Baptize (album)

Last updated
Baptize
AtreyuBaptize.jpg
Studio album by
Atreyu
ReleasedJune 4, 2021 (2021-06-04)
Length41:16
Label Spinefarm
Producer John Feldmann
Atreyu chronology
In Our Wake
(2018)		Baptize
(2021)		 The Beautiful Dark of Life
(2023)
Singles from Baptize
  1. "Save Us"
    Released: October 16, 2020
  2. "Warrior"
    Released: March 4, 2021
  3. "Underrated"
    Released: March 4, 2021
  4. "Catastrophe"
    Released: May 4, 2021

Baptize is the eighth studio album by American metalcore band Atreyu. It was released on June 4, 2021 through Spinefarm Records and was produced by John Feldmann. [1] [2] It is the first album not to feature vocalist and founding member Alex Varkatzas who left the band in September 2020. [3] The album received polarized reviews from music critics, with praise going towards the ambition, but criticism primarily going to lack of focus and consistency.

Contents

Background and promotion

In late August 2020, it was rumored that vocalist Alex Varkatzas had left the band. [4] After some uncertainty following these reports, [5] the band officially announced that they were parting ways with Varkatzas a month later on September 30. [6] On October 16, the band officially released the new single "Save Us" along with its music video. [7] [8]

On March 4, 2021, the band released two singles, "Warrior" featuring Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and "Underrated" along with two corresponding music videos. At the same time, the band announced the album itself, the album cover, the track list, and release date. [9] [10] On May 4, one month before the album release, the band released the fourth single "Catastrophe". A week later, they also unveiled the music video for the song. [11] [12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 51/100 [13]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [14]
Dead Press!6/10 [15]
Distorted Sound5/10 [16]
Exclaim! 4/10 [17]
Kerrang! Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [18]
KillYourStereo30/100 [19]
Louder Sound Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [20]
Wall of Sound9/10 [21]

The album received mixed to negative reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 51 out of 100 based on 4 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [13] AllMusic gave the album a positive review but saying, "If the slickness of its predecessor was a turn-off for longtime fans, then Baptize is sure to disappoint, as it plays out like a sizzle reel for modern rock production. The playing is strong throughout, but Feldmann's fondness for boa constrictor-like compression renders the album as a whole strangely inert." [14] Dead Press! rated the album positively, stating: "Whilst Baptize is somewhat of a gamble for the Californians, Atreyu show a willingness to evolve their sound yet again. Granted, the record as a whole could have had a better impact if presented as a shorter collection of songs, but there are still standout moments to enjoy." [15] Distorted Sound scored the album 5 out of 10 and said: "ATREYU never try to hide the band they want to be. This isn't a metalcore record that flirts with rock. In fact, if anything, it's the opposite. Credit where it's due: they haven't gone half hearted on this new musical stance. However, this watered down, semi credible iteration of the Californians becomes tiresome quickly. Baptize offers an occasional chorus hook or slick solo – and very little else." [16] Owen Morawitz of Exclaim! rated the album 4 out of 10 and said: "Baptize has all the lasting impact of a post-energy drink buzz, sounding about as unique and memorable as the rumbling static from a festival side stage you passed over in favour of the headliner. It's clear Atreyu crave rebirth in the crucible of lifeless arena rock, but with a selection of tracks this dull and inoffensive, they'll probably get their wish. That may sound cocky, but I don't care." [17]

Kerrang! gave the album 2 out of 5 and considered the release to be "...an album striving to do so much, and be so much, in search of fundamental difference. And in spreading itself so thin in the name of newness, Baptize sadly sells itself (and its creators) short." [18] Alex Sievers from KillYourStereo gave the album 30 out of 100 and said: "When I listen to Baptize, I see it for what it is. A transparent attempt to desperately stay relevant that doesn't know what it wants to be. It doesn't once feel authentic, just cynical and calculated. Like the band are trying their hardest to acquire sync deals in radio, ads, and most likely, sports. I can see certain songs getting flogged during the next NBA or NFL seasons, or even during the current AFL season here in Australia. To Atreyu, get that cheddar; you do you. The band clearly want to grow in listenership and popularity, and this album reflects that by hopping into some new sounds and aiming to fill arenas. Yet these 'experimentations' are never interesting, and the songwriting is so played out. The band's mixture of pop, electronic, rock and metalcore doesn't pan out well over these 15 songs. I loved Atreyu – Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses , A Death-Grip on Yesterday and Congregation of the Damned forever – but Baptize is just so disenchanting. I knew what I was getting, expected little of it going in but was hoping to be surprised, and ended up with even less." [19] Louder Sound gave the album a positive review, but stated that is "...like an adrenaline rush that wears off quickly." [20] Wall of Sound gave the album almost a perfect score 9/10 and saying: "Atreyu have cemented themselves as an overarching post-hardcore/metalcore god over the last twenty or so years. On Baptize they're feeding off the best aspects of their earlier records and essentially creating a byproduct of that. This album is still Atreyu being true to their core, while hinting at a style they feel comfortable with performing today. I honestly believe this is the band's best work in a long time, and will be enjoyed by fans, new and old." [21]

