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Rating: Hello, Roadrunner Records? Listen, I wanted to report a printing error on the cover of the Atreyu CD I bought. What’s wrong with it? Well, the name written on the liner notes is correct, everything has been meticulously taken care of, but then the music recorded on the CD doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the American band. What do you say? There is no error of any kind? What I listened to is indeed Atreyu? I apologize and thank you for your courtesy, goodbye!
Do you remember that band that was top of the class in the metalcore scene? Well, you should know that it no longer exists. Atreyu, loved or hated as they were, are preparing to make a big step towards the mainstream with the album "Lead Sails Paper Anchor," released two years after their previous work.
Everything begins with the farewell to Victory Records and signing with Roadrunner Records. The production of the new album was entrusted to John Feldmann, who has already worked on decidedly commercial projects like Hilary Duff, Ashley Simpson, and Good Charlotte.
The first sore point is definitely the cover because that of "A Death-Grip On Yesterday" impressed us with its refinement and originality, worth the price of the CD alone. The new artwork, however, is of questionable taste, but it best represents the atmosphere in the Atreyu camp: a sinking ship and a skeleton announce the band's decline and the death of their metalcore.
Let’s move on to the songs. The most evident change is almost the complete disappearance of the screamed parts by singer Alex Varkatzas, in favor of more melodic tones, showing how he has significantly improved his singing. Good or bad? I'd lean towards the latter because since the singer learned to sing, Atreyu has moved towards a formula predominantly consisting of emo allure sprinkled with pop-punk simplicity.
The album opens with "Doomsday," a song that is quite indicative of the new course taken by Atreyu: a verse halfway between screamed and sung, and an unequivocally catchy chorus, in which the voice of drummer Saller stands out; the same approach is taken with "Honor," another song with a similar structure that certainly doesn't stand out for originality but is notable for its detachment from the band's typical lyrical themes. "Falling Down" is instead an atypical piece for the band, led by a Green Day-like rhythm and a melody that is always catchy but forced, a symptom that the band struggles to navigate a field so far removed from their original genre. In the first single "Becoming The Bull," distant thrash metal influences a la Slayer are combined in a song that reminds of Avenged Sevenfold, but still endowed with some interesting and original parts.
But perhaps the album's most successful song is "When Two Are One," which skillfully combines a heavy metal rhythm adorned with exquisitely technical solos (definitely approaching the old Atreyu) with Varkatzas' screamed singing, which comes back to prominence. "Lose it" is also well-crafted, with its strong metal-core and emo influences, and it features an excellent intertwining of Varkatzas and Saller's voices, but from this point, the album returns to lower levels, offering less inspired songs among which "Can’t Happen Here," the episode perhaps closest to the old Atreyu, and "Slow Burn," dominated by an instrumental dance rhythm in the style of Panic! At The Disco and a shamelessly emo chorus, stand out. Of certainly lower quality is the sing-song "Blow," a forcibly glam song where the band once again ventures into too steep territories without adding originality, while the concluding ballad "Lead Sails (And a Paper Anchor)," though not a masterpiece, is enjoyable in its soft and impactful yet simple melodies.
If it's true, as the band itself admits, that the quintet wanted to broaden its musical horizons, evolving and renewing itself, it's also true that this move, subsequent to a major contract, can cause some raised eyebrows, also noting that this musical eclecticism seems in many songs forced and not very inspired (especially "Falling Down" and "Blow"). The main problem of this new work is indeed its connection to the previous ones: Atreyu has changed perhaps without respecting that musical base that was their identity, their distinctive trademark, which could have made a new work of theirs appreciated even if very different from the others (as done, albeit with completely different dynamics but in an effective way, by Thrice with "Vheissu"). Those approaching the world of Atreyu for the first time with this album might certainly find it interesting, but those who were already fans of the band will find it in many parts unrecognizable, though perhaps still able to appreciate it.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Doomsday (03:19)
Go!
