Atreyu
A Death Grip On Yesterday
Victory Records, March 2006
Offensive words: 14+
Genre: screamo/metal/hardcore
Also make sure and check out Staple
and Underoath.
A Death-Grip on Yesterday takes their dedication to new heights with great metallic rock songs, mind-boggling guitar runs and the dynamic brutality they are known for. The album was produced in collaboration with Josh Abraham, known for his work with Velvet Revolver, Korn and Staind; it shows off Atreyu’s trademark incendiary guitars and soaring choruses with a thunderous rhythm section framing each track. Lyrically, Atreyu comes out swinging, with solid blows against hypocrisy, betrayal and corruption. “This record is a journey for me,” singer Alex Varkatzas said, “It is shedding the past and growing beyond it, and all that it entails.” The album was written in just two months in the fall of 2005 and with pre-production nailed down a few weeks later, Atreyu descended on Pulse Studios in the Silver Lake section of Los Angeles. The band discovered that in producer Abraham and engineer Ryan Williams they were able to deliver their songs with a whole new dimension of heaviness they had been looking for.
Music
Ok, so I wasn't so nice about Atreyu's last album. This album
has them growing into a more mature melodic metal approach which shows
some signs of their own signature uniqueness. On my early release
version (the track listing changed order on the released copy),
"Creature" kicks off the album with an aggressive approach but
at the same time a melodic backing melody. The songs has some
incredible breakouts on the drums and guitars. An amazing start to
the album. "Shameful" continues on with more of a screamo
approach. "Our Sick Story" shows some great drumming and
powerful bass lines. It is a appealing with a hardcore feel. The album has
some great diversity with a solid mix of hardcore, screamo and
metal. "Ex's and Oh's" has some incredible guitar solos
with an amazing metal feel. The album is an amazing improvement from their
last album. The overall feel has changed with a more solid approach
to hold onto metal. A weakness, only 9 tracks.
Lyrically/Vocally
The album takes on the dark side of love throughout the album. A
few sexual overtones, mentions of getting drunk and lots of violent images
are mixed in. I personally am not a fan of the stylistic approach
Atreyu chose to take. The album deals straight on with issues of betrayal
and even redemption in relationships. Seems a solid mix for a screamo
based album. Alex Varkatzas rips it apart on this album. Mixing
amazing screaming vocals with solid singing. It is a solid mix with the
screamo influence. The screaming is incredible.
Overall, this album is such an improvement musically over the last. Lyryically, the band is sticking with a darker focus as it approaches tough issues with relationships.
"Ex's and Oh's"
You took me home
I drank too much
Cause of you my liver turned to dust
Cold rust taste, cold creeping cold pain
Do you understand what I mean?
When you feel your soul drop to the floor
Like a hole like an open bleeding sore
Then you'll have bled like I've bled
Then you'll have wept as I've wept
Suck me down, it's time to rock and roll
Let's hit the bar, let's lose control
One false move; you took me home
One false move; you're all alone
But it looks so good and it feels so nice
I've paid my price
I'll cut you out just to hear you scream:
"Get away from, get away from me".
And I can feel my heart beat racing
As I realize what I must do
Get away from, get away from, get away from you.
"My Fork In the Road"
So Here We Are Again
The Same Fork in the Road
I Hate You You Love Me
This Story’s Getting Old
The Days That I Opened Up
You Shut Me Out For Good
F*** It! F*** It! F*** You!
You Are a Liar and a Whore
So Take What You Want and Leave
You'll Never Get another Part Of