Ah..yes, Atheist - A wonderful oldschool technical death metal band, and my favourite band of all time. They've released three albums:
1.Piece Of Time
2.Unquestionable Presence
3.Elements

And I adore all three releases. All three of them are so unique and so diverse. The common aspect is probably the technicality that surrounds all three albums. I can never pick a favourite album if I was asked to, but I hold UP a tad higher in technicality than the other two, and I slightly fancy PoT, because it was the first Atheist album I heard.
So recent news is that they have re-united, which is a good thing. I hope they don't release an album actually, because even Atheist can't touch the legendary three albums . Of course, if they do release another mindnumber like the others, it would indeed be nice ....Your thoughts?

I think my favourite album is Unquestionable Presense, although I like Piece Of Time a lot. I used to dislike Elements (even though I like progressive death metal), but lately I'm getting into it more than before. It's good, but just not as good as the first two

I hope I can see them this summer, but the odds for that to happen aren't too high...

Maybe they can release new albums under a new name? That way, no one could say "Atheist sucks"... just a thought

Yeah, that'd be a good idea, releasing it under a new name. That way, their legacy won't be hampered

If you do see Atheist, you'd be living my damn dream

This is kind of depressing. They seem so excited about performing again, yet they don't want to do it more than a few single times. Why revive a dead legend if they know it won't last for long?

@Varoth : because everything is about money

Well I agree with you about Elements,I think it's a little more ''difficult'' listen ,but still worthy.My favourite is probably Piece of Time,it's a little more agressive than Unquestionable Presence imo.

Aaaha , talking about my favorite death metal band .. Atheist is GOD .. god of tech jazz death metal !! Seriously after Morbid Angel , Atheist is the best thing happend in the death metal history. Love all the albums but my favorite is Unquestionable Presence .... although Element gives all you want !!

Favorite Track :
Room with a View
Piece of Time
Mother Man

Varoth @ I envy you dude ... its my dream to see them live !!

Weeeeell ... back online with the new 'Metul Stum' and the first thing I go to HAS to be the Atheist thread. Which of course was started by none other than Cryptic Myth!!! Love this band... Love this band... Love this band...

Some not so great news, is that Rand Burkey cannot attend the Atheist tours... here is some details for those not in the know...

Latest from Blabbermouth...
Veteran ATHEIST guitarist Rand Burkey has been forced to bow out of the band's forthcoming festival performances due to legal troubles. Filling in for Burkey on the upcoming reunion shows will be veteran guitarist Chris Baker. Baker will be joining core ATHEIST members Kelly Shaefer (vocals), Tony Choy (bass), and Steve Flynn (drums) as well as guitarist Sonny Carson (who will be playing Shaefer's guitar role due to Shaefer's long-running battles with tendonitis and carpal tunnel). Baker and Carson are currently playing with Steve Flynn's new band GNOSTIC.

Commented Shaefer: "In fine ATHEIST tradition, we've been dealt another set of obstacles to overcome. These new problems have made these upcoming shows come very close to not happening but Chris is an extraordinary player, and has done a great job on the very difficult task of dissecting and learning Rand's guitar parts. Not having Rand be able to take part is a disappointment to us, but we have always honored our band commitments, even in the face of unbelievable odds, and this will be no exception. We've been playing these songs for months now, they are sounding great! We simply cannot wait to get it on!"

As previously reported, ATHEIST will be performing the following songs on their upcoming tour:

01. On They Slay
02. Unholy War
03. Piece of Time
04. Unquestionable Presence
05. Retribution
06. Mother Man
07. An Incarnation's Dream
08. And the Psychic Saw
09. I Deny
10. Mineral
11. Air
12. Fire

Upcoming ATHEIST shows:

Jul. 14-15 - Bloodstock Open Air @ Catton Hall - Derbyshire, UK
Jul. 16-17 - Evolution Festival - Brescia, ITA
Aug. 03 - Black Pes Music Bar - Prague, CZR
Aug. 4-5 - Wacken Open Air - Wacken, GER
Aug. 23-26 - Hole In The Sky Festival - Bergen, NOR
Aug. 27 - Mylos Xilourgio - Thessaloniki, GRE
Aug. 28 - An Club - Athens, GRE

Not so good for people expecting the full remaining members but here is statement from steve Flynn from their official forums...

"Hey everybody... yes, we're all disappointed in and about Rand. However, nothing is going to be cancelled and we even added the shows in Greece and look to do even more Atheist shows both in Europe and the U.S. in the coming months.

At the end of the day, it really means that only ONE of the original U.P. members won't be there....I feel bad for Rand. He's a good person that has gotten himself in a bit of a pickel. We can't talk in detail about his troubles, we'll leave that to him.

Sonny and Chris have done an amazing job. We just wrapped up a marathon rehearsal session and things went very, very well....(I don't even want to look at drums for a couple days.... we're all very excited about the upcoming shows."

You can go check those forums out if you wish via here:

http://www.smnnews.com/board/forumdisplay.php's=731d9bda239be056845559ba16d44ecb&f=151

The members of Atheist quite often go on there and post, ESPECIALLY Steve Flynn and the other members of Gnostic . Check it out. But by all means don't abandon Metal Storm!! hehehe

I heard those news, but I was just wondering; what are the legal troubles that prevent Rand from joining Atheist in their shows?

Their awesomeness is readily apparent, however I am fazed little by it.

