MUSIC BAND REVIEWS
Critical Acclaim
ELECTRIC PICKS
The Latest Music Updates
*RE-Discover Grunge*
-All Reviews for ATR-
Music News & Reviews
ATR RELEASES
It's Not Enough: ATR PUSHED THE BOUNDARIES OF PUNK TO ITS LIMITS IN IT’S NOT ENOUGH, FEATURING KELLII SCOTT
Posted on 7 July 2022
For their latest volatile slice of off-kilter power-pop, It’s Not Enough, ATR borrowed the percussive flair of Kelli Scott (FAILURE) and used the extra set of hands to push the boundaries of punk further to its limits.
The unsated howl into the void is undoubtedly something that will resonate with many in our new normal, which notably has never known anything of normalcy. The noisy overdriven discord wrapped around the punchy melodies and modernist discontent of doom scrolling as a pacifier and other worrying symptoms of our times provided 3-minutes of the sweetest catharsis I’ve felt all day. We knew it was worth saving a space on our radar for ATR.
It’s Not Enough will officially release on July 7th. Check it out on SoundCloud.
Review by Amelia Vandergast
Music News & Reviews
ATR RELEASES
A NEW LIFE: SHEER PUNK ROCK DEFIANCE IN HIS NO-WAVE STORMER FEATURING KELLII SCOTT
Posted on 26th March 2022
ATR served up another gnarled no-wave punk single with the release of the blisteringly sweet lo-fi anthem, A New Life, featuring Kellii Scott (Failure).
ATR was formed in 2014 after the founder, Jess, returned from his tour in Iraq as a combat medic with PTSD, a traumatic brain injury and other sustained injuries. With that context, the defiance within A New Life takes on a whole new meaning. If you have ever known how it feels for your mind to wage war on you, the lyrics in A New Life hit like mantras you’ll want to follow and turn to for resilience.
Before his time in the army, Jess was the lead singer and guitarist for an MCA Records-signed punk rock band in the 90s. Even though they were an underground outfit, they shared stages with the likes of The UK Subs, Anti-Flag, The Ataris, and At the Drive In; he never lost his discordant biting touch, but he did attune his sonic signature to the lo-fi alt-grunge style that will electrify you in A New Life.
A New Life will officially release on March 26th. You can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.
Review by Amelia Vandergast
usually spoken about – especially in the Punk genre. There’s no petulant spite being thrown at parents or versing about just how great getting wasted is. The band was formed after one of the members returned from Iraq, and their music shines a light on the devastation witnessed there. Expect hard hitting stuff.
You can check out ATR’s latest single It’s a Taekwondo Day Morning for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.
Review by Amelia Vandergast (A&R Factory.com)
Music News & Reviews
ATR RELEASES
ICARUS DIED IN VAIN: IT’S LOUD AND THE PERFECT REPRESENTATION OF ROCK
Posted on 19th April 2020
ATR has dropped their single ‘Icarus Died In Vain’, giving that full on Rock and Roll sound, making sure it’s extremely loud.
Within the first few seconds the chaos begins, amping up the volume giving it that real in your face sound, it’s heavy but in a good way and continues that throughout. Clashing on the drums, the insane shreds on the guitar, giving it this real thunderous instrumentation.
The vocals are fairly rough and harsh, really keeping that loudness the same, piercing through the instrumentation. Having the occasional high-pitched shriek halfway through, it’s dark, fairly peculiar and rather unique, but it’s one hell of a Rock song and one that deserves all the recognition it gets.
Be sure to listen to ATR’s piece because it’s one you won’t want to miss, especially if you’re into music that’s more on the heavy side.
Check out ATR’s single Icarus Died in Vain by heading on over to YouTube.
Review by Karley Myall (A&R Factory.com)
Music News & Reviews
ATR RELEASES
IT’S A TAEKWONDO DAY MORNING: ARRESTIVE EXISTENTIAL PUNK CHAOS
Posted on 24th February 2019
Kick off any track with existential screams and you will immediately have our attention. Follow up the death rattle screams with a Sonic Youth-style arrangement of chaos and you’ve got our undying adoration.
ATR went with the slightly questionable title of “It’s a Taekwondo Day Morning” for their latest single which takes the Punk genre, shatters it into a thousand pieces and arranges it as Picasso would paint a portrait.
So, in short, ATR’s latest single is fairly ingenious. If you thought IDLES revolutionised Punk with their latest album, prepare for the ultimate facelift of angst. But similarly, to IDLES, ATR are using monumental riffs, tight arrangements, and Punk vocals to address plenty of issues which aren’t usually spoken about – especially in the Punk genre. There’s no petulant spite being thrown at parents or versing about just how great getting wasted is. The band was formed after one of the members returned from Iraq, and their music shines a light on the devastation witnessed there. Expect hard hitting stuff.
You can check out ATR’s latest single It’s a Taekwondo Day Morning for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.
Review by Amelia Vandergast (A&R Factory.com)
JUKEBOX.COM
The Latest Music Updates
RADIO AIRPLAY
Song Review
Song: Isolation Nation
Overall Impression: ATR has released their new punk tune Isolation Nation. Complete with crunchy guitars, a memorable chorus, and a high-energy chant, Isolation Nation pieces together elements from the best of punk for a listening experience that gets better from start to finish. The tune opens up with distorted guitars and casts an ominous, almost lonely tone with the lyrics before growing into a frenzied communal anthem. Throwing up a giant middle finger to the man, the lyrics stir up images of intense protest and civil disobedience. Cutting through the noise, they are sung with an edge perfect for punk. The energy levels are carefully raised and lowered in the bridge to keep listeners hooked until the very end. Overall, Isolation Nation by ATR is a killer new punk song that delivers the right amount of grit and in-your-face attitude to stick in your mind all day.
Strongest Point(s): Isolation Nation uses form to keep the energy levels and intrigue high. What starts out as a classic pop-punk sound evolves into a broader landscape with instrumental sections culminates in a high-energy chant that will stir up any mosh pit.
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of Punk and Pop-Punk will dig Isolation Nation by ATR.
Vocals: Strength
Lyrics: Strength
Instrumental Performance/Execution: Strength
Melody/Rhythm: Strength
Arrangement/Flow: Strength
