Again in 2018 then Atreyu vocalist Alex Varkatzas drew controversy when he proclaimed that his band “invented metalcore.” Talking to Rock Sound on the time, Varkatzas boldly acknowledged of the affect he felt his band had:

“You understand I don’t know the place we slot in any scene and I don’t suppose that any scene is aware of the place we match. I feel that’s simply a part of us.

That is going to sound slightly cocky however I’m a singer in a band. I don’t suppose we match into any style. I feel we’re arduous to pin down. After we first began it was slightly simpler.

We had been a metallic hardcore band with singing components. There wasn’t any else like that after we had been doing it. Folks get confused and say ‘you’re a metalcore band’, however we invented metalcore. Which will sound cocky however I don’t care.

We pre-date Poison The Nicely and Killswitch Interact and all these bands. I’ve been doing this since I used to be actually 12 years previous.

So all through that I nonetheless don’t know the place we match, and I feel our followers know that. That is the place to be you. That is our driving pressure and heartbeat. That is the place we go to precise ourselves.

I feel our fan base and the individuals who like our band are like that too. They like music and we play music.”

With the seeds of metalcore having emerged lengthy previous to Atreyu‘s reign, Varkatzas‘ feedback had been justifiably not nicely acquired. In reality, the backlash to his claims have continued to hang-out Varkatzas and Atreyu in sure circles of the web to this present day.

Reflecting on that now, Varkatzas, who at the moment fronts Useless Icarus, informed ‘Discuss Toomey Podcast‘ host Joshua Toomey that his feedback had been a part of a publicity stunt for Atreyu‘s eighth studio album “In Our Wake“, and now contends that what he stated was “bullshit”.

Varkatzas informed Toomey of that [transcribed by Theprp.com]:

“I say silly shit typically. Like I stated I invented metalcore as soon as. You may name me out on that in order for you, it’s fantastic.”

He continued:

“My ideas on it are like, we rode on the backs of different bands that we preferred on the similar time. There have been bands that had been arising doing the identical factor. And at the moment, I feel that screaming and singing collectively was like kinda that bridge that made it slightly completely different. However no, I imply, I didn’t invent something. I additionally didn’t invent chopping the water when you’ve a brand new report popping out.

Like most individuals I feel who know me, know that me saying that ‘I invented metalcore’ is fucking ridiculous. As a result of I don’t care. Metalcore wasn’t even a coined time period when bands like Lamb Of God and all that… They had been calling it just like the ‘new wave of American heavy metallic ‘— ’trigger that sounds method cooler, proper?

I’m chopping the water, making an attempt to make enterprise for… You understand on the time Atreyu wasn’t precisely killing it. So, you bought a brand new report popping out, you gotta get slightly resourceful.

I discovered from that to not attempt to play the heel, to not be disgenuine to myself, and that’s the most important lesson. I kinda deserve no matter lumps or something anyone wished to say about it, as a result of it was like a callous factor. However on the similar time I feel that folks that know me, know that that was bullshit. And individuals who don’t know me are more than pleased to throw stones anyway.

So it’s kinda like it’s what it’s. I gave some individuals some ammo for years to return within the backside of messageboards and stuff. What’s life with no little chopping the water, what I imply? I discovered from it.”

Based on Varkatzas, the subsequent single from Useless Icarus will arrive on December 01st. Moreover, the undertaking, which sees Varkatzas joined by Gabe Mangold (guitars) and Brandon Zackey (drums) of Enterprise Earth, might be within the studio this winter, with hopes to have their debut album out in the summertime of 2024.

Talking of a few of his motivation behind this fledgling undertaking, he informed Toomey that partly it was a response to the course Atreyu‘s inventive output and profession took after the band’s gold-certified 2007 album “Lead Sails Paper Anchor“. He defined:

“I really feel like I’ve lots to make up for. I really feel like when Atreyu made the primary report with [producer John Feldman], I ought to have dug in my heels about sure issues artistically, and I didn’t.

And as soon as the ball goes too far and cash begins coming in — not simply to the band — however the managers and to the report label, there’s all this different strain and all these different issues and also you’re in your early to mid-twenties making an attempt to deal with all of it, it’s lots. And never all people can navigate that efficiently.

I look again and I didn’t at instances. At instances I did, at instances I didn’t. I wouldn’t return and alter something, due to what I discovered from all of it. However yeah man, it’s humbling, beginning over’s loopy. I forgot how loopy it’s to be in a band and to care.”