It’s here that Brandon really comes into focus. Already a proven force, having been in the band since day one, he sounds even more assured and astute across this record. Case in point: Ego Death, which sees the band sharpening their sound and leaning fully into their hook-first identity.
Then Children of Light, featuring Max Cavalera, injects a burst of grit. The Soulfly man's unmistakable growl cuts clean through any gloss, snapping everything back into sharper focus. It’s a reminder that Atreyu still know how to bite when they want to.
The album closes with Break The Glass, a fitting finale that erupts with a battle cry, as a flurry of riffs are fed to you at lightning speed, before slowing the chaos into a piano-led ballad. It’s Atreyu at their melodic best.
The End Is Not The End doesn’t reinvent the California legends. It refines them. Here, they are a band fully aware of their strengths, with the energy of those truly out to prove themselves. This is not the end. It almost feels like a new beginning.
Verdict: 4/5
For fans of: Bad Omens, Bury Tomorrow, Beartooth
The End Is Not The End is released on April 24 via Spinefarm.
