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Release Date: November 9th, 2010
Record Label: Season Of Mist
Average rating points:
My rating points:
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It's finally here! Technical death metal band Atheist has released their 4th studio album, Jupiter after 17 years. This album witnessed a new line-up (Steve Flynn on the drums, Chris Baker on the guitar and Jonathan Thompson on the bass), not the same line up in the previous album "Elements". Only vocalist/guitarist Kelly Shaefer remains in the band.
The first track "Second to Sun" is a mixture of Technical Death Metal and a little bit of Speed Metal as well. It has a great riff in the middle which just pumps you up! Steve Flynn's work on the drums is very heavy and extreme in this particular track. It also has a mind-blowing solo. The song as a whole is just extremely heavy and worth listening to.
The tracks "Fictitious Glide" and "Fraudulent Cloth" are also amazingly speedy songs. They both have a twist of doom to it. "Fraudulent Cloth" probably has one of the greatest Atheist riffs.
Another great track to listen to is "Faux King Christ". This song sounds very Thrash influenced. The mixture and variety of distortions and the "wah-wah" effect on the guitars is something that makes this song the best in the album.
The newest members of the band have truly shown what they are capable of. Steve Flynn, Chris Baker and Jonathan Thompson have composed their finest work in this album. Overall, Atheist's Jupiter is a really great album, however not their best. So I'd recommend you buy the CD, put it on your stereo, blast it and drink a few beers and just enjoy.
My rating points:
Sitting on my metal throne, listening to one of Florida's legendary underground death metal bands, Atheist who stirred up the scene when they announced they were coming back with a new album, "Jupiter." Atheist formed in Florida in 1984 (originally under the names Oblivion and R.A.V.A.G.E.), and released three full-length releases before they disbanded in 1994. It's been about 17 years since their last album "Elements" was released in '93 and I was wondering if they can still hold their own ground and stick to their roots with their vicious, progressive, technical, artistic, and freeform jazz fusions and breaks, as they've been known for. They've survived many trials and tribulations throughout their existence and have been a key influence in the scene, as many bands have tried to follow in their footsteps, which from my own wisdom are hard ones to pursue.
As many old-school fans felt that this album was a horror story and maybe expected too much which turned out to be a let down. I, on the other hand as a new-breeder to the scene feel this album was superior and after listening to Jupiter for many hours I went back to their roots to see what all the complaints were about. I wonder, if this was their first album many would be raving about it but because of their past works, some individuals have given this album an unconstructive review.
The mixing of this album reminds me of that old school way of recording and mixing with that rawness countless individuals loves to listen to. It somewhat reminded me of many of my mother's demo collections which adds some flavor to this release.
In the opening track "Second to Sun", the guitar work was great in my books along with the bass lines, good drumming and insolent lyrical intents. As I wait for them to unleash their savagery on their second track "Fictitious Glide", they hold it back. The harmony was full of vehemence that caught my attention. The riffs by Chris Baker and Jonathon Thompson along with Kelly Schaefer's vocals result in pure domination. Although their third track "Fraudulent Cloth" wasn't one of my favourites, it was solid and stood out on its own with brilliant transitions throughout the song. Some may say that Flynn's drumming skills really don't shine in their next track," Live and Live Again", but it does if you play close attention to it. Shaefer's lyrics and vocal tones are fuming on "Faux King Christ" as Flynn executes his drumming approach. After that, the next track "Tortoise the Titan" captures the essence of a furious assault of power and speed that's ready to explode my speakers. They take you on their sinister approach that some will get chills up their spines listening to, like their detailed work in "When the Beast." I was very impressed with their roaring and tyrannical guitar skills that left me breathless. Ending this album chapter with "Third Person" was brilliant.
Atheist created a new masterpiece in 2010 and have accomplished enough for this album to stand on its own ground. Kelly Schaefer's snarly, raspy, tormenting howl and demonic gutteral approach has gained some new lucidity over the years since "Elements" and his long winters with Neurotica. I've taken immense pleasure in his vocal alterations throughout the album. Chris Baker and Jonathan Thompson are ripping it up with their twin guitar works that are multifaceted with remarkable melodies and technical riffs, while Steve Flynn was like lighting that struck me down with his crushing precisions with disgustingly technical fills and cymbal crashes, and his drumming is beyond masterful. There were times that I felt that the bass was buried within some songs and yet there were times it would slap you in the face, which gave it a nice twist.
Overall, on Atheist's comeback album "Jupiter" you'll hear their talents throughout their release cleverly unfolding composition at various levels and layers of instrumental syncopation that are flawless. The complexity of their transformations within each song is intense and brilliant. This is one release I would recommend to purchase for your metal collection. I find it to be to be a beast of a release on its own.
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