Brandon Saller shared his thoughts on Atreyu’s influence on modern metal in a recent interview with Louder Sound.
The vocalist discussed how his band helped make hardcore metal and metalcore more commercially accessible. He also acknowledged how the genre’s sound has evolved over the years.
“We were definitely part of this era where hardcore metal, metalcore, or whatever you want to call it became more commercially successful,” Saller said. “If you look at what’s extreme and gnarly now, Atreyu is pretty tame. But at the time, people would be like, ‘I cannot believe this band is on the radio right now. What is the world coming to?'”
Saller highlighted their contribution alongside other pioneering acts while discussing the band’s legacy and influence on contemporary metal.
“I can confidently say that we had a part in that. Bands like us and Killswitch from that earlier era, then not much later the Triviums, the Bullets. There’s so many bands that had a huge hand in shaping what today’s metal is, and we’re humbled to even have our thumbprint in that DNA,” he continued.
The vocalist described his encounters with younger musicians who continue to draw inspiration from Atreyu’s work.
“I meet younger people in bands, and I’m never sure if they’re going to care. But then I meet people like the drummer of Knocked Loose [Kevin ‘Pacsun’ Kaine]. He’s like, ‘I love Atreyu, I’ve been an Atreyu fan since I was in high school!'”
The band’s rise to prominence in metalcore began during music’s early digital era.
Research from Screamer Magazine revealed that Atreyu’s breakthrough emerged from their early online presence. The band posted their music on digital platforms, which caught Victory Records’ attention and led to their signing.
The band’s influence extended beyond artistic boundaries into commercial success. Data from MetalSucks showed their album ‘A Death-Grip On Yesterday’ sold over 70,000 copies in its first week. This achievement demonstrated metalcore’s growing mainstream acceptance.
These commercial milestones reinforced Saller’s observations about Atreyu’s role in shaping modern metal’s landscape.