Verse:
A rush of blood, to my head
Leaves me winded and wanting
To feel the weakness, in my body
Beaten and crushed like my soul
I walked the streets flirting death
But it never kissed back
I'm so lucky so cursed so fucked up
But that's the way that it goes
It's in the ebb and the flow
I wish that I could give you my time
GIVE YOU MY TIME
Chorus:
Seems like doomsday has come early this year
The last angel has gone
I can't remember the last time I cried
The last angel has gone home
Verse:
The memories stacking up
And they pull at my guts
What do I have to do to end it?
The better days hacked away
Leaving me only pain
This regret is never ending
But in the blink of an eye
This life passes you by
I wish that I could give you my time
GIVE YOU MY TIME
Chorus:
Seems like doomsday has come early this year
The last angel has gone (angel has gone)
I can't remember the last time I cried (last time I cried)
The last angel has gone home (angel has gone)
I can't remember, I can't remember, I can't remember the last time I cried
Chorus:
Seems like doomsday has come early this year
The last angel has gone (angel has gone)
I can't remember the last time I cried (last time I cried)
The last angel has gone home (ANGEL HAS GONE)
Oh!
02 Honor (03:08)
Resolute a stance of defiance
Always teetering on the bring
Nothing can hold you back when
When you're not holding back a thing
Open arms (we) embrace tomorrow
Closed fists, tarnishing today
We're not afraid to open our mouths and scream
We believe in what we say
(chorus:)
Like a whisper to the dusk
An oath against the shadows
Denying the dark
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT 'til the break of dawn
Like a prayer unto the dawn
In arms against the shadows
Destroying the dark
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT 'till the break of dawn
Covered in sweat and blood
Yet still out heads held high
Actions have consequences
When you life for foolish pride
Been careful not to lose ourselves
Stand together one passion one hate
We believe in a better tomorrow
We believe in what we say
(chorus:)
Like a whisper to the dusk
An oath against the shadows
Denying the dark
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT 'til the break of dawn
Like a prayer unto the dawn
In arms against the shadows
Destroying the dark
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT 'till the break of dawn
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT 'till the break of dawn
We'll fight our battles we'll wage our wars
Settle the scores with honor and blood
We'll wear our scars like medals of hope
Like medals of hope
Like medals of hope
We'll fight our battles we'll wage our wars
Settle the scores with honor and blood
We'll wear our scars like medals of hope
Like medals of hope
Like medals of hope
(chorus:)
Like a whisper to the dusk
An oath against the shadows
Denying the dark
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT 'til the break of dawn
Like a prayer unto the dawn
In arms against the shadows
Destroying the dark (whisper to the dusk)
In arms against the shadows
Destroying the dark (whisper to the dusk)
In arms against the shadows
Destroying the dark (whisper to the dusk )
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT 'till the break of dawn
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT 'till the break of dawn
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT 'till the break of dawn
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT 'till the break of dawn
03 Falling Down (02:59)
You're always looking back
running from the past
You're always sweating me
about the next big heart attack
you're looking over your shoulder
staring down the path
I'm falling down
falling down
falling down
Chorus
It's in your head
all the voices mistaken
(shake it off, shake it off)
We're all dying in the end (X2)
I terrify me, images so horrible
(so horrible)
To clear my thoughts
I drill a hole into my skull
clean up my brains
sweep them underneath the rug
I need them more than I needed
any other drug
Im falling down
falling down
falling down
Chorus X2
Come on!
Im falling down
falling down
falling down
Chorus X2
HEY! [said a few times]
sing it!
04 Becoming the Bull (03:40)
Come on!!!
Grab the bull by the horns the old adage goes
Nobody tells you where to go from there
Perceived my fate full in you
Decisions have to be made
The best path is the hardest earned
[Chorus]
Back and forth the struggle consumes us all
Trying to keep a level head
In the most unsettling of times
Today I'll become the bull
There is so much at stake
I stumble I lose my place
Pride and arrogance surrounded by sin
Destiny takes it's hold
Fight it or let it go
But I choose how the day will end
G-G-G-G-Go!!
