Surfacing

Each week the spotlight is on musicians making a commercial breakthrough. -- CHRIS LEE

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“A Death Grip

on Yesterday”

Atreyu

Victory Records

Artist info: These five Orange County musicians have become poster boys for the “screamo” movement, a burgeoning heavy metal sub-genre that marries thunderous hardcore and hipster fashion posturing a la My Chemical Romance with introspective emo heartache. Older songs with titles such as “Five Vicodin Chased With a Shot of Clarity” notwithstanding, Atreyu is more likely to wail about romantic anguish than, say, the Ace of Spades. Last month on AOL Music, the group’s new single, “Ex’s and Oh’s,” was downloaded 32,000 times in a 72-hour period -- not bad for a relatively obscure indie band fronted by a singer whose voice vacillates between Faith No More’s Mike Patton and Cookie Monster.

Back story: Formed in Brea in 1999, Atreyu surfaced in 2002 with its debut album, “Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses,” which sold 120,000 copies with limited distribution and almost no mainstream exposure. By the time the band’s follow-up, “The Curse,” reached listeners two years later, Atreyu was lauded “Hot New Metal Band” by Rolling Stone. The group established its alterna-rock bona fides on the Vans Warped Tour and this year has landed a headlining slot on the second stage at Ozzfest, which begins in San Francisco in July.

Influences: Hatebreed, Henry Rollins, Green Day

Trivia: Atreyu, whose members are fans of ‘80s hair rock, has been known to faithfully cover Bon Jovi songs in concert and includes a version of “You Give Love a Bad Name” on “The Curse.”