Written by [user id=2416] on 17.05.2006 at 19:08

I heard those news, but I was just wondering; what are the legal troubles that prevent Rand from joining Atheist in their shows?

Noone has gone into detail. The only thing that has been stipulated is that it is legal and that this time around he cannot participate. What has been said and written, is it isn't anything personal (ie no personal conflicts).

Written by [user id=875] on 17.05.2006 at 19:11

Their awesomeness is readily apparent, however I am fazed little by it.

perhaps some footage of Steve Flynn, their drummer could UNfaze you...

[URL] http://youtube.com/watch?v=a5EeFDvc8iA&search=atheist [/URL]

Steve Flynn said:"That was, in fact, that last live show we did together....that is until the upcoming shows in Europe... It was in Tampa..... We launch into "And the Psychic Saw" right after we finished Incarnation's Dream, but it only shows like 3 seconds...."

@ErabatukII: Thanks for that link dude. +1. I recall seeing it, but completely forgot where. He's just insane in that video. Like some alien 8-legged monster unleashing war against the poor hapless drumkit

Written by CrypticMyth on 17.05.2006 at 19:53

@ErabatukII: Thanks for that link dude. +1. I recall seeing it, but completely forgot where. He's just insane in that video. Like some alien 8-legged monster unleashing war against the poor hapless drumkit

He is something else. I wish there was more footage of that around. God i hope they put that in the DVD whenever that will be released!

Check this stuff out too...

Short footage of the band around 1988...
[URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2Frr0wV3j8[/URL]

And Air Live...
[URL] http://youtube.com/watch?v=Gq0NtLTA2MQ&search=atheist [/URL]

check on the right of that page too... there are other live vids of Atheist.

Oh!!

here is a link that you can right click and d/l that footage of Steve Flynn drumming.
It's better quality and of course you can keep it on your pc

[URL] http://www.morleyarts.com/post/Incarnation.mov[/URL]

There a pretty good band, i was thinking of buying Piece Of Time by them but when i went to get it, it was goen so, i have heard alot of their stuff and its somehwat diffrent, there good.

Great band. Nothing more to say.

Written by [user id=3005] on 18.05.2006 at 02:05

Great band. Nothing more to say.

amen (face the irony in that word haha)

I said before about Atheist (in old same threat), I like a lot their jazz influence. I have "Unquestionable Presence" and "Elements", without a doubt, "Unquestinable..." is better
Thanks to Varoth and Erabatuk II for teaching us about Atheist

Written by [user id=13620] on 18.05.2006 at 02:13

Written by [user id=3005] on 18.05.2006 at 02:05

Great band. Nothing more to say.

amen (face the irony in that word haha)

May the Lord be with Atheist.

I would like to say few more good words about the band but i have have run out of good praising sentences. I'll try nonetheless
"The guitars are godlike" how was that?

I really dig the kinda odd styles of music, such as Atheist. I mean, how they incorporate jazz into death metal is nothing short of genius.

All I have is Unquestionable Presence and it's brilliant, they have a very addictive sound to them. I once saw Piece Of Time in the store but sadly passed it up what would someone recommend next, Piece Of Time or Elements

^^Dude, definately get Piece Of Time first. You should enjoy it more, especially since you seem to be a Slayer fan

I have to go to the gig at Greece! Does anyone have a link that confirms what Erabatuk posted? Because the link you posted doesn't work, man

Atheist are both rediculously talented and technical. I no doubt enjoy everything I have heard by them, but sometimes it's almost comical to listen to their Jazz/Death Metal fusion. It is truly amazing how well they pull it off. I don't believe anyone could even compare to what they did way back when. Even their old releases blow away anything at the top of the "Technical Tower" these days. Wicked stuff.

Written by CrypticMyth on 18.05.2006 at 07:40

^^Dude, definately get Piece Of Time first. You should enjoy it more, especially since you seem to be a Slayer fan

Well I took your advice at the cd store today sir I came across the same Piece Of Time copy I see every damn time I'm there and no one ever even touches, and I remember what you said and here I am listening to it now. What can I say, it's just as perfect as Unquestionable Presence. The technicallity is mind-blowing Thanks for the suggestion dude. It's the remastered version too and has a bunch of demos on it, have you heard them??

Yeah, I've got the On They Slay demo, and the Hell Hath No Mercy demo. Excellent stuff

Written by CrypticMyth on 22.05.2006 at 06:47

Yeah, I've got the On They Slay demo, and the Hell Hath No Mercy demo. Excellent stuff

I have read that these releases were a lot less technical than their albums and more Thrashy than anything. Is there any truth to these statements?

Written by Clintagräm on 24.05.2006 at 06:32

Written by CrypticMyth on 22.05.2006 at 06:47

Yeah, I've got the On They Slay demo, and the Hell Hath No Mercy demo. Excellent stuff

I have read that these releases were a lot less technical than their albums and more Thrashy than anything. Is there any truth to these statements?

I wouldn't say more thrashy, but surely less technical, IMO.

Well, slightly less technical. I mean, they did play songs like On They Slay on their demos[which is a very technical song]. But on the whole I don't think songs like Undefiled Wisdom can be called Technical per se.

thnx for the links dude ... man ... do i love this band ? ... HELL YEAH ... I'd kill anyone to see this band live .. .. i jus dig all their albums ... the more i listen to them , the more i love them ... i jus love UP , but POT and Elements are amazing albums too....i Hope they kick some serious ass this year at Wacken \m/