Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses

Released in 2002 via Victory Records, Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses is the debut full-length from Atreyu and a cornerstone of the second-wave metalcore movement. While many of their peers focused on political or social themes, Atreyu leaned heavily into personal, romantic, and gothic-influenced lyricism, earning them a 'screamo' association that differentiated them from the metallic hardcore scene. The album features re-recorded versions of tracks from their 2001 EP, showcasing a significant leap in production quality and songwriting maturity. Sonically, it is characterized by Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel’s harmonized guitar leads - heavily influenced by In Flames and Iron Maiden - and the band's signature 'beauty and the beast' vocal approach. The album's success was propelled by the single 'Lip Gloss and Black,' which became an anthem for the era due to its iconic piano-led ending and 'Live, Love, Burn, Die' refrain. It remains a definitive blueprint for the genre's commercial explosion in the mid-2000s.