ALBUM REVIEW: The Beautiful Dark Of Life – Atreyu
The release schedule that Californian metalcore veterans ATREYU have adopted in 2023 has been an interesting one. The band have released three short EPs throughout the year, the most recent being A Torch In The Dark. At the end of this cycle comes their ninth studio album, The Beautiful Dark Of Life, which sees the band continue in a similar fashion to their other post-Varkatzas material thus far. What makes this particularly interesting is the throughline of these releases and the cumulative effect on this full-length release. This 15-track album is an amalgamation of their 2023 material, combining the preceding EPs into this beefy, excellent addition to their catalogue.
For those who haven’t kept up with the other releases from ATREYU this year, The Beautiful Dark Of Life contains a wealth of anthemic melancholia across its various singles and new material. From the arena-ready wails from Brandon Saller on the chorus of Gone to the familiar-yet-fresh Immortal, ATREYU give very little that constitutes filler on such an extensive release. Even the likes of Drowning, the cathartic hook-filled single that was first released in January of this year, feels just as sizeable now as it did then. These three tracks comprise some of the best moments on the album and will no doubt be dominant on their live setlists going forward. Other tracks that stand out from the pack include Capital F, an electronic-infused barrage of frustration and bile, and Good Enough, a solid rock anthem among an exceedingly tight series of tracks.
On top of the previously released tracks, there are three tracks that haven’t appeared before. Dancing With My Demons is another outlet for Saller to talk about mental health – particularly in struggling between fighting and succumbing to the negative forces of life. Insomnia continues the feeling of being overcome that was explored on Drowning, with Saller asking himself the question of whether he will “sink or swim”. There is hope among the questioning, and that appears to be the “The Beautiful Dark of Life” that they refer to with the title and corresponding title track – finding something to fuel the fire that allows us to continue or change ourselves for the better, while continuing to navigate the dark moments.
For lapsed fans trying to get on board with this new material, their mileage will undoubtedly vary to some degree. To say that ATREYU’s current sound is quite the departure from their roots shouldn’t be too much of a surprise – anyone who has paid attention to the band since 2006’s A Death-Grip On Yesterday will be well-aware that they aren’t ones to stick to the same lane within the metalcore/alternative scene. Those that are willing to set aside any bias they may have to the material of the band’s past and join them on this dark journey will find a packed album that has taken their long-serving signature sound and allowed it to grow into something else entirely. The Beautiful Dark Of Life is a reflective moment for the band – a therapeutic exploration of the insecurities that plague many of us, taking the knowledge of that shared experience and wielding it to their own strength.
Rating: 8/10
The Beautiful Dark Of Life is set for release on December 8th via Spinefarm Records.
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