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Atheist - Unquestionable Presence



8.7 | 593 votes |
Release date: 30 August 1991
Style: Technical death metal

Owners:

727 have it
84 want it
2 trade it


01. Mother Man
02. Unquestionable Presence
03. Retribution
04. Enthralled In Essence
05. An Incarnation's Dream
06. The Formative Years
07. Brains
08. And The Psychic Saw
09. Enthralled In Essence [2005 re-release bonus] [1989/1990 pre-production demo] [feat. Roger Patterson]
10. The Formative Years [2005 re-release bonus] [1989/1990 pre-production demo] [feat. Roger Patterson]
11. Unquestionable Presence [2005 re-release bonus] [1989/1990 pre-production demo] [feat. Roger Patterson]
12. An Incarnation's Dream [2005 re-release bonus] [1989/1990 pre-production demo] [feat. Roger Patterson]
13. Retribution [instrumental version] [2005 re-release bonus] [1989/1990 pre-production demo] [feat. Roger Patterson]
14. Brains [instrumental version] [2005 re-release bonus] [1989/1990 pre-production demo] [feat. Roger Patterson]
15. Enthralled In Essence [2005 re-release bonus]
16. Mother Man [2005 re-release bonus] [1990 demo [feat. Roger Patterson]] [drum & bass Tracks]
17. And The Psychic Saw [2005 re-release bonus] [1990 demo] [feat. Roger Patterson]] [rhythm Tracks]

Top 20 albums of 1991: 3
Top 200 albums of all time: 147

Line-up
Kelly Shaefer - vocals, guitar
Rand Burkey - guitar
Tony Choy - bass
Steve Flynn - drums

Additional info
Recorded at Morrisound, Tampa, Florida.
Produced by Atheist and Scott Burns with special thanks to Tom Morris.
Cover artwork by Justice Mitchell.

All the bass parts for this album were composed by Roger Patterson before his death, while Tony Choy contributed as a composer only on Mother Man and And The Psychic Saw.

Guest review by
Horlequism
Rating:
9.0
The "jazz/metal" band Atheist released their second album in 1991 entitled Unquestionable Presence. Former bassist Roger Patterson was sadly killed in a car accident. New bassist Tony Choy is a master of the bass; he adds a whole new layer to the band's sound. Choy provides down-tuned funk slapping, blindingly fast picking among other things that increase the richness of Atheist. Vocalist Kelly Shaefer returns with his shrieking growls. Many fans say that this was the last Atheist album where his death metal throaty growls were displayed.

Read more ››
published 13.06.2006 | Comments (18)

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Comments

Comments: 23   Visited by: 1230 users
08.03.2010 - 06:00
DP_Megachiva
Account deleted
Amazing album
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18.08.2011 - 00:21
BeastOfMetal456
Account deleted
I heard one track and it seems amazing.
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04.11.2011 - 20:10
Rating: 10
Metalex
I love this albulm CHEERS aLL!
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07.04.2012 - 19:42
Rating: 9
musicalkaratekid
One of those albums that truly take more than a couple of listens to understand and grasp every one if its features. The jazz rhythm and influences are perfectly clear and obvious, though sometimes the tempo can change and it doesn't quite flow as well as it should. What is on this album is absolutely brilliant as a whole, but i would have liked it to last a bit more (it barely reaches over 32 minutes!)-however, everything here seems to be precise and concise. I must be one of the few that prefer 'Elements' by a margin...
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21.01.2013 - 19:23
megadeath13
Account deleted
Technical Death metal bands Atheist finest work. Love the jazzy feeling and the epic solos.
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05.06.2013 - 21:11
Illog1cal
Account deleted
Not a dull moment on this, I like all of the songs. 'Mother Man', 'Enthralled In Essence' (epic outstanding solos) and 'An Incarnation's Dream' are the standouts for me.

There is still nothing in the technical death metal spectrum that quite equals the quality of this release.
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05.06.2013 - 21:24
@gent_-_orange
Written by [user id=130590] on 05.06.2013 at 21:11

Not a dull moment on this, I like all of the songs. 'Mother Man', 'Enthralled In Essence' (epic outstanding solos) and 'An Incarnation's Dream' are the standouts for me.

There is still nothing in the technical death metal spectrum that quite equals the quality of this release.

