Artist: Atheist Album: Piece of Time

Year: 1990
Duration: 32:12

Piece of Time: A of Atheist's Debut Album

What happens when you mix jazz fusion, progressive metal, and brutal death metal? You get Atheist's 1990 debut album, Piece of Time. The band's unique style of music may have been ahead of its time, but it still holds up as a classic in the metal community. In this post, we'll take a closer look at the history of Atheist, the music genre of Piece of Time, the best songs of the album, the most innovative parts of the music, and a of the album as a whole.
Atheist was formed in 1984 in Florida by Steve Flynn and Kelly Shaefer. The band's name was meant to represent their rejection of religion and organized belief systems. With the addition of Rand Burkey on guitar, Roger Patterson on bass, and drummer Steve Flynn's brother, R.A. Flynn, on vocals, Atheist began creating their unique blend of jazz and metal. Although their music was initially misunderstood and underappreciated by the metal community, the band continued to push forward and were eventually recognized as one of the pioneers of technical death metal.
The music of Piece of Time is a mixture of catchy guitar riffs, complex time signatures, and technical drumming. The album's sound can be described as a fusion of jazz and metal, with a heavy emphasis on rhythm and technicality. One of the innovative aspects of the music is the use of jazz chords and progressions in a heavy metal context. Atheist also incorporates extended techniques, such as tapping, sweep picking, and harmonics, into their music. The album's production quality is raw and unpolished, which adds to the charm and authenticity of the music.
The best songs of the album are On They Slay, Piece of Time, and I Deny. On They Slay features a catchy riff and a memorable chorus. The song's breakdown showcases the band's technical abilities, with a complex riff accompanied by intricate drumming. Piece of Time has a more progressive sound, with a complex structure and time signature changes. The song's middle section features a jazzy guitar solo that showcases Rand Burkey's mastery of his