The Beautiful Dark of Life - Atreyu
“Atreyu is back! Atreyu is back!” I exclaimed to my friends and anyone who would listen, acting as the Paul Revere of modern Metal. Some friends would look at me sideways, while others would show interest and say “Show me”. It felt good to see a band from my childhood and adolescence that I kind of gave up on, return to the fold in a way that excited me. I hadn’t paid much attention to the band since 2009’s Lead Sails Paper Anchor, which had a radio-friendly Rock sound (in my opinion) and wasn’t something I was looking for from the band. The Beautiful Dark of Life sees Atreyu return to their classic sound in many ways, while also modernizing it and moving in a new, mature direction (which I expect from a band that has been at it for almost 30 years - a statement that makes me feel ancient to say). The songs are catchy, heavy, intimate, and at times soft. The album easily contains the best vocals and guitar writing I have heard from the band, with much of the credit going to Brandon Saller. Brandon spent so much of the band’s career being the drummer and clean vocalist, so I was surprised to see that while I had moved on from the band, Brandon had stepped away from the kit to focus primarily on vocals. This change came after the previous vocalist, Alex Varkatzas, left in 2020. Brandon’s vocals were always the highlight of the band and he continues to shine, whether it be clean or the unclean vocal duties he shares with bassist Marc McKnight. The record explores Metalcore, Hard Rock, Post-Hardcore, and Alt-Metal that unite the sounds of their career, except for “I Don’t Wanna Die”, which sounds like an ’80s power ballad. Throughout 2023, Atreyu released 3 EPs that would go on to form the record, with additional tracks added to further flesh it out.
My favorites from the album are plentiful, so let’s dive into the highlights! “Drowning” kicks the album off with a melodic Hard Rock sound that ventures into Post-Hardcore with the drums and vocals. The main riff has a nice, beefy tone that elevates it, demanding you pay attention. “Insomnia” starts with a string section that is a nice surprise. It then heads into a verse with incredible clean vocals and a passionate chorus, soon transitioning into the Metalcore elements Atreyu was once known for. The song feels like it continues to build on itself, rising until the climax in the outro. “Capital F” has a simple, heavy riff throughout that reminds me of Beartooth (a sentiment you’ll see repeated later), including the vocals. There’s a very modern Metalcore sound to it that feels like a newer direction for the band. “Dancing With My Demons” is one of the lead tracks for the record, showcasing Brandon’s clean vocal capabilities while also displaying the heavy tone the band was returning to. There are brutal verses to break things up, with guttural growls and a crunchy guitar tone to ensure you’re still awake. “Gone” has the structure and sounds of an older Atreyu song; a memorable chorus, a few heavy verses, and a flashy guitar solo that doesn’t overpower the track. The outro also has a lot of pain and anguish that you can feel through not just the lyrics, but the vocal performance. Finally, “(I)” is another track that feels like it could be at home on a Beartooth record (which is not a bad thing!). The chorus is especially infectious and the build-ups to Metal moments are rewarding, culminating in moments like the breakdown.
I have two other songs that I’d like to call out, but not necessarily include in my Spotlight (my Spotify playlist that features my favorite tracks from each album I review): “Immortal” and “Come Down”. “Immortal” has a soaring chorus with a recurring riff that feels like something from a Horror-Rock/Metal track (something like Motionless In White or Rob Zombie) that speaks to me. “Come Down” flows easily and has more Alt-Metal tendencies, leaning into both sides with clean and unclean vocals, Muse-style guitar licks at times, and lyric repetition that catches you in a loop you don’t want to break out of.
The Beautiful Dark of Life is an impressive return to the world of Metal for Atreyu and some of their most personal work yet. The lyrics explore the insecurities we all face, loss and love, and forging a new way forward in the face of adversity and pain. I’m most impressed with Atreyu finding a way to merge elements of their classic sound with the sound of Modern Metalcore, while also adding flairs of the other genres that speak to them and offer a dynamic sound that doesn’t bore you. If the next Atreyu record continues this trend, we’re all in for a treat.