On their fourth album and major-label debut, this metallic California quintet prune some thorns from their prickly sound, overtly moving in a more pop-savvy direction. And considering the rote barking and generic riffage of 2006’s A Death-Grip on Yesterday, it’s a wise decision. Alex Varkatzas powerfully flexes his arena croon, and some surprisingly bold melodies sneak through the obligatory blare of “Doomsday” and first single “Becoming the Bull.” Still, Lead Sails too often descends into a monochromatic roar broken up by relentlessly overblown guitar solos.
Now Hear This: Atreyu – “Becoming the Bull” WINDOWS MEDIA HIGH | LOW | REAL HIGH | LOW
