Alex Varkatzas | |
|---|---|
 Varkatzas with Atreyu in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | January 17, 1982 |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Member of |
|
| Formerly of | Atreyu |
Alex Varkatzas (born January 17, 1982) is an American musician, best known as the former lead vocalist of metalcore band Atreyu from its inception in 1998 until his departure from the band in 2020. In 2011, during the band's hiatus, Varkatzas also started a hardcore project with Bleeding Through vocalist Brandan Schieppati named I Am War. [1]
At 14, Varkatzas, along with guitarist Dan Jacobs and drummer Brandon Saller, formed a punk band called Retribution. By 1998, when Varkatzas was 16, Retribution developed a heavier style and changed names to Atreyu, as seen on their 1998 independent release, Visions . After their 2001 EP, Fractures in the Facade of Your Porcelain Beauty , fell into the hands of Victory Records, the band signed to Victory and released their debut album, Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses in 2002. Since then, the band has released four other albums before embarking on hiatus,: The Curse in 2004, A Death-Grip on Yesterday in 2006, Lead Sails Paper Anchor in 2007, and Congregation of the Damned in 2009. After ten years of worldwide success, the band went on hiatus.
On July 1, 2014, the band officially announced their return from hiatus by playing several festivals including Aftershock and Slipknot's Knotfest. A new single was released on their official YouTube channel titled "So Others May Live" and plans for a new album titled "Long Live". Long Live was released on September 18, 2015. Furthermore, a second album called "In Our Wake" was released on October 12, 2018. 3 singles have been released so far including a music Video for the song In our wake. Another single, “Super Hero” was written by the band, along with Aaron Gillespie of Underoath and M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold providing guest vocals in the verses.
On August 22, 2020, news began circulating that Varkatzas had parted ways with Atreyu; [2] however, the singer himself later confirmed that it was just a rumor. [3] However, on September 30, 2020, Varkatzas and Atreyu both released statements confirming his departure. [4]
After Atreyu went on a hiatus in 2011, Varkatzas started a hardcore project named I Am War with Brandan Schieppati of Bleeding Through. The band released an album entitled Outlive You All in 2012.
In June 2021, Varkatzas announced the name of his new band, Dead Icarus. [5]
On August 11, 2023, the band released their first single, "Sellout", and announced they had signed with MNRK Heavy. [6] The band would release their debut EP titled Ad Infernum on March 13, 2024 and their debut studio album titled Zealot on October 31, 2024. [7] [8]
Dead Icarus consists of himself, Gabe Mangold (guitarist for Enterprise Earth) and Brandon Zackey (drummer for Whitechapel). [9]
Cave In is an American rock band that formed in 1995 in Methuen, Massachusetts. The band's lineup solidified with the 1998 release of Until Your Heart Stops through Hydra Head Records, and their early albums were prominent in the metalcore scene. The band later experimented with other genres, receiving mainstream recognition for their 2003 RCA Records album Antenna and its lead single "Anchor," which had an overall alternative rock style. The group went on hiatus in 2006, later reforming in 2009 with the release of the Planets of Old EP, followed by the White Silence LP in 2011, both of which saw a return to Cave In's earlier and heavier sound.
Bleeding Through is an American metalcore band from Orange County, California, formed in 1999. In 2004, Revolver magazine hailed Bleeding Through as one of eight bands ushering in the "Future of Metal" cover story, and Spin called Bleeding Through an "artist to watch" in the magazine's February 2004 issue.
Story of the Year is an American rock band formed in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1995 under the name 67 North. The band eventually changed their name to Big Blue Monkey in 1998, and then subsequently changed it again to Story of the Year in 2002, after the release of their self-titled EP on the indie label Criterion Records. At the time, they claimed they had discovered that a blues group named Big Blue Monkey already existed. Later, on their podcast "Page Avenue Crew", they clarified that they just did not care for the name and had just made up the excuse of another band having the same name.
Atreyu is an American rock band from Yorba Linda, California, formed in 1998. It consists of lead vocalist Brandon Saller, guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, bassist and unclean vocalist Marc "Porter" McKnight, and drummer Kyle Rosa.
Throwdown is an American hardcore and heavy metal band from Orange County, California. Formed in 1997, the band has endured numerous lineup changes to the point where no original members remain. Throwdown has toured as part of Ozzfest, Sounds of the Underground, Hellfest, and Warped Tour, as well as with bands such as In Flames, Lamb of God, As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, Korn and Cavalera Conspiracy. The songs "Forever" and "Burn" were staples on MTV2's Headbangers Ball and Revolver Magazine called them part of "The Future of Metal" after hearing the album Vendetta. Initially branded a hardcore punk band, albums like Venom and Tears and Deathless took a sharp turn towards metal, with critics likening the band's sound to that of Pantera and Sepultura. The band are straight edge.