I would take Cynic's Focus over this any day of the week. But you are right this album is pretty damn good.
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05.07.2013 - 17:24
Rating: 9
NocturnalStalker
Metal Addict
This is a classic of tech death metal. Even though I prefer "Elements" over this album, I still like it a lot.
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"And we are not who we think we are
We are who we're afraid to be"
- Lux Occulta "The Opening of Eleventh Sephirah"
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23.10.2013 - 00:39
Rating: 7
Deadmeat
Necrobutcher
I see complexity, i see progressive elements, i see great musical skills but i cannot see musicianship...
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Υou've sold your human essence to the cold world of dead and empty things... You're SOLD!
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14.03.2014 - 16:54
Rating: 10
TrollandDie
Absolute masterpiece. Love it more every time I go back to it.
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Hello, my name is Mr......Snrub and I think it would be a capital idea to invest the money back in the nuclear plant.
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18.07.2014 - 00:38
Rating: 9
Guib
Thrash Talker
This is simply a classic... a must have, a true piece of art.
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- Headbanging with mostly clogged arteries to that stuff -
Guib's List Of Essential Albums
- Also Thrash Paradise
Thrash Here
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19.08.2014 - 05:18
Rating: 5
Dr. Strawberry
Not good at all...the direction is aimless
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19.08.2014 - 11:22
Rating: 8
raveneffect
Both this and Piece are really good on its own way and I cant really tell which one is better. They really knew how to stand out from the rest of the DM scene with these jazz elements, it was a sucessful and pleasant combination of both genres.
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31.12.2014 - 11:53
Rating: 9
Tomas Piller
Written by Deadmeat on 23.10.2013 at 00:39

I see complexity, i see progressive elements, i see great musical skills but i cannot see musicianship...

Maybe you should try ears instead of eyes then.
But seriously - may I know your definition of 'musicianship'?
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01.01.2015 - 01:30
Rating: 7
Deadmeat
Necrobutcher
Written by Tomas Piller on 31.12.2014 at 11:53

Written by Deadmeat on 23.10.2013 at 00:39

I see complexity, i see progressive elements, i see great musical skills but i cannot see musicianship...

Maybe you should try ears instead of eyes then.
But seriously - may I know your definition of 'musicianship'?

it would be better if you were not insulting. there is not one definition of musicianship; it is hugely a subjective statement. these songs just never managed to "tell" me anything..
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Υou've sold your human essence to the cold world of dead and empty things... You're SOLD!
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03.01.2015 - 16:29
Rating: 9
Tomas Piller
Written by Deadmeat on 01.01.2015 at 01:30

it would be better if you were not insulting. there is not one definition of musicianship; it is hugely a subjective statement. these songs just never managed to "tell" me anything..

Let me clarify - emoticons like the one i used are there to help people distinguish jokes from insults. Nevertheless i'm a bit dissapointed you dodged the question.
This record is troubled for me too, primarily because i disregard jazz, but the musicanship - the ability to create music - seems to be pretty abundant there.
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04.01.2015 - 02:22
Rating: 7
Deadmeat
Necrobutcher
Written by Tomas Piller on 03.01.2015 at 16:29

Written by Deadmeat on 01.01.2015 at 01:30

it would be better if you were not insulting. there is not one definition of musicianship; it is hugely a subjective statement. these songs just never managed to "tell" me anything..

Let me clarify - emoticons like the one i used are there to help people distinguish jokes from insults. Nevertheless i'm a bit dissapointed you dodged the question.
This record is troubled for me too, primarily because i disregard jazz, but the musicanship - the ability to create music - seems to be pretty abundant there.

well, sometimes people just don't notice the emoticons

maybe i didn't use properly the word "musicianship" but i can't come with a better word do describe my point of view. it seems that you disergard jazz but like atheist, unfortunately i may disregard both as i cannot "like" this band even though i tried..
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Υou've sold your human essence to the cold world of dead and empty things... You're SOLD!
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22.01.2017 - 12:50
The vocal...and it's vinyl quality...
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23.09.2018 - 17:05
Rating: 9
Sang Dalang Abu
Excellent!
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02.07.2020 - 23:15
ickoriss
Great album. I'm just still trying to figure out why Kelly Shaefer needs to wear two hats at once.
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14.12.2021 - 17:06
Rating: 7
F3ynman
Nocturnal Bro
Contributor
Interesting genre mix - the music goes all over the place, making each song very unpredictable. Each instrument seems to be doing its own wild thing, but somehow this band makes it all come together and work!
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14.07.2022 - 09:12
Rating: 8
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Contributor
Great original tech death album, with the right blend if technicality and melody to keep me satisfied. The song structures have many genre's fused within with great complexity, and there is a showcase of real musical talent in the drumming, guitarwork and basswork, I'm not too fond of the vocals though.

"An Incarnation's Dream", "The Formative Years" and "Enthralled In Essence" are the tracks that stood out for me most, the rest being decent also.
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23.07.2024 - 19:33
Rating: 10
Yxag
Damn amazing album! I just staggered how these guys were managed to combine complexity, melody and brutality so well, it flows unbelievably natural. For me this is the kind of an album I can dig for a long time and find new facets in this music every time. Very, very good shit!
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