[Chorus]
Back and forth the struggle consumes us all
Trying to keep a level head
In the most unsettling of times
Today I'll become the bull [x2]
This small heart can get lonely
I lose myself inside myself
No one can touch you when you're outside staring in
Remove myself from this rat race
[Chorus]
Back and forth the struggle consumes us all
Trying to keep a level head
The most unsettling of times
Today I'll become the bull [x5]
05 When Two Are One (04:40)
BANG!
Explosions in my head that just won't quit
A train has crashed into the wall around my heart and left the old me dead
Obliterated
STOP!
My breathing in the night when you're not there
The silence ringing through my ears and all I want to do is hear your voice
But you're not there
Drawn Together
Painter's brush stroke
Sleight of hand
We won't go up in smoke
Fates colliding
Love undying
Like the rising tide
Beating hearts grow but never die
To simplify
I'll stand by your side
Close my eyes
Hope will never die
Like the rising tide
Beating hearts grow but never die
To simplify
I'll stand by your side
Close my eyes
Hope will never die
GO!
And take away the pain of being me
Soothe my soul caress my heart and
end my fear all my bad memories
Eradicated
PAIN!
Like gunshots heard against a silent night
My love is louder than these words
They're stronger than the rest, unstoppable
unstoppable
Drawn together
Painter's brush stroke
Slight of hand
We won't go up in smoke
Fates colliding
Love undying
Like the rising tide
Beating hearts grow but never die
To simplify
I'll stand by your side
Close my eyes
Hope will never die
Like the rising tide
Beating hearts grow but never die
To simplify
I'll stand by your side
Close my eyes
Hope will never die
Will never die
[SOLO]
Drawn together
Painter's brush stroke
Slight of hand
We won't go up in smoke
Fates colliding
Love undying
Like the Rising tide
Beating hearts grow but never die
To Simplify
I'll stand by your side
Close my eyes
Hope will never die
Like the Rising tide
Beating hearts grow but never die
To Simplify
I'll stand by your side
Close my eyes
Hope will never die
Yeah
06 Lose It (03:58)
Standing on the edge,
battle in my head,
I'm dying to know
I'm dying to know
If I take this leap,
to fail or succeed,
I'm dying to know
I'm dying to know
This is it, I'm shaking.
My body's aching,
I lose my hold,
I will let go.
This is it, I'm falling.
My wings need to grow.
I lose my hold,
I will let go.
There's so many roads,
pitfalls filled with doubt.
I'm dying to know,
I'm dying to know.
Grabbing what I need,
and rip it til it bleeds.
I'm dying to know,
I'm dying to know.
This is it, I'm shaking.
My body's aching,
I lose my hold,
I will let go.
This is it, I'm falling.
My wings need to grow.
I lose my hold,
I will let go.
(Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum)
If I,
If I take this, this leap,
will I be broken?
I'm dying to...
This is it, I'm shaking.
My body's aching,
I lose my hold,
I will let go.
I lose my hold,
this is it I'm falling.
I lose my hold,
my wings need to grow,
I lose my hold,
I will let go
I will let go.
I will let go!
08 Can't Happen Here (04:02)
Chariots clashed in the dead of night
Subversiveness clouds the clearest of minds
Blink of an eye we're collaterized
Raised up in arms never knowing why
[Chorus]
We give what we take when we take nothing
Pull the helmet from your eyes
We're erased and betrayed by mistakes
Does your God know my God?
This is how the world will end
And it begs the question
When bullets cloud the sky
Taking away the pain of
Thinking for ourselves
Demons beat down
They break down our doors
And it begs the question
"Could This Scene Be Real?"
Stealing away our children
Taking away our dreams!
[Chorus]
We give what we get when we take nothing
Pull the helmet from your eyes
We're erased and betrayed by mistakes
Does your God know my God?
This is how the world will end
09 Slow Burn (03:26)
Verse 1
It Begins With The
Dark Glowing Ember
Something Black
Burning Its Way Out Of Me
Tearing The Flesh
Pain In The Only Thing
I feel Scars All I See
But I Know The Fires
Burning My Insides Again
What Can I Do To Salvage
My Desire Tonight
Faces Feeled My Reason Leaving
All The Ashes There
You Wont Catch Me For Bread
In My Decision
I Cant Keep Telling Myself
What I Wanna Here
I Cant Just Close My Eyes
Chorus
I Know That Its Killing Me
And Its Poisioning
The Best of ME!
