This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.

We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.

Atreyu are a metal-core band a bit more on the punk side of the spectrum. The line up as been mostly consistent with vocalist Alex Varkatzas, guitar players Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, bassist Marc "Porter" McKnight, and drummer/vocalist Brandon Saller making up the core line up for the longest consistent period. Prior to that was bassists Brian O'Donnell, Kyle Stanley, and Chris Thomson. Alex recently parted from the band and Brandon has taken over all lead vocals. Kyle Rosa stepped in to fill his drum spot.

Johnny Cash

Willie Nelson

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

David Bowie was a iconic singer with and artsy approach to rock. Travis named him as an influence.

Paul Simon

MC5 are one of the first hard rock bands and considered a proto-punk band. Travis named them as an influence.

The Stooges were an important proto-punk band. Travis named them as an influence.

Iggy Pop

Queen are easily one of the biggest rock bands. Dan is a big fan of Brian May melody and tastefulness.

Judas Priest are had a ginormous hand in shaping the genre of metal in the early days. Dan named them as an influence on them.

The Police were a popular post-punk new wave band. Travis named them as an influence.

Elvis Costello is a new wave singer/songwriter. Travis named him as an influence.

Van Halen had a huge impact on the world of music. Dan is a huge fan of Eddie and says he tries to sneak Van Halen licks into their songs.

Whitesnake are a hard rock band formed by former by former Deep Purple signer David Coverdale. Dan is a fan.

Prince was a very popular guitarist/singer. Travis said Purple Rain was a perfect album. — Prince was a very popular guitarist/singer. Travis said *Purple Rain* was a perfect album.

Def Leppard tossed their NWOBHM roots to the side and became a huge pop metal band. Dan is a big fan and said Hysteria was the album that really made him dive more into hair metal. Travis also named them as an influence. — Def Leppard tossed their NWOBHM roots to the side and became a huge pop metal band. Dan is a big fan and said *Hysteria* was the album that really made him dive more into hair metal. Travis also named them as an influence.

Black Flag are one of the most influential and important hardcore punk band. Travis named them as an influence.

Motley Crue were a huge glam metal / hard glam rock band. Dan named them as an influence.

Metallica are the fathers of thrash. Travis said they was his introduction to metal and was a huge influence.

The Smiths were a British alternative rock band. Travis named them as an influence.

Slayer are one of the most aggressive and influential of the early thrash bands. Travis named them as an influence.

NOFX are a punk band that got big during the 90’s. Dan said Punk In Drublic had a big influence on early Atreyu. Marc also named them. — NOFX are a punk band that got big during the 90’s. Dan said *Punk In Drublic* had a big influence on early Atreyu. Marc also named them.

White Zombie was a noise rock band in the early days before going into their more well known heavy/groove metal sound. Travis named them as an influence.

Sepultura are Brazilian Death/thrash, later groove, nu and then back to groove. Travis and Alex named them as an influence.

Soundgarden are pioneers of grunge. Travis named them as an influence.

Alice in Chains are also pioneers of grunge. Travis also named them as an influence.

Warrant are a glam metal band… you know… “Cherrie Pie”. Dan said they had a huge impact on him and he is a huge fan.

Green Day were a huge band in the pop punk era. Dan said they after hearing them he new he wanted to play and learned as many of their songs as he could. Marc also named them.

Nine Inch Nails are a big industrial rock band. Travis named them as an influence.

Deftones are pioneers in alternative “metal”. Dan and Travis named them as an influence on them.

At The Gates are pioneers of Melodic Death. Dan said they had a big influence on the heavier side of Atreyu.

Far were a alternative rock/emo/post-hardcore/ bla bla bla. Travis named them as an influence.

Failure was an alternative rock band. Travis named them as an influence.

Rancid was a huge punk band starting in the 90’s on. Dan said ...And Out Come the Wolves was the catchiest and best produced punk album he heard at the time and was an influence on him. Alex named Rancid as his biggest influence and favorite band. — Rancid was a huge punk band starting in the 90’s on. Dan said *...And Out Come the Wolves* was the catchiest and best produced punk album he heard at the time and was an influence on him. Alex named Rancid as his biggest influence and favorite band.

In Flames are pioneers of melodic death. Dan said hearing Colony got him more into metal from a hardcore phase he was in. He said it showed him heavy and melodic don’t have to be exclusive. — In Flames are pioneers of melodic death. Dan said hearing *Colony* got him more into metal from a hardcore phase he was in. He said it showed him heavy and melodic don’t have to be exclusive.

