The listless witch sat in her creaky old cottage, surrounded by cobwebs and dust. She gazed out of the window at the lush green forest beyond, but her heart was heavy with a sense of ennui. Every day was the same for the listless witch, and she yearned for something more. Once, she had been a powerful sorceress, feared by all who crossed her path. Her potions were legendary, capable of changing people's fates with a single drop. But over time, her powers had waned, leaving her feeling weak and useless.
4.0 / 10 — Steve • June 16, 2004
California s Atreyu seem to be aware of the monotony of that sound, and have looked elsewhere for inspiration, creating a sound that dares to burst out of the corner that screamo bands have painted themselves into. The first two real songs Bleeding Mascara and Right Side of the Bed really set the pace for the entire record; blazing riffs, hilariously silly lyrics like lips are quivering like a withering rose, cock rock parts, screaming, and over the top singing.
But over time, her powers had waned, leaving her feeling weak and useless. The listless witch's cauldron sat empty on the stove, neglected and forgotten. She had lost the desire to brew potions and cast spells.
Atreyu – The Curse Review
You may or may not remember, or care for that matter. But not too long ago, metalcore was a genre you could get excited about. Before the “scene” became infested with wannabes and shameless hacks, there was actually a strong stable of bands whose music bled with a sense of urgency that seemed to be lacking in a lot of metal. Atreyu was not one of those bands, but they hung around well enough. Their Victory Records debut Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses was a competitive piece of melodic metalcore. I’m not ashamed to admit that I gave that album a considerable amount of rotation, despite its somewhat limp wristed production and unabashedly sappy lyrics. Regardless of all its flaws, its intentions were sincere. And that sincerity finds a way to the surface almost every time.
A lot has changed in the year and a half since the release of Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses. Metalcore’s rise to prominence in the States has led to a nearly complete homogenization of the entire genre. And while this may have spawned a few quality releases, the excitement is almost entirely gone. Unfortunately, Atreyu’s latest release, The Curse does very little to restore my enthusiasm. All the pieces for a “solid” album are there. The production is crisp. The musicianship is tight, and in many cases, superior to Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses. Even Vocalist Alex Varkatzas seems to have sharpened his once almost unbearable vocal approach. It’s all very well done. So what’s the problem? Well, the problem is I can’t walk into Newbury Comics and throw a rock without hitting another album that will affect me in the exact same way as The Curse. Too many times the streamlined approach on this album comes at the expense of the band’s dynamic songwriting and memorable riffing. Many of the tracks are either directly derivative of ideas that have been done to death long ago, or too afraid of their own potential to make any significant imprint on the listener. As a result of their attempts to make a “proper” metalcore album Atreyu essentially corners themselves into producing an extremely forgettable piece of music.
That’s not to say that The Curse isn’t without fair share of moments. The album’s opener “Bleeding Mascara” features some impressive melodic lead work. The band’s trademark clean vocals, delivered expertly by drummer Brandon Saller, sound great. “My Sanity on The Funeral Pyre” is probably the album’s strongest, as it displays the band abandoning the album’s predominant verse-chorus-verse pattern and instead embracing their capabilities rather than shunning them in favor of simplistic song structures. It also features one hell of a simple yet effective guitar solo.
The Curse is by no means a bad album. Fans of modern metalcore will be hard pressed to find a more successful execution of this musical formula. In the end, however, The Curse is little more than just that. It’s well played, but it’s stifled. The band is too aware of the rules by which they play and it results in songs that lack character or any sort of replay value. Atreyu has the talent to write another great album. They just need to throw the rulebook to the wind and embrace what they are truly capable of when they chose to play by their own rules.
- Category: Reviews
- Tag: Atreyu, Metalcore, Victory
The Curse is by no means a bad album. Fans of modern metalcore will be hard pressed to find a more successful execution of this musical formula. In the end, however, The Curse is little more than just that. It’s well played, but it’s stifled. The band is too aware of the rules by which they play and it results in songs that lack character or any sort of replay value. Atreyu has the talent to write another great album. They just need to throw the rulebook to the wind and embrace what they are truly capable of when they chose to play by their own rules.
What was the point, she thought. No one needed her magic anymore. Her familiar, a black cat named Midnight, nuzzled against her leg, trying to coax her into action. But the listless witch remained unmoved, too absorbed in her own melancholy. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt truly alive. One day, a young girl knocked on the witch's door, looking for help. Her village was plagued by a terrible curse, and she had heard tales of the listless witch's powers. The girl begged the witch to come and break the curse, promising her eternal gratitude. The listless witch hesitated, the glimmer of hope flickering in her eyes. Maybe this was the purpose she had been searching for. With a newfound determination, she dusted off her spellbook and gathered her ingredients. As the listless witch approached the cursed village, she felt a surge of energy flow through her veins. The anticipation of using her magic once again revitalized her, banishing her listlessness. With each potion she brewed and every spell she cast, the listless witch regained her strength and confidence. Her powers returned, greater than ever before. The villagers were amazed by her abilities, their faith in magic restored. From that day forward, the listless witch embraced her role as a protector and healer. No longer idle and dispirited, she found joy in helping others and using her magic for good. That sense of purpose filled her heart, driving away the listlessness that once consumed her. The once-listless witch became known as a hero, her reputation spreading far and wide. But she never forgot the emptiness she had felt, and how a single act of kindness had brought her back to life. In the end, it wasn't power or fame that defined the listless witch, but the ability to embrace her magic and use it to make a difference. And as she sat in her cottage, surrounded by potions and spells, she realized that she had finally found her place in the world..
Reviews for "Witchcraft Renaissance: Reviving the Listless Witch's Spirits"
1. Emily - 1/5 stars - I really didn't enjoy "The listless witch" at all. The storyline was incredibly dull and uninspiring. I found myself struggling to stay engaged throughout the entire book. The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult to connect with any of them. The writing style felt choppy and disjointed, further diminishing my interest. Overall, I was extremely disappointed and would not recommend this book.
2. Liam - 2/5 stars - "The listless witch" fell short of my expectations. The premise sounded intriguing, but unfortunately, the execution was lacking. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. The main character was unrelatable and lacked any real personality. There were also several plot holes and unresolved storylines that left me feeling unsatisfied. While there were a few interesting ideas, they were not enough to redeem the overall mediocrity of the book.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I struggled to get through "The listless witch". The writing style was tedious and overly descriptive, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. The plot itself was predictable and lacked originality. The main character was unlikeable and made decisions that were frustratingly illogical. Additionally, the lack of character development made it hard to care about their journey. Overall, I found the book to be a forgettable and unenjoyable read.
4. Jason - 1/5 stars - I regret wasting my time on "The listless witch". The story had potential, but it was poorly executed. The pacing was slow and bogged down by unnecessary details. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the characters lacked depth. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me confused and uninterested in the setting. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written fantasy read.
5. Olivia - 2/5 stars - "The listless witch" had an interesting concept, but it fell flat in its execution. The writing style was disjointed and difficult to follow, creating a barrier to fully understanding the story. The characters were one-dimensional and failed to evoke any emotional connection. The plot lacked depth and felt rushed, with significant events happening without sufficient build-up. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and would not recommend it to others.