What I Say
I Dont Want To Believe
So Let Me Tell Ya Boy
Tell Ya Boy
About The Lives I Lived
Verse 2
That Is Sour
It Kills In Gas And Flames
And Gasoline
Broken Pictures Replaced
With Blackout Memories In My Head
Recken From The Past
It Haunts Me It Shakes Me
To The Bone
I Know Its Over But I Cant
Go Home Tonight
But Atfer This I Feel As
Empty As The Night Before
Feel The Pain And Yet Im Stealing
Here Even More Nihilistic
Cursing Sacrifice
My Heads A Mess
And I Cant Find A Way To Fix It
I Cant keep Telling Myself
What I Wanna Here
I Cant Just Close My Eyes
Chorus
Calling
Crying Out
The Darkest Reaches Of My Soul
Im Riddled With Self Doubt
Calling
Crying Out
My Will To Fight
What More Then Survice
With Others Will Lay Down
Its Only As Dark As You Make It!
Chorus
10 Blow (04:09)
(Chorus)
So fuckin' blow those words out the back of your head
I've heard it all and I'm done with that shit
You tell me lies and you get what you get
So blow those fuckin' words out the back of your head
(Whoa)
Oh my god did you just hear?
Lies are coming back in style
Oh my god this seems so real
(They can find you)
Shut your mouth we've heard it all
Hypocrites and critics all
Can fuck off but do this for our
Souls (all our souls)
What they say
Won't make us go away
(Chorus)
So fuckin' blow those words out the back of your head
I've heard it all and I'm done with that shit
You tell me lies and you get what you get
So blow those fuckin' words out the back of your head
We're not sorry and we won't conform
It's not a choice but something inborn
If we fail following our hearts
Can you blame us? (no no no)
A square peg in our black hole
We don't fit in, that's the way it goes
You shouldn't act like you're better than us
'Cause you're not (NO NO NO)
What they say
Won't make us go away
(Chorus x2)
So fuckin' blow those words out the back of your head
I've heard it all and i'm done with that shit
You tell me lies and you get what you get
So blow those fuckin' words out the back of your head
Tell yourself, you're not alone at all (looking out your window, know you're all alone) (x2)
(guitar solo)
What they say
Won't make us go away
(GO AWAY GO AWAY GO AWAY)
So fuckin' blow those words out the back of your head
I've heard it all and i'm done with that shit
You tell me lies and you get what you get
So blow those fuckin' words out the back of your head
So fuckin' blow those words out the back of your head
I've heard it all and i'm done with that shit
You tell me lies and you get what you get
So blow those fuckin' words out the back of your head
Blow those fuckin words out the back of your head
OF YOUR HEAD (x3)
11 Lead Sails (and a Paper Anchor) (04:46)
Marching alone, like a good soldier does
I'm setting sail, with anchors holding me down
Pack up my bags, stow them away (stow them away)
Bidding farewell to all that is safe
(Chorus)
Will I come up for air, come up for air
After a while the current is calling me
Lulling me, waving goodbye
I'm out here alone, oh God can you save me now?
Sinking, my heart turns to stone
Withering away, a shrinking violet dies
So full of life, these lights have dried me out
Into the sea, I needed a drink
I never thought this would consume me whole
(Chorus)
Will I come up for air, come up for air
After a while the current is calling me
lulling me, waving goodbye
I'm out here alone, oh God can you save me now?
Sinking, my heart turns to stone
(I turn to stone)
Sinking my heart turns to stone
Save me, take me home
over and over again
Save me, take me home
Wishing that this all would end
Save me, take me home
over and over again
Save me, take me home
Wishing that this all would end
(Chorus x2)
After a while the current is calling me
lulling me, waving goodbye
I'm out here alone, oh God can you save me now?
Sinking my heart turns to stone
Sinking my heart turns to stone
Save me take me home
When I come up for air
Save me take me home
When I come up for air
Save me take me home
over and over again
Save me take me home
Wishing that this...
Wishing that all this would end
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