Piece of Time [Splatter]

by Atheist

Overview

Recorded in 1988, released in Europe in 1989, but only made available in the U.S. a year after that, Atheist's first album, Piece of Time, nevertheless had a huge impact on the death metal scene, which, at the time, could be said to be enjoying its peak years. A death album as conceived from a jazz-rock aesthetic, its unpredictably shifting tempos, non-linear riffing progressions, and sheer technicality did as much as any release of the era to push the genre's boundaries, breaking through preconceived limitations and preempting similarly adventurous contemporaries like Cynic, Pestilence, and Death (who had yet to become at all seriously progressive). One listen to brain-twisting creations like "Mother Man," "Room with a View," "On They Slay," and "I Deny" -- meshing frantic, severely discordant chords and sparse melodies with the agonized growls of frontman Kelly Shaefer -- and realizing they still stand up to scrutiny following the many repeat listens necessary to absorb them, is enough to prove this assertion. The title track is another fine example, as it threads a dizzying path through sudden stops, starts, and turnarounds before finally unleashing a small taste of straight-ahead, 4/4-time thrashing at its conclusion. Also worth pointing out is that most of these tracks were initially composed by the Roger Patterson/Steve Flynn rhythm section, with guitarists Shaefer and Randy Burkey only subsequently adding their riffs to the insanity, marking a rare example of metal not based entirely on guitars. Even more impressive, though it was a remarkable achievement in its time, Piece of Time only hinted at the technical daring and unorthodox sophistication to be achieved by Atheist's second full platter, the watershed Unquestionable Presence. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia

Product Details

Release Date:	07/14/2023
Label:	Nuclear Blast
UPC:	4065629691219
Rank:	19090

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Atheist   Primary Artist
Kelly Shaefer   Guitar,Vocals
Roger Patterson   Bass
Steve Flynn   Drums
Randy Burkey   Guitar

Technical Credits

Shirl Milete   Composer
Kelly Shaefer   Liner Notes,Group Member
Graeme Edge   Composer
Cat Stevens   Composer
Scott Burns   Producer
Roger Patterson   Group Member
Colin Marston   Remastering
Chris Cornell   Composer
Mike Fuller   Mastering
Atheist   Producer
Allen Toussaint   Composer
Steve Flynn   Group Member
Randy Burkey   Group Member
Mark Weinberg   Design,Art Direction
Ula Gehret   Liner Notes
Borivoj Krgin   Executive Producer
Ed Repka   Logo,Cover Illustration