Atreyu – The Curse

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The sophomore album from metalcore band, Atreyu, took advantage of the momentum the band built on their debut (Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses), and saw them adding in more melodic elements to connect with larger audiences. The Curse was produced by veteran producer GGGarth (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine) and the set would go on to achieve RIAA Gold status with over 500,000 copies sold in the U.S. With a rockin’ trio of singles released during the promotion cycle that included “Right Side of the Bed,” “Bleeding Mascara,” and “The Crimson,” Atreyu were gaining fans at a speedy rate, and were able to back up the music found on the record effortlessly live. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary with a slew of vinyl re-presses via Craft Recordings, The Curse deserves another moment of reflection.

Atreyu were able to catch lightning in a bottle with a strong lead single in “Right Side of the Bed” that had everything you’d want to see in a popular metalcore act. It featured a head-banging guitar intro, followed by a steady beat from drummer Brandon Saller, and pointed lyrics via lead vocalist Alex Varkaztas. It was a solid reminder of what the band was capable of creating when they leaned into a melodic metal sound. The other singles like the mid-tempo “The Crimson” and the raucous mosh pit-ready anthem of “Bleeding Mascara” presented Atreyu with several key touring opportunities to grow their fanbase.

The other non-singles like “This Flesh A Tomb” built upon the unique back and forth vocals between Varkaztas and Saller to deliver a contrast in styles that worked particularly well. “You Eclipsed By Me” is another example of how the band adapted their abrasive-sounding wall of metalcore from their debut LP into a more accessible listening experience. The track features a melodic chorus and a cool bridge/instrumental breakdown that invited audience participation.

Even the incorporation of rare “slow jams” like “The Remembrance Ballad” still stayed authentic to the songwriting approach from Atreyu and didn’t come across as awkward. Ballads aside, the band still seems most comfortable on speedy metal rock songs like “Corseting” and the guitar riffing bliss of “Demonology and Heartache.”

Deep cuts like “My Sanity On the Funeral Pyre” and “Nevada’s Grace” would occasionally appear in Atreyu’s setlists over the years, while album closer “Five Vicodin Chased With A Shot of Clarity” would remain a staple in the live setting. The band has also paired with Craft Recordings to re-release their previously rare Best Buy-exclusive cover of Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love A Bad Name” to close out the back side of the disc. It’s a pretty cool cover song that stays true to the stylistic choices that Atreyu made on The Curse.

Atreyu would follow up on the success of The Curse with arguably their finest work in 2006’s A Death-Grip on Yesterday that debuted on the Top-10 of the Billboard 200 charts and showcased the staying power the band had in their ascent to the mainstream. The band still releases music steadily to date and even through a few lineup changes, Atreyu’s legacy continues to live on.

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