Atheist (band)
Pioneering technical death metal band from Florida.
Hailing from Sarasota, Florida, the death metal band Atheist got its start in 1987. The group is famous for its intricate, highly technical musicianship, and their 1991 release Unquestionable Presence is considered a key album in technical death metal. After splitting up in 1994, the band got back together in 2006, putting out one studio album and a live DVD since then.
Quick Facts
- Also known as
- Oblivion (1984–1985), R.A.V.A.G.E. (1985–1987)
- Origin
- Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
- Genre
- Technical death metal
- progressive metal
- thrash metal
- Years active
- 1987–1992, 1993–1994, 2006–present
- Label
- Active
- Death
- Music For Nations
- Metal Blade
- Relapse
- Agonia
- Current members
- Kelly Shaefer
- Yoav Ruiz-Feingold
- Alex Haddad
- Jerry Witunsky
- Dylan Marks
Facts from the source article.
History
Atheist was originally formed in 1984 in Sarasota, Florida, under the name Oblivion and later as R.A.V.A.G.E. (which stands for "Raging Atheists Vowing A Gory End"). Frontman Kelly Shaefer recalled that on two occasions early in the band's career, police were called by club management, leading to the band being dragged out of venues. Shaefer described the incidents, noting that the clubs were used to booking bands like Mötley Crüe and reacted with confusion to Atheist's music, even giving a "cutting of the neck" sign to stop the performance. The band released its first album, Piece of Time, in 1989. Bassist Roger Patterson died on February 12, 1991, in a van accident at age 22, shortly before the band was to record its second album. The band had been on tour with Candlemass and traveled home by van to avoid an extra day of rental fees. The guitar tech, who was driving, attempted to pass a semi, miscalculated his approach, and went off the road; when he tried to pull back onto the highway, he lost control, ejecting Patterson. The crash occurred in rural Louisiana, and 48 minutes passed before emergency services arrived. Patterson died en route to the hospital. Shaefer recalled being coldly informed of the death by a nurse while receiving stitches. The band received an outpouring of support from fans, and Shaefer remembered Patterson's memorial service as an odd sight with many fans in Atheist shirts, noting the preacher was sweating bullets.
Musical style and influences
Atheist is considered one of the pioneers of technical death metal, with elements of thrash metal, jazz, and progressive rock in their music. Mike DaRonco of Allmusic called them "arguably the ultimate progressive metal band of their day." Vocalist Kelly Shaefer said the band tried so hard not to sound like anyone else that they went way overboard, making themselves outsiders within the Florida death metal scene. Early influences cited by the band include Rush, Kiss, Exodus, Kreator, Dark Angel, Metallica, Accept, and Destruction.
More in American Progressive Metal Musical Groups
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