Atreyu
American metalcore band formed in 1998 in California.
Atreyu, a metalcore band from Yorba Linda, California, started in 1998. The group originally called itself Retribution but switched to Atreyu, a name taken from the character Atreju in Michael Ende’s *The Neverending Story*, after a lineup change and a shift in musical style. That same year, they put out a seven-track EP, *Visions*, sold only at live shows. A second EP, *Fractures in the Facade of Your Porcelain Beauty*, came out on Tribunal Records and included songs later reworked for bigger releases.
The early lineup featured guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, lead vocalist Alex Varkatzas, and bassist Kyle Stanley. They had no drummer until 1998, when Ryan Saller brought in his younger brother Brandon Saller to play drums on *Visions*. Brandon Saller later became a second vocalist, taking on more prominent singing roles in later albums. In 2001, Atreyu signed with Victory Records. Their first studio album, *Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses* (2002), had Saller’s vocals mostly limited to choruses. Music videos for “Ain’t Love Grand” and “Lip Gloss and Black” got airplay on Headbangers Ball and Uranium in fall 2003, giving the band its first mainstream exposure. After Kyle Stanley left, Chris Thomson filled in briefly before Marc “Porter” McKnight took over bass in 2004.
The second album, *The Curse* (2004), sold 450,000 copies. Atreyu contributed a cover of Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” to the *Mr. and Mrs. Smith* soundtrack and “Her Portrait in Black” to *Underworld: Evolution*. “Right Side of the Bed” appeared in the video game *Burnout 3: Takedown*. Their third album, *A Death-Grip on Yesterday* (March 2006), hit number 9 on the Billboard 200 with 69,000 first-week sales. The single “Ex’s and Oh’s” was on the *Madden NFL 07* soundtrack. Critics noted a balance between Saller’s melodic singing and Varkatzas’s screaming.
In early 2007, Atreyu signed with Hollywood Records for the U.S. and Roadrunner Records internationally. The fourth album, *Lead Sails Paper Anchor* (August 2007), debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200 with 43,000 copies sold. The U.S. version included a cover of Faith No More’s “Epic”; European and Australian copies had a cover of The Descendents’ “Clean Sheets.” The album marked a noticeable shift in sound and received mixed reviews. The band toured the U.S.
Quick Facts
- Landscape
- yes
- Origin
- Yorba Linda, California, U.S.
- Genre
- Metalcore / post-hardcore / alternative metal / hard rock
- Years Active
- 1998–2011 / 2014–present
- Label
- Tribunal / Victory / Hollywood / Roadrunner / Spinefarm
- Current Members
- Dan Jacobs / Brandon Saller / Travis Miguel / Marc McKnight / Kyle Rosa
- Past Members
- Alex Varkatzas / Brian O'Donnell / Kyle Stanley / Chris Thomson
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Originally named Retribution, the band changed their name to Atreyu after the character Atreju from Michael Ende's fantasy book The Neverending Story. The name change came because of a change of members and a progression in their musical styling. In 1998, Atreyu released an independent seven-track EP titled Visions, sold at live performances. Their second release was a five-track EP titled Fractures in the Facade of Your Porcelain Beauty, released by underground label Tribunal Records. Atreyu signed with Victory Records in 2001. The lineup originally consisted of guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, lead vocalist Alex Varkatzas, and bassist Kyle Stanley. They did not have a drummer until 1998 when Ryan Saller invited his younger brother Brandon Saller to join as drummer.
In 2001, Atreyu signed with Victory Records, r
Reader's Guide
Atreyu's significance lies in their role as a prominent metalcore band from the late 1990s onward, helping to define the genre's blend of aggressive screaming and melodic singing. Their early work on Victory Records, particularly The Curse, achieved substantial commercial success and brought metalcore to a wider audience through video game and film soundtracks. The band's evolution in sound, especially with Lead Sails Paper Anchor, showed a shift toward more accessible rock elements while maintaining heavy roots. Their ability to sustain a career over multiple decades, with ten studio albums and lineup changes, demonstrates their lasting influence in the metalcore scene. Atreyu's legacy includes helping to popularize the dual-vocalist dynamic and serving as a bridge between underground metal and mainstream rock audiences.
Did You Know?
- The band's name comes from the character Atreju in Michael Ende's fantasy book The Neverending Story.
- Atreyu's cover of Bon Jovi's 'You Give Love a Bad Name' was featured on the soundtrack to the film Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
- The band's second album, The Curse, sold 450,000 copies.
- Drummer Brandon Saller originally joined the band in 1998 after his brother Ryan invited him.
More in American alternative metal musical groups 1-24
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