Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Atheist - Unquestionable Presence (1991)

Atheist is a special band to appear in the early 90s. Together with Cynic, they shook the harsh death metal world by jazzing it up with jazz elements. And what an amazing perfect product this band has created!

Atheist had their own unique writing going on. Bassist Roger Patterson wrote the bass lines for the guitars to be structured upon for a different unconventional interplay. Sadly, he's gone, after a vehicular accident. RIP... Helping out the band is the massive delivery of Tony Choy. We also have the mighty guitar skills of Rand Burkey and Kelly Shaefer, the latter providing clean yet aggressive vocals reminiscent of the later Death albums. And who would forget Steve Flynn's perfectly pattern-less drumming variety?

"Mother Man" is an impressive starting point to hear all that drumming talent. Aside from the percussion, jazzy bass kicks off the action before loading up a lot of metal riffing fury in their arsenal. The title track is the best here, that's how awesome this album is! The rhythmic twists will blow your mind.

"Your Life's Retribution" has the technicality that Death would have in Human, in a more memorable light. The intro to "Enthralled in Essence" might throw some listeners off-guard, but what matters is the epic melody and desperate speed to immediately put you back on track. Another amazing highlight is "An Incarnation's Dream", starting with a serene acoustic intro before more complex heaviness.

"The Formative Years" unleashes more of the technicality without being too excessive, rather just naturally playing out their elements naturally, for the catchiness this album needs. More occasions for the sound to shine occur in "Brains". Kelly Shaefer is the brains behind the melody, shredding fierce leads and performing comprehensible growls, sounding the most excellent there. The closing "And the Psychic Saw" is the heaviest way to end the record. After all that jazz from earlier on in the album, it was time to end with the thrashy tech-death from their debut.

This band has clearly established the jazzy progressive tech-death that was first hinted in Piece of Time and fully formed in Unquestionable Presence. One of the most influential classics in the progressive/death metal realms!

Favorites: "Mother Man", "Unquestionable Presence", "Enthralled in Essence", "An Incarnation's Dream", "Brains"