The Curse is the second studio album by American metalcore band Atreyu. It was released on June 29, 2004, under Victory Records. The album went on to produce three singles, "Bleeding Mascara" "Right Side of the Bed" and "The Crimson".
Saosin is an American rock band formed in 2003 in Orange County, California. The group originally consisted of Beau Burchell, Justin Shekoski, Zach Kennedy and Anthony Green. Their debut EP, Translating the Name, was released in the same year. However, Green departed from the band for personal reasons, leading to Cove Reber joining as vocalist in 2004. With Reber, the band released their self-titled debut album in 2006 under Capitol Records.
Fractures in the Facade of Your Porcelain Beauty is the second EP by American metalcore band Atreyu. It was originally released on November 20, 2001, and released again on January 29, 2002, under the independent label Tribunal Records. The EP has early versions of the songs "Living Each Day Like You're Already Dead", "Someone's Standing on My Chest" and "Tulips Are Better", which were re-worked and included on the band's next release, Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses. The EP was released before the band's huge success following their first album and original pressings are increasingly hard to find. The vocalist, Alex Varkatzas, has a deeper approach to his screams on this album compared to Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses. The album is the first Atreyu release with Travis Miguel on rhythm guitar, as opposed to the Visions EP which only had the founding guitarist, Dan Jacobs.
Brandan Schieppati is an American musician. He is the singer of metalcore band Bleeding Through and a former guitarist/songwriter of the fellow Orange County metalcore band Eighteen Visions, for which he played from 1997 to 2002. He is also a bodybuilder, personal trainer and "Rise Above Fitness" gym owner. He was strictly straight edge from an early age until his late twenties.
A Thorn for Every Heart is a post-hardcore band from Chino Hills, California.
Norma Jean is an American metalcore band from Douglasville, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Since their inception in 1997, numerous lineup changes have left the band with no original members. To date, Norma Jean has released nine studio albums and received a Grammy Award nomination in 2006 for Best Recording Package for their second album O' God, the Aftermath. The band's name is derived from the real name of actress Marilyn Monroe.
Bleed the Sky is an American heavy metal band formed in Orange County, California, in 2002.
Dust to Ashes is the debut studio album by American metalcore band Bleeding Through. It was released on compact disc by Prime Directive Records on March 20, 2001.
Lead Sails Paper Anchor is the fourth studio album by American metalcore band Atreyu. It is the band's first release with Hollywood Records, and the album had a significantly different sound to it than their previous albums, moving away from a metalcore-type sound, for the most part. The album was released on August 28, 2007. The first single was "Becoming the Bull".
Congregation of the Damned is the fifth studio album by American metalcore band Atreyu. It was released through Hollywood Records and Roadrunner Records on October 27, 2009.
Bleeding Through is the sixth studio album by American metalcore band Bleeding Through. The album was released through Rise Records on April 13, 2010.
Chelsea Grin is an American deathcore band from Salt Lake City, Utah. Formed in 2007, the group have released two EPs and seven full-length albums. Since 2018, no founding members remain in the band. Despite not being in the original line-up, bassist David Flinn has been the only constant member on all the group's studio albums.
Brandon Kyle Saller is an American musician, singer and multi-instrumentalist. He is the lead vocalist, keyboardist and former drummer of the metalcore band Atreyu. He is responsible for the melodic singing found in the band's music. He is the band's primary songwriter, along with guitarist Dan Jacobs. Following Atreyu's hiatus in 2011, Saller focused on his side project Hell or Highwater, where he is the lead vocalist. In 2011, the group released their debut album, Begin Again, in 2011. The band released an EP, The Other Side, in August 2013. Saller returned to Atreyu in 2014 and has remained a full-time member of the group since. He became the lead vocalist of the band after original singer Alex Varkatzas announced his departure.
In Our Wake is the seventh studio album by American metalcore band Atreyu. It was released on October 12, 2018, through Spinefarm. It is the final album to feature vocalist and founding member Alex Varkatzas before his departure from the band in September 2020.
Baptize is the eighth studio album by American rock band Atreyu. It was released on June 4, 2021, through Spinefarm Records and was produced by John Feldmann. It is the first album not to feature vocalist and founding member Alex Varkatzas who left the band in September 2020. The album received polarized reviews from music critics, with praise going towards the ambition, but criticism primarily going to lack of focus and consistency.
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