Atreyu - Lead Sails Paper Anchor Review
Posted by Matt Reno on 09.26.2007
Atreyu have become the bull. Read on to attempt to figure out what the hell that means.
"Grab the bull by the horns / The old adage goes / Nobody tells you where to go from here."
This is the opening line of "Becoming the Bull" from Atreyu's latest release, Lead Sails Paper Anchor. From the sound of this album, Atreyu have a firm grasp on said horns and have successfully figured out the next step. That step involved taking the style that's kept their fanbase growing for the past decade and twisting it into something that not only is sure to keep that fanbase growing more rapidly than ever but will also earn them the praise and respect that come with such a strong album.
Atreyu realized that the "metalcore" tag they've been saddled with has run its course and wisely joined the growing number of bands - Avenged Sevenfold, Trivium, pretty much everyone but Killswitch Engage - who have jumped ship and evolved the metalcore sound to incorporate more classic metal styles. However, unlike their peers, Atreyu's influences are harder to pinpoint, as Lead Sails Paper Anchor mixes several hard rock subgenres into one cohesive piece of metal.
Expect uncontrollable headbanging to ensue while listening to this album. "Doomsday" is a ferocious opener that features vocalist Alex Varkatzas mourning the loss of a loved one with burly, near-growling singing backed by punishing riffs. His vocals on "Honor" are less like singing and more like rallying shouts, especially in the fist-pumper chorus "FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT 'til the break of dawn!" "Lose It" is a great example of the band slowing the pace but remaining heavy thanks to powerful drum beats and soaring screams. This Orange County quintet even mixes their metal with some So Cal punk on several tracks such as "When Two Are One" and "No One Cares."
Don't think it's all brutal screams and heavy riffage, though. Lead Sails Paper Anchor is packed with catchy choruses, just not in the typical metalcore way of placing those choruses in between completely opposite-sounding verses. Atreyu somehow make the more palatable refrains fit smoothly among the heaviness, even amidst the most brutal screaming such as in "Can't Happen Here." "Lead Sails (And a Paper Anchor)" laments life on the road, as if we needed another song that does that. However, it's easy to forgive them considering how well done this song is. Soft yet strong, it's a powerfully emotional way to wind down the album.
Several songs on this album are just pure, hard-rockin' fun. "Falling Down" leans toward the theatrical punk of My Chemical Romance with enjoyable results. "Blow," which should quickly become a fan favorite, is a musical middle finger to their critics complete with a kickass cowbell, an unforgettably forceful chorus ("so fucking blow those words out the back of your head"), and a Guns 'n' Roses-esque punctuation mark. And don't press stop after track 11 or else you'll miss their solid, screaming cover of Faith No More's "Epic," an appropriate choice considering how much of this album can be described by that word.
Lead Sails Paper Anchor is the album that should propel Atreyu closer to the top of the modern metal heap. This album has loads of catchy tunes, especially "Blow," to capture the attention of the masses. However, the band doesn't modify their sound just to appease record execs. Though many longtime fans may feel it's not nearly brutal enough, it's still an excellent piece of hard rock that is sure to win over many metalheads and keep Atreyu riding that bull for many years to come.
The 411: Another band once labeled as "metalcore" jumps ship for a more classic metal sound. Atreyu, however, don't stick with just one style. Lead Sails Paper Anchor is a diverse work of hard rock that successfully mixes the old and the new.
