Emerging from Southern California during the rap-metal explosion around the turn of the century, Atreyu crafted a hardcore sound much closer to Agnostic Front or Hatebreed. Their warped, detuned guitars were matched by pounding drums and acidic vocals, which gave the material a distinct metalcore edge. Originally operating under the moniker Retribution, the band eventually changed their name to Atreyu, after a character from the Michael Ende-penned fantasy book The Neverending Story, and released their debut album, Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses, in 2002 on Victory Records. They continued to refine their punitive but melodic post-hardcore sound on career best-of offerings like Lead Sails Paper Anchor(2007) and Congregation of the Damned (2009), before going on hiatus in 2011. They reconvened four years later and released their sixth studio effort, Long Live, with In Our Wake following in 2018. After a change in vocalists, the band reintroduced themselves with 2021’s Baptize.