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  • Atheist - Piece of Mind

    Atheist - Piece of Mind
    1990 Active Records

    review

Atheist - Piece of Mind

1990 Active Records :: Reviewed by rofreason on 2005-07-01

Hailing from Florida at about the peak of the death metal movement there, Atheist combine aggressive guitar riffs, stop on a dime drumming, and manic jazz stylings to give an album which, if nothing else, will certainly send your adrenaline levels soaring. The opening track sets the pace, with hyperkenetic guitar work, matched almost note for note by drummer Steve Flynn, one of the more original death metal drummers to come upon the scene. Throughout the album there's never a dull moment, although for metal purists, the almost cartoony guitar leads may begin to annoy after a while. As for those who are into technical progressive death along the lines of Cynic, Meshuggah, you won't be disappointed.

  • Atheist - Unquestionable Presence

    Atheist - Unquestionable Presence
    1991 Active Records

    review

Atheist - Unquestionable Presence

1991 Active Records :: Reviewed by rofreason on 2005-07-01

Things are both tighter and looser on Unquestionable Presence. More of a fusion album than death metal, production is better (courtesy of Scott Burns...), with the music going in 6,000 directions at once. The bass playing is more pronounced (Tony Choy was loaned from Cynic after the death of Roger Patterson in a car accident) and together with Drummer Steve Flynn, forms a rhythm structure which works well, but is just all over the place, playing probably whatever came to mind in the studio. The guitar sound is crystal clear, and the musicianship is excellent. As with the previous release, a short album (both are around 32 minutes in length) but there is more than enough here to keep you busy. Just try to follow along with the intro of the title track! Again, purists may be turned off by the jazzy feel, but Unquestionable Presence is in my opinion, one of the finest progressive metal albums recorded.

  • Atheist - Elements

    Atheist - Elements
    1993 Metal Blade Records

    review

Atheist - Elements

1993 Metal Blade Records :: Reviewed by rofreason on 2005-07-01

Elements brings more of a return to song structure. At first listen, I was very dismayed to discover that Steve Flynn had departed the band, but over time, began to appreciate the incredible tightness of the band on this album. Basically 8 songs with four interludes (one a salsa track!), Elements is rhythmically complex, again due to the tightness of session drummer Josh Greenbaum. Tony Choy, who left both Cynic and Pestilence to join full time, is heard clearly through excellent production. Although not as challenging as their earlier material, Elements is a good album which is light years more mature and accessible. Sadly, this was their swan song, as the group disbanded shortly after the release of the album