Track listing

Baptize track listing [22] [23]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Strange Powers of Prophecy"
1:03
2."Baptize"
2:49
3."Save Us"
2:21
4."Underrated"
  • Atreyu
  • Feldmann
3:00
5."Broken Again"
  • Atreyu
  • Feldmann
  • Varkatzas
2:35
6."Weed"
  • Atreyu
  • Feldmann
2:17
7."Dead Weight"
3:14
8."Catastrophe"
  • Atreyu
  • Feldmann
2:44
9."Fucked Up"
  • Atreyu
  • Feldmann
  • Varkatzas
2:45
10."Sabotage Me"
  • Atreyu
  • Feldmann
  • Hoppus
  • Varkatzas
2:45
11."Untouchable" (featuring Jacoby Shaddix)
3:05
12."No Matter What"
  • Atreyu
  • Feldmann
  • Kirkland
  • Varkatzas
3:48
13."Oblivion" (featuring Matt Heafy)
  • Atreyu
  • Feldmann
  • Varkatzas
2:57
14."Stay"
3:01
15."Warrior" (featuring Travis Barker)
2:45
Total length:41:16

Personnel

Atreyu

Additional musicians

Additional personnel

Related Research Articles

Metalcore is a fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, that originated in the late 1980s. Metalcore is noted for its use of breakdowns, which are slow, intense passages conducive to moshing, while other defining instrumentation includes heavy guitar riffs often utilizing percussive pedal tones and double bass drumming. Vocalists in the genre typically perform screaming, more popular bands often combine this with the use of standard singing, usually during the bridge or chorus of a song. However the death growl is also a popular technique within the genre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atreyu</span> American metalcore band

Atreyu is an American metalcore band from Yorba Linda, California, formed in 1998. The band currently consists of clean vocalist Brandon Saller, guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, bassist and unclean vocalist Marc "Porter" McKnight, and drummer Kyle Rosa.

<i>The Curse</i> (Atreyu album) 2004 studio album by Atreyu

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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Varkatzas</span> American musician (born 1982)

Alex Varkatzas 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.

<i>Fractures in the Facade of Your Porcelain Beauty</i> 2001 EP by Atreyu

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.

<i>Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses</i> 2002 studio album by Atreyu

Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses is the debut studio album by American metalcore band Atreyu. It was released on June 4, 2002, under Victory Records. The album featured re-worked versions of the songs "Living Each Day Like You're Already Dead", "Someone's Standing on My Chest" and "Tulips Are Better", which originally appeared on the band's 2001 EP, Fractures in the Facade of Your Porcelain Beauty. "Ain't Love Grand" and "Lip Gloss and Black" were released as singles and music videos were also made for these two songs. The latter video found significant airplay on Headbangers Ball and Uranium in the fall of 2003.

<i>A Death-Grip on Yesterday</i> 2006 studio album by Atreyu

A Death-Grip on Yesterday is the third studio album by American metalcore band Atreyu. It was released on March 28, 2006, through Victory Records. A week after its release, it had sold more than 69,000 copies and started out at #9 on the Billboard 200. It has gone on to sell more than 340,000 copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ex's and Oh's (Atreyu song)</span> 2006 single by Atreyu

"Ex's and Oh's" is the lead single from American metalcore band Atreyu's third album, A Death-Grip On Yesterday, released in 2006. It is Atreyu's second single from 2006, but first from the album, as "Her Portrait In Black" was also released, which created for the soundtrack to Underworld: Evolution. The lyrics deal with the former alcohol addiction of vocalist Alex Varkatzas. This song is included on the video game Madden NFL 07. It is also a master recording playable on Guitar Hero II as an Xbox 360 downloadable track. A part of the song was played on an episode of Parental Control.

<i>Lead Sails Paper Anchor</i> 2007 studio album by Atreyu

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".

<i>Congregation of the Damned</i> 2009 studio album by Atreyu

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Saller</span> American musician

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.

<i>Covers of the Damned</i> 2010 EP of cover songs by Atreyu

Covers of the Damned is the third EP by American metalcore band Atreyu. It is for the band's Congregation of the Damned Tour, in support of their fifth album, Congregation of the Damned. The performers were a collaboration of Atreyu, along with their tourmates Blessthefall, Chiodos, Endless Hallway and Architects. Two songs were performed by Atreyu alone, one was by Endless Hallway featuring Travis Miguel of Atreyu, and the last two were a collaboration of certain members from each band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bury Tomorrow</span> British metalcore band

Bury Tomorrow are a British metalcore band formed in 2006 in Southampton, Hampshire, England. The band is composed of six members; lead vocalist Daniel Winter-Bates, bassist Davyd Winter-Bates, drummer Adam Jackson, lead guitarist Kristan Dawson, who replaced founding guitarist Mehdi Vismara in 2013, rhythm guitarist Ed Hartwell, and keyboardist and vocalist Tom Prendergast, who both replaced Jason Cameron in 2021. Bury Tomorrow have released seven studio albums, their most recent being The Seventh Sun, released on 31 March 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">While She Sleeps</span> British metalcore band

While She Sleeps are a British metalcore band from Sheffield. Formed in 2006, the group consists of vocalist Lawrence Taylor, guitarists Sean Long and Mat Welsh, bassist Aaran McKenzie and drummer Adam Savage. They are currently signed to their own label Sleeps Brothers in the UK and in collaboration with Spinefarm Records in the US and UNFD in Australia. They have released three EPs, And This Is Just the Start, Split and The North Stands for Nothing, and five studio albums, This Is the Six, Brainwashed, You Are We, So What? and Sleeps Society. They received the Best British Newcomer award at the Kerrang! Awards 2012. The group has maintained the same line-up since its formation, with vocalist Taylor being the only bandmate who is not an original member. Despite this, he has still appeared on every release apart from the group's first two EPs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lip Gloss and Black</span> 2002 single by Atreyu

Lip Gloss and Black is the second single from American metalcore band Atreyu's debut album, Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses released in 2002. The song features the lyrics "Live, Love, Burn, Die" which has become one of Atreyu's signature phrases and one of Alex Varkatzas's most noted lyrics. The song itself was one of the first Atreyu songs to gain them mainstream attention, with the video being played extensively on MTV2 and Uranium.

<i>Long Live</i> (Atreyu album) 2015 studio album by Atreyu

Long Live is the sixth studio album by American metalcore band Atreyu. The album was released on September 18, 2015 through Spinefarm Records. It is Atreyu's first album since Congregation of the Damned in 2009. Long Live peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard 200, making it Atreyu's first album since The Curse to miss the top 20 of the chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loathe (band)</span> British metal band

Loathe are an English heavy metal band from Liverpool. Formed in 2014, the group consists of lead vocalist Kadeem France, guitarist and second vocalist Erik Bickerstaffe, drummer Sean Radcliffe and bassist Feisal El-Khazragi.

<i>In Our Wake</i> 2018 studio album by Atreyu

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.

<i>The Beautiful Dark of Life</i> 2023 studio album by Atreyu

The Beautiful Dark of Life is the ninth studio album by American metalcore band Atreyu. It was released on December 8, 2023, through Spinefarm Records. The album contains all tracks from three four-track EPs released earlier in the year along with three new tracks; "Dancing with My Demons", "Insomnia", and the title track. The album received mixed-to-positive reviews from music critics.

References

  1. ↑ "Atreyu announce upcoming album Baptize, share two new songs". Kerrang!. March 5, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Atreyu Have Announced The Details Of Their New Album 'Baptize'". Rock Sound. March 4, 2021. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  3. ↑ "ATREYU Officially Parts Ways With Singer ALEX VARKATZAS". Blabbermouth.net . September 30, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  4. ↑ "ATREYU Part Ways with Founding Vocalist Alex Varkatzas". Lambgoat. August 22, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  5. ↑ Hartmann, Graham (August 24, 2020). "Atreyu Vocalist Says 'Fake News' Following Reports He's Left the Band". Loudwire . Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  6. ↑ "NEWS: Atreyu confirm departure of vocalist, Alex Varkatzas!". Dead Press!. September 30, 2020. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Atreyu Reveal Revised Lineup, New Song 'Save Us'". Loudwire . October 16, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Atreyu Reveal New Single 'Save Us'". Wall of Sound. October 16, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Atreyu Debut 2 New Tracks From Forthcoming Album BAPTIZE". Wall of Sound. March 5, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Atreyu Announce New Album 'Baptize,' Share Travis Barker Collaboration". Exclaim! . March 4, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Atreyu Are Thriving This Year with New Song 'Catastrophe'". Wall of Sound. May 4, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  12. ↑ "ATREYU Releases Music Video For 'Catastrophe'". Blabbermouth.net . May 13, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  13. 1 2 "'Baptize' on Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  14. 1 2 Christopher Monger, James. "Atreyu Baptize". AllMusic . Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  15. 1 2 Taylor, Damon (June 6, 2021). "ALBUM REVIEW: Atreyu – Baptize". Dead Press!. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  16. 1 2 Pugh, Kris (June 4, 2021). "ALBUM REVIEW: Baptize – Atreyu". Distorted Sound Mag. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  17. 1 2 "Atreyu's 'Baptize' Has All the Lasting Impact of a Post-Energy Drink Buzz". Exclaim! . June 3, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  18. 1 2 Hickie, James (June 2, 2021). "Album review: Atreyu – Baptize". Kerrang! . Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  19. 1 2 Sievers, Alex (June 4, 2021). "Atreyu – Baptize". KillYourStereo. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  20. 1 2 Leivers, Dannii (June 3, 2021). "Atreyu's Baptize: a post-metalcore adrenaline rush that wears off quickly". Louder Sound . Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  21. 1 2 May, Tamara (June 2, 2021). "Atreyu – Baptize (Album Review)". Wall of Sound. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Baptize by Atreyu". Apple Music . Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  23. ↑ Baptize (Booklet). Spinefarm Records. 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.