am and everything I own
And I promise you that I'll stand right by your side
I will always be there for you, no matter what
Forever and always until the day I die
Till the end of my life, I'll be faithful to you
The bite marks on my neck
The marks that you made on me signify your possession over me
Never felt so good
I never felt so alive and passionate before
I'm losing control
Your presence is so intense that I feel like I'm losing my sense of self
And it's all that I can do
I cannot control myself around you
Not to blackout
I must try not to lose myself entirely to my desires
And fall into lust with you
I must not act only on my physical desires
Your kisses infect me
Every kiss from you consumes me, infecting me with your love
The dark gift is loving you
Moreover, to love you the way that I do is sinful and a beautiful thing all at once
And I feel immortal
Being with you gives me a sense of invincibility
And I want to make you feel the same
And I want you to feel the same way being with me
So stand by me
Join me by my side
As we immolate
In the name of our love, let us burn
We can burn in each other's arms
Even if we both get hurt, we can stay together, being there for each other always
We can burn in each other's arms
Even if we both get hurt, we can stay together, being there for each other always
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Brandon Saller, Daniel Jacobs, Ektor Varkatzas, Travis Miguel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SlammedZero
Not only is this song epic but the nostalgia is so real! It takes me back to good days. Enjoy your time kids. Enjoy every damn minute of it because it's slowly expiring before your eyes.
vatoXlocos
Nothing but facts. I first listened to Atreyu over 15 years ago in high scool and this brings back so much memories😭
shanfer123
2019 and I'm still listening. What a song.
Ali Saurus
This song is darkly beautiful.
Angel Martinez
Something about it is so beautiful
Seth I'Anson
I’m suddenly 18 again, driving around in my Volvo with a trunk full of skateboards
I sub back. just leave comment on video.
I'm 32 an I still have a trunk full of skateboards
de'angelo bayley
Fuck yeah bro
epicfailmage
Song never gets old--always loved this CD
Progressive Politics & Cannabis Culture
One of the first bands I started listening to the drums with .... helped make me the metal drummer I am today 🤘🏻