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Atreyu never seem to quit. Normally, a statement like that connotates something negative, but for the Californian quintet, it is the furthest thing from meaning something bad. With every release they put out, they seem to get better and stronger musically, which is an incredibly tough feat for bands to achieve nowadays.
Their latest EP, The Hope of a Spark, follows on nicely from their 2021 album Baptize, in that it serves as a nice continuation from the record, acting (to me, at least) as a ‘Deluxe Edition bonus tracks’ collection of sorts. It’s also worth pointing out that it was produced by alternative music legend John Feldmann from Goldfinger, so you know right from the get-go that it’s going to sound fat and punchy, much like all of his other productions!
The EP starts with the lead single Drowning, a monstrous and anthemic start. After its short and atmospheric intro, it explodes into action with a massive riff, backed by some tight drumming from Kyle Rosa. The ending, needless to say, is heavy as fuck and makes you want to press play on it all over again. Hearing it live at the Cambridge Corn Exchange on the opening night of Bullet for My Valentine’s UK tour last February (review here), I can confirm that it absolutely went off live, and it sounds just as good in a venue as it does on record. Next up is God Devil, which begins with a dark, industrial-like synth intro similar to that of Rammstein or Nine Inch Nails, before leading into their trademark heavy style. The solo near the end of the track is insanely good, albeit short (but just as sweet!). It ends with a piano outro, acting as a calm AFTER the storm of sorts, while still sounding as dark and mysterious as the first 10 seconds or so did.
Third track Capital F starts as you would expect from its title – with vocalist Brandon Saller asking the age-old question “Is it just me or are we all capital F ‘fucked'”, serving as something we have all asked ourselves over the past 3 years. And when it came time for its breakdown, I could literally picture the insanity of the mosh pits in my mind as it kicked in, as the best drop of the EP blared through my earphones. And lastly, the final track Watch Me Burn ends the EP perfectly, as it serves as both a brutal track, as well as one with a very powerful message. As bassist Marc ‘Porter’ McKnight says, “whatever it is that’s bringing you down and holding you back, burn it down”. It makes for a great anthem for those moving on from their troubles and growing stronger as a consequence, and it serves as a high note for the end of the EP.
When all is said and done after the nearly 12-minute-long release, you can’t help but feel that you need more. Thinking back, it’s actually criminal that they only put out 4 songs for this EP, as it could well have been a full album if they wanted to. Atreyu are once again proving that they’re one of the top pioneers of metalcore, and with the release of this EP, they more than solidify themselves as just that and so much more.
The Hope Of A Spark is available April 14th via Spinefarm, pre-save here.
Review – Joe Richardson
Photo Credit: Dennis Larance
Atreyu will kick off The Hope of a Spark headlining tour on April 27 in Sacramento at Ace of Spades with a one-off date supporting Kayzo on May 6 in Los Angeles and concluding on May 21 in Denver at the Gothic Theatre. All dates are with special guests Point North, Within Destruction and LYLVC, unless otherwise noted. Tickets are available for purchase here.
U.S. Tour Dates:
04/27/23 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
04/28/23 – Reno, NV @ Virginia Street Brewhouse
04/29/23 – Bend, OR @ Midtown Ballroom
04/30/23 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox
05/02/23 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
05/03/23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
05/05/23 – Phoenix, AZ @ Van Buren
05/06/23 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Kia Forum *
05/07/23 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
05/08/23 – Tucson, AZ @ Encore
05/10/23 – San Antonio, TX @ Vibes Event Center
05/11/23 – Corpus Christi, TX @ Brewster Street Ice House
05/12/23 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
05/13/23 – Dallas, TX @ The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
05/15/23 – Joliet, IL @ The Forge
05/16/23 – Belvedere, IL @ The Apollo
05/18/23 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
05/19/23 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theater
05/20/23 – Colorado Springs, CO @ Sunshine Studios Live **
05/21/23 – Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre **
* = supporting Kayzo
** = without Point North
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