Atreyu 20 Year Anniversary Tour
Metalcore veterans Atreyu stopped by Niagara Falls, Rapids Theatre on November 7th, 2019 as part of their anniversary tour dedicated to celebrating two decades as a band. Not just any band though. Atreyu is high on the pedestal of metal greatness and a cross-country tour to celebrate that achievement is just what we wanted. Originating in Orange County, California, the bands current lineup consists of Alex Varkatzas, Brandon Saller, Dan Jacobs, Travis Miguel, and Porter McKnight. With reinforcement from friends Whitechapel, He Is Legend, Tempting Fate and Santa Cruz, this group of heavy rockers gave fans a night to remember. Due to unforeseen circumstances/bad weather conditions, ConcertHopper missed opening acts Tempting Fate and Santa Cruz.
He Is Legend proved to be a strong force on the tour with a well deserved spot on this lineup. The band from North Carolina quickly became a crowd favorite as the band composed hard-hitting vocals and sultry riffs that consumed the crowd. Lead singer Schuylar Croom’s hoarse howls along with the fast paced guitars and agitated drumming quickly warmed up cold fans that had started to flood in from outside the snowy venue.
Whitechapel, a deathcore band from Knoxville, Tennessee was up next and entered with such a force that every singe rock hand was up in the air the moment lead singer Phil Bozeman growled the bands first song. Their unique, melodic sound magnetized the eager crowd and flawless transitions between songs held the attention of every passerby. Each song was flawlessly executed proving why the band had many admirers in the crowd.
As the stage darkened the crowd erupted with anticipation as the stage crew made their final adjustments. What’s better than your favorite band playing 20 of their songs? When you get to pick them. Atreyu stepped out through a cloud of white smoke like the metal gods they are and wasted no time owning the stage. The perfect combination of vocals and instrumentals proved to be dominant throughout the show as fans formed a large circle pit. With a three-level platform on stage and giant skull, this show proved to be a night every Atreyu fan had dreamed of. The crowd grew more and more charged as the band screeched out favorites such as “Ex’s and Oh’s”, “The Crimson” and the notorious “Bleeding Mascara.” If the songs weren’t enough to get you off your feet and into the pit, Porter McKnight would be able to assist you there. The bands bassist made the deepest part of the circle pit his home for a couple songs while rapturous fans circled aggressively around him, the bands songs fueling them as the pit grew more feverish. Circle pits not for you? Thats ok, while the circle pit was busy circling, the band took advantage of their pleasing lighting, matching It to each unique song. At one point the stage became engulfed in an explosion of white smoke to which you could only hear the crisp vicious screams of Varkatza and haunting guitar chords that encapsulated fans. This notable performance was one to celebrate. Don’t wait another two decades, make sure to click the link below If you haven’t caught the Atreyu 20th Anniversary tour rolling through your hometown yet. If you did travel, the road trip will be worth it I promise.