Atheist - Jupiter review
| Band: | Atheist |
| Album: | Jupiter |
| Style: | Technical death metal |
| Release date: | November 08, 2010 |
| A review by: | Darkside Momo |
01. Second To Sun
02. Fictitious Glide
03. Fraudulent Cloth
04. Live And Live Again
05. Faux King Christ
06. Tortoise The Titan
07. When The Beast
08. Third Person
In the last few years, the metal community saw many dead bands rising from their ashes, playing some festivals, and eventually recording new albums. Even the technical/jazz death metal scene was swept in the movement, so after Cynic, then Pestilence, here we are finally with the new Atheist album.
Even if there wasn't supposed to be one at first.
Let's face it, this Jupiter is precisely what we could expect from a new Atheist album. Good news, for sure! Countless breaks, sick twists and turns, really convoluted songwriting (yes, let's stress it again, songwriting, not sterile wankering) and amazing musicianship, yes we have it all once again. Just like on the classic Unquestionable Presence, with less jazz elements than before however (and certainly no 'over-the-top' experimentations like those found on Elements)?
On the other hand, it is a bit sad that they exactly did what we expected of them - in itself, no mere feat given the complexity of this stuff. But, that's the problem, they didn't really evolve at all. Somehow like Pestilence, they went back exactly to what they considered to be the best in their previous works (while Cynic, like it or not, continued their evolution and released something once again really different). There's no real shame in that, but it's a bit disappointing nonetheless, coming from a band once praised for its originality?
Some little things did change, however. The production is one, with an ultra-heavy and compact sound, courtesy of Jason Suecof. Maybe it's just me, but it's a bit too suffocating for its own good. The main difference lies with Kelly Shaefer's vocals. They are quite harsher than before, more raspy and raw; he somehow does even sound a bit like Cronos (of Venom infamy) at times, the end of "Second to Sun" being the best example.
I may seem critical, but this Jupiter is for sure a very, very, good piece of music. And the artwork is quite beautiful, always a nice bonus.
So, Atheist didn't drag their legacy in the mud, neither did they release an average album (unlike Pestilence), they just played it safe. If this term can be applied to something as complex as Atheist's music, of course.
Now, stop reading, and check it. Period.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 9 |
| Originality: | 8 |
| Production: | 7 |
 | Written on 08.11.2010 by Once your regular Hellfest reporter, now retired. I (strangely enough) listen to a lot of metal. And enjoy good beers, comics, novels and role-playing games. |
Rating:
6.3
6.3
|
Rating: 6.3 |
Let's face it. It isn't exactly the easiest task for a band with a legendary discography that hasn't been built upon in a considerably long period of time to suddenly rise from the ashes with a new album, and Atheist no doubt knew that they were facing this challenge with Jupiter. In such a case, a band really only has two choices. They can either continue with their classic sound that won them such love and admiration from their fanbase, or they can go for a newer sound that, while different, is still a refreshingly original and interesting evolution (see Bathory and Cynic). Unfortunately, however, on Jupiter, Atheist's new sound, coming 17 years after Elements, sounds much more like a regression than an evolution. Read more ›› |
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| Vigoorian Posts: 5  |
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9096  |
Written by Angelic Storm on 17.11.2010 at 11:18 I quite agree with you on that one, except that I'm not as harsh abour 'Resurrection Macabre', as I like some songs on it. But I sure is a step backward for Mameli & co (even if the songs are great live) - especially after C-187, which is an acquired taste, but original.
---- My Author's Blog (in French)  "You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you" "I've lost too many years now I'm stealing back my soul I am awake"
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071  |
Yes the new Pestilence was a step back, but then again Jupiter was a leap backwards 
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
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| vezzy Stallmanite Posts: 3493  |
On the other hand, the new Pestilence was a staggering de-evolution and the preview to Doctrine ("Amgod I") is pretty bad too.
---- Licensed under the GPLv3. Relinquish proprietary software for a greater GNU/America.
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| slaytanic12 Posts: 11  |
Great album by a great band although no particular song sticks out to me, aside from second to sun, but the album as a whole is amazing...in my opinion
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Posts: 5989  |
It was a big disappointment for me. I wasn't expecting another Unquestionable Presence but...i don't know, it just lacks something that was there before. And there aren't many memorable riffs or lyrics. OVerall, this album to me is pretty mediocre for Atheist. I know they can do better than this. For now, I'm sticking with their first three albums 
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| Introspekrieg Totemic Lust Elite Posts: 2749  |
Coming back to this album I find it really grows on you... the songs are well written and performed. I really wish the production wasn't as polished and the vocals were a bit less Mudvayne-ish... but for as long-awaited as this one was, it is satisfying.
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| Sadistic Ritual Posts: 6 |
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| Sadistic Ritual Posts: 6 |
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