Review Summary: Atreyu's major-label debut is one of heavy criticism and hard-to-digest change.
Progression is the dividing line for many bands around the world. Progression is often the source of ridicule, and is often the source of praise. With Atreyu, its been the source of praise.
A Death-Grip on Yesterday was by far Atreyu's best and most accomplished work, and that's not saying much for most metalcore fans. The band is arguably the most ridiculed and criticisized metalcore band, and for good reason. Their debut EP,
Fractures in the Facade of Your Porcleain Beauty was a chore to listen to, as it was overly raw, irritating, and Varkatzas' sounded as if he was choking on an apple during the album's lead vocals, which were all screams. When
Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses was introduced, the band seemed to iron out the rough edges from their EP in their first full-length album while keeping the over-done screaming vocals. Atreyu's second full-length album changed things up a bit, as
The Curse sat nicely as a transitional album, as the screaming was toned down, and the back-up singer, Brandon Saller, had a more influential part in Atreyu's music. The band continued to progressively make more mainstream and easily accessible albums, and before you know it,
Lead Sails Paper Anchor hits shelves and spits in the face of all the critics across the country; most notably in the song
Blow.
Atreyu has put themselves in rather a compromising spot with their third full-length album,
Lead Sails Paper Anchor. They aren't the scream-heavy metalcore band they once were, nor are they a mainstream hard rock band. They've nicely edged themselves into a rather hard spot, while keeping their dedicated fans happy and satisfied while limiting their potential growth from mainstream success. That's right,
Lead Sails Paper Anchor is a lot different than
The Curse, as well as
A Death-Grip on Yesterday, because those who expected another
A Death-Grip on Yesterday will be disappointed. This album,
Lead Sails Paper Anchor is neither, and nothing like Atreyu's ever done. There's still plenty of thrash-like drum rhythms and fast, furious guitar riffs, but the screaming is toned down, as well as the vocals as a whole. Varkatzas' vocals are toned down, for a more easily accessible and appealing singing tone. There's still
some screaming, but there's not as much as previously, and it still works. In fact, the song with the most screaming would have to be
Can't Happen Here, which is a lot like Atreyu's later work; most notably
A Death-Grip on Yesterday. Or, you've got the song
Blow which spits in the face of all the critics that criticize their music, and say they sold out, packaged up in a wonderful, little throwback to 80s hair metal, complete with a profane main verse and rough guitars.
Let's stop focusing on how different this album is, and how much potential this album shows. Songs like
Doomsday and
Becoming the Bull urge to be classic Atreyu hits, as well as potential radio hits. That's right; its that accessible, but much more varied than what you hear on the radio. Its edgy, in your face, and aggressive-even with the toned down vocals.
When Two are One is easily one of the heaviest, most aggressive tracks on the album, as it flows from a solemn guitar riff into a crazed drum rhythm and into pre-chorus screams. Saller adds tons to the song, as its catchy, and his voice works well with the tempo and flow of the song. The 'title' track
Lead Sails (and a Paper Anchor) is pretty bad and mediocre, as it sounds almost like a country song, and the bonus track cover of Faith No More's
Epic completely butchers the song as a whole quite simply because Varkatzas sounds absolutely horrendous in the verses and the bridge. There's still some catchy hooks, tunes, and choruses in this album, and they are much more a-plenty than in any other Atreyu album. The songs are also fairly varied and easy to tell apart, even though the song structures remain the same for the most part.
What's the biggest problem with
Lead Sails Paper Anchor? This time around, its not Alex Varkatzas' screams, its Brandon Saller. No, its not his drumming either. He has become such a big part of the vocal attack on
Lead Sails Paper Anchor that his voice feels overused, boring, and irritating in plenty of the songs. He sounds a whole lot different than he did in their last album as well, as his voice is all layered, distorted, and seems to knaw into your ears, especially in songs like
Honor and
Slow Burn. He dominates so many of the songs, which is a major drawback on account that there's not much to set Atreyu apart anymore. Saller sounds just like every other scene/emo/metalcore lead singer out there. His voice is jammed down your throat on so many songs with the irriating layers and distortions that it feels so unoriginal and irritating by the last song. Varkatzas, on the other hand, while his screams get a bit undesirable and 'sound as if he's choking on an apple', has a unique and excellent singing voice. As stated before, Atreyu is trying to focus more on Varkatzas' singing vocals rather than his aggressive screams, and
Lead Sails Paper Anchor does just that.
Doomsday features nice, aggressive, thrash-metal influenced vocals that add tons to the songs on this album.
Hands down, this is Atreyu's
In Utero. This will be the most controversial Atreyu album to date, and while not excellent, its good and helps pass the time. Their unique take on metalcore helps bring harder music to the mainstream, while keeping the metalheads and die-hard fans in check. Atreyu has also toned their lyrics a bit more away from the overly dark, almost emo feel of albums like
The Curse. The songs aren't about suicide and cutting yourself anymore, they focus more on issues at hand and more typical rock topics. Goodbye to
Five Vicodin Chased With a Shot of Clarity, hello to
Honor and
Becoming the Bull. The album also teeters in between Atreyu's career, and comes off as a..."Anthology" of Atreyu's career, much better than Victory Records' miserable
Best of Atreyu. There's screaming, as well as melodic singing. This is the 'in-between' album that will set which way Atreyu chooses to go with the rest of the career. Naysayers will toss it aside and say its bad because its Atreyu, but open-minded rock listeners will find an enjoyable album that gives hope and potential for future Atreyu releases.
DOWNLOAD:
Doomsday
Becoming the Bull
When Two are One
