Lead Sails Paper Anchor

Lead Sails Paper Anchor is Atreyu's fourth album, on which they tied big choruses to heavy riffs to widen metalcore's expression in a more open direction. Their first record after moving to Hollywood Records, it thins the early metalcore coloring and steps boldly toward a melodic, rock-leaning sound. Reaching No. 8 on the US Billboard 200, it became the band's most commercially successful album. It was later certified RIAA Gold, carrying the band's name to a wider audience. The lead single "Becoming the Bull," with a powerful chorus and anthemic lift, is a signature song. From the melodic drive of "Falling Down" to the dramatic opening of "Doomsday," open-hearted songs line up. "Doomsday" was released as a UK-only single, and "Slow Burn" as the second US single. Brandon Saller's melodic singing is pushed to the front, skillfully placed alongside Alex Varkatzas's screams. Under producer John Feldmann, it balances radio-friendly polish with heaviness — a record announcing a turning point for the band.