Atreyu - The Curse: Like An Anne Rice Vampire Novel Put to Music

Atreyu's latest album release, entitled The Curse, can be summed up as an Anne Rice vampire novel put to screaming vocals, classic melodic guitar chords, heavy punk metal drums, and atmospheric backup vocals.

Once you pass the intro and get to the second track the sound is immediately recognizeable as that of Atreyu. The sound has changed only slightly from their last album, Suicide Notes & Butterfly Kisses (hereafter referred to as SN&BK). Those who have been fans of Atreyu will feel right at home.

The Curse continues what was started (in SN&BK), with displays of strong, dark, and sometimes disturbing love poetry. These "poems turned to songs" focus mostly on the heartache associated with love. This is made clear in the first song, "II. Bleeding Mascara", which contains the lyrics "You soulsucker, I won't become like you."

Alex Varkatzas, the frontman, holds nothing back on this album. Once again spilling out his heart, hate, and anguish towards the women who have hurt him in his life. Each song is made even more personal and real by the fact that he writes each song himself, and they read more like free verse poetry than standard song lyrics.

These feelings continue in the second song, and the first released single off the album, "III. Right Side of the Bed". The lines "Who's sleeping on my side of the bed tonight?" and "Have you ever cried so hard, baby you just died?" should hit a soft spot for anyone who has lost someone they love to a third party. Alex lives out his primal fantasies through his words, finishing the song with the murder of the woman who scorned him.

This is where Atreyu takes a new turn, a romantic turn. The track "IV. This Flesh A Tomb" is perhaps one of the darkest, yet most sincere love letters ever written. After hearing this song you can't help but wonder if Alex has found himself a new love, and new source of inspiration, to which this song is dedicated to. It clearly illustrates the love between two vampires with words like, "The Dark Gift is loving you, and I feel immortal and I want you to feel the same.