XFest will rock River Center Arena

• By JOHN WIRT
• Music critic
• Published: Apr 25, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The past two albums from Orange County, Calif.-based rock-metal band Atreyu both reached the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 albums chart. The latest of the two, Lead Sails Paper Anchor, was re-released this week with a ton of extras, including bonus tracks, music videos, a printable 50-page digital booklet and a guitar lesson from the band’s Dan Jacobs. 

Lead Sails Paper Anchor 2.0 may have been the record company’s idea, but Atreyu participated enthusiastically in the project.

“Hollywood Records was thinking of ways to add value to the CD for the kids,” singer Alex Varkatzas said. “People aren’t buying CDs as much anymore, so this is how we can maximize a CD so you get the most bang for your buck. Because without those customers, we’re nothing.”

Varkatzas admits he’s visited some not-so-legitimate music Websites, but only to sample things.

“If I like something and I wanna keep it, then I’ll just go buy it for 10 bucks,” he said. “CDs used to be like 20 bucks, but now they’re 10.”

Lead Sails Paper Anchor, originally released in August 2007, became a hit with record buyers and critics alike.

“That was completely unexpected,” Varkatzas said. “Especially because a lot of older fans regard it as a stylistic departure. But it’s still us, we’re still the same band.”

The positive reaction from critics was unexpected, too.

“That was so crazy,” the singer said. “We never really had that before, but who doesn’t want a pat on the back?”

Nonetheless, Varkatzas refuses to wallow in press clippings.

“Every now and then, if someone throws a good review my way, I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s really nice, that’s a good feeling,’ ” he said. “But reading a bunch of people saying how great you are, that just turns you into an idiot. I’ve seen it happen.”

In concert and on CD, Varkatzas, Jacobs, drummer-vocalist Brandon Saller, guitarist Travis Miguel and bassist Marc McKnight always seek their next peak. 

“We want the most intense relationship with the music,” Varkatzas said. “And if the kids are energetic, we don’t think about what we’re doing, we just do it. It’s honest. Sometimes the band feels like a well-oiled machine. Sometimes it’s crash and walk away. We’re having a good time on both ends.”