Jimmy Eat World are mostly a pop punk / emo band. Dan named them as an influence.

Outkast are an influential hip hop duo. Travis named them as an influence.

Refused are a band rooted in hardcore punk and adjacent sub genres. Marc named them as a big influence.

Will Haven are a sludge/noise band. Travis named them as an influence.

Hot Water Music are a post-hardcore band. Marc named them as a big influence.

Arch Enemy are a melodic death metal band formed by former carcass guitarist Michael Amott. Dan is a fan.

Queens of the Stone Age are predominantly at alternative rock/metal band. Travis named them as an influence.

Mogwai are a post-rock band. Travis named them as an influence.

Saves The Day is a band mostly rooted in pop punk. Dan named them as an influence.

Hatebreed are a big heavy hardcore band. Travis named them as an influence.

Soilwork are a Swedish melodic death band. Dan is a big fan.

Alkaline Trio are a punk, and later pop/punk and emo band. Travis named them as an influence.

Sonata Arctica are a Finnish power metal band. Dan said their Silence album was the first power metal he heard and loved how it sounded like a more modern version of 80’s rock and metal. — Sonata Arctica are a Finnish power metal band. Dan said their *Silence* album was the first power metal he heard and loved how it sounded like a more modern version of 80’s rock and metal.

Bleeding Through are a metalcore rooted band. Marc named them as an influence.

Dan named “Revolution” as an influence on the band. He may have been referring to The Revolution which was a band formed by Prince. Dan says he loves all things 80’s. Besides any bands noted above he is also a fan of Ratt and they have covered Bon Jovi.

Atreyu has also covered Thin Lizzy and Aerosmith. Brandon said they all grew up listening to them.

Dan said Dallas Cole of God Forbid showed him out to sweep pick.

Brandon says they are rooted in punk. He said as a kid he was into hardcore and punk. He says as a whole they are influenced by a lot of 80’s music but doesn’t name any bands. I have not found any interviews where he names specific influences.

In an interview with Travis and Marc when asked about hip hop artists they found compelling, they named Anderson .Paak, Kendrick Lamar, and Hobo Johnson.

Alex said he is a fan of Killswitch Engaged, Hatebreed and Hot Water Music, but tries not to sound like contemporary bands.

Chris Thomson was the bassists for the first album and an EP. I’m unsure of his influences.

Brian O'Donnell and Kyle Stanley were bass players for their first EP. I’m unsure of their influences.

Marc said seeing his friends band playing a Bush song helped inspire him to play.

Kyle Stanley is the new drummer and will appear on their 2021 album.

More Family Trees

Sources:

https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/atreyus-dan-jacobs-the-10-records-that-changed-my-life-627158
https://www.metalunderground.com/interviews/details.cfm?newsid=14502
https://www.thehofstrachronicle.com/archive-2004/atreyu-guitarist-big-dan-jacobs-bears-all-about-touring-the-new-album-and-mp3-sharingbr
https://spotlightreport.net/on-the-spot-2/interview-alex-varkatzas-dan-jacobs-of-atreyu
https://www.musicradar.com/rhythm/interview-atreyus-brandon-saller-357968
https://www.stripes.com/news/atreyu-from-punk-to-playstation-1.68041
https://screamermagazine.com/interviews/long-live-atreyu-2/
https://noisecreep.com/hell-or-highwater-brandon-saller-interview/
https://www.ocregister.com/2007/10/01/between-rock-and-a-hard-place/
https://artistwaves.com/travis-miguel-atreyu-how-metallica-influenced-my-life/
http://www.nataliezworld.com/2012/02/fake-figures-travis-miguel-talks-music.html
http://www.drivenfaroff.com/2009/10/27/atreyu-interview-october-27-2009/
https://consequence.net/video/atreyu-on-the-unlikely-influences-behind-their-new-album/
http://www.metalunderground.com/interviews/details.cfm?newsid=9716
https://wallofsoundau.com/2020/02/20/alex-varkatzas-atreyu-constantly-pushing-the-envelope-of-change/
https://musicfeeds.com.au/features/atreyus-alex-varkatzas-talks-the-concept-of-metalcore-the-bands-upcoming-australian-visit/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAu__U4qbg4