So to cut a very long rant short, this CD simply shouldn't exist. No more than a record company cash-in, clearly to fulfill contractual obligations, the words 'Atreyu' and 'Greatest Hits' should probably never go together, let alone after three albums and an EP. It's disrespectful to the music buying public that record label executives think fans should be conned into parting with a tenner for what is basically the "best" of the band's career freshly pacakaged up onto one CD. And this isn't a dig at Victory as a lot of labels do it, I just think it's disgusting that labels and bands treat their fans with such utter contempt they think they'll buy horrible cash-ins and coin it in while said band is flavour of the month. If Atreyu actually backed this release I've lost all credibility for them. They should be ashamed.
Now I have nothing against Atreyu as a band. Sure, their first full-length wasn't my thing and, as this record shows, they've progressed from a metal-influenced hardcore band into a pop-hardcore one, but they've worked hard, paid their dues and found a sound that has made them successful. So fair play. But of the 18 songs on offer here, I couldn't say more than three or four are genuine 'hits' - and around the same number should be tagged with the word 'great'. Featuring the better songs from each of their albums, it's like owning all three albums on one CD - pointless if, like many, you already own the three Cds.
But, in a bid to try and make this release worth some of your hard-earned cash, a packaged DVD with music videos is thrown in, ultimately to try and add a little credibility. A quick youtube search - or even a scoot onto Victory's own website - will allow anyone to find most of the seven videos on offer. Which makes this record a complete and utter waste of time. Record companies need to stop ripping fans off. If you're Bon Jovi and have 20 albums of material - and some genuine greatest hits - fair play. But Atreyu will not, and have not, had that kind of impact on the world of music. As such, this is nothing more than a corporate kiddie cash in - and I hope the band's 'fans' see it for that.
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