Reviewed on Mar 27, 2006 by cathyreay

Mr Victory
Victory Records HQ

Dear Mr Victory,

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin.

The first exposure I had to your label was through the band Aiden. I went along to an acoustic instore and absolutely loved them. Of course I simply had to buy the £15 CD so I could get it signed by my new favourite heroes while they were still doing gigs to 50 placid kids in a record shop rather than being mobbed at signing booths over the pond at Taste Of Chaos (I am willing to bet my soul on that happening). So I took the CD home at the strangest thing happened. I hated it. Less than an hour after being wowed by the very same five dudes in the flesh, I hated them and everything they stood for to the core. At the time I thought nothing of this.

But then a similar thing happened with another band of yours called Hawthorne Heights. I met the guys, heard them sing pretty wonderfully and went home only to sit in a self-induced and terribly necessary trance, which was the only escape while I forced myself to listen to the album I'd just picked up.

I saw Junior Varsity live at the Astoria. Same thing happened.

Now. I have yet to witness the live show of Atreyu. But I was hesitant, see, to play the CD, because of the pattern that was emerging for all your other artists. For some reason I failed to notice it in the live performances but with nothing to oogle at all I had to listen to was the music, and I thereby determined that the reason I hated (ok OK, strongly disliked then) the material I'd heard so far was because, generally speaking, the records either:
(a) were complete ripoffs of other successful artists of the same genre
(b) sounded like four young dudes who can't sing or play trying to make a bit of money for this week's smokes

Atreyu fall miserably into the first category.

Just so you know, it's really not a good idea to grab a Claudio Sanchez impersonator and stick him in front of a mike stand. Especially not if you want to get in my good books. It's the stop, slow, go! movement again. Roaring vocals backed by crashing guitars swooping and gliding into a much softer melodic sound, while being supported by a similar vocalist after having overdosed on advil. A few catchy hooks thrown in and we're back to the beginning. Lyrics about love lost and found. Apparently this is metal music, I guess if those who referred to it as that were inadvertently joking about it belonging in the trash - then they're spot on.

If you'd have discovered this band a decade ago, this letter would be phrased very differently. When I next receive another record from one of your artists, I anticipate a break in this ugly mould you have so diligently fashioned.

Signed,

The Originals

Related Links:

• www.atreyurock.com
• www.victoryrecords.com

1. Creature
2. Shameful
3. Our Sick Story (Thus Far)
4. The Theft
5. We Stand Up
6. Ex’s And Oh’s
7. Your Private War
8. My Fork In The Road (Your Knife In My Back)
9. Untitled Finale

Album Reviews

	A Death Grip On Yesterday Mar 28, 2006
	The Curse Jun 29, 2004

Gig Reviews

Sep 12, 2006 Effenaar

Interviews

	Nov 19, 2007 London Astoria
	May 23, 2005