It's been a while since we've heard from Atreyu. But rest assured the band is hard at work on its next effort, and second for Hollywood Records. "We are in pre-production in Orange, California. I'm at the studio now," frontman Alex Varkatzas told Noisecreep. "It's funny because 10 years ago, when we were in high school, we did demos here! We're with Bob Marlette, who just worked with Lynyrd Skynyrd. We're with a big dick, learning how it swings, so to speak."

Varkatzas and his bandmates are excited to have Marlette at the helm, with the singer admitting, "For me to trust someone, the process takes a little bit. This is fastest I have trusted the whole process for the first time since 'The Curse.'"

The singer also said, "After 'Death Grip [on Yesterday],' how it was received and how it was pushed, our band got lost a little. I got disinterested. For 'Lead Sails [Paper Anchor],' overall, I was out of my element. We're back to what makes us 'us.' We're going to shred, be punk, yell and scream." Varkatzas, with his trademark sarcasm sharpened to a point, also said, "It's ironic that we're at the studio where we did our first demos and EP. It's full circle, and not in the stupid way."

Atreyu are halfway through the pre-production process and will head to Marlette's studio in So Cal to commence work on the actual album. The band is toying with the idea of releasing B-sides throughout the year, after the as-yet untitled record comes out. A possible late summer, early fall release is being eyed. Vartkatzas, an avid practitioner of Thai boxing, is taking a disciplined approach, saying, "I had a Muay Thai amateur fight and won. I committed to training. I took what I learned from being in a band and applied it there. I thought, 'What if I put that focus back in the band?'" With this type of focus, Atreyu can't fail.

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