Search - Atheist :: Piece of Time

Ahead of it's time

Patrick Stott | Rolleston, Canterbury, New Zealand | 07/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"So Death Metal is all down-tuned guitars and guys grunting like randy buffaloes, huh? It's all about death and Satan and is just "bang, bang, bang"? You've never heard Atheist.Overshadowed by their more brutal peers, like Obituary, Death and Morbid Angel, Atheist were one of the most original bands to emerge from the alligator infested swamps of Florida in the Great Death Rush of '89. While they didn't have the grunt of the others, they had riffs that bordered on solos and one of the most twisted rhythm sections this side of the New Orleans jazz scene.Atheist were described more than once as "death jazz", which is a more than fair description - off beat, syncopated rhythms, strange time signatures, instruments often playing against each other. It could have been disastrous if played badly. "Piece Of Time" is no disaster, but light-years ahead of the competition. It's incredibly catchy and has an excellent clear production sound. Atheist's complex sound apparently arose from the rhythm section of drummer Steve Flynn and the late Roger Patterson "getting bored". To alleviate the boredom, they messed about with unusual rhythm structures. It was topped off by the rare-for-Death-Metal double lead guitar attack of Kelly Shaefer and Rand Burkey, with Shaefer's vocals coming off as a more dangerous Dave Mustaine.Yes, Atheist were well ahead of their time, and for that reason got left behind. Their ultra-technical death metal did not really catch on like the more brutal flavour. However, a few short years down the track, the likes of Death, Pestilence, Cynic and Meshuggah were bored with brutality and picked up on Atheist-style technicality. Atheist were leaders, not followers."

PROGRESSIVE JAZZ DEATH METAL

Dante | Valinhos, SP BRAZIL | 08/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you listen to DEATH, you probably believe you listen a technical and heavy sound. And you are right! Anyone who listens Chuck Schuldiner's works is listenning a extreme and complex music.

But know DEATH isn't the only band playing this way that raised in Florida's ground.

ATHEIST plays a Death Metal with strong progressive and jazz influences. It sounds better than you realize. You can hear these influences in the riffs, solos, time brankings...

It is a extreme and complex song, as DEATH's music is. But Atheist isn't a vulgar copy of Chuck Schuldiner's band. It is one of the most creative bands in all Metal. If you don't belive me, listen it and get your conclusion."

Incredible, What Else Is There To Say?

Zettel | Iowa City, IA | 06/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, I've been looking for this album for some months now....it was reissued a few year's back, but is out of print once again. I finally found it in a pretty obscure little music show that had only one copy left. After listening to it, I now know what all those great reviews were talking about.This album is described by most as death metal, but is something more along the lines of a hybrid between death metal, (a small amount of) thrash metal, and progressive metal. There is also a small hint of jazz in the structures and bass playing that adds a very nice extra touch. The song themes are pretty good and the musicianship and song writing are both excellent. You won't go wrong by picking this one up when you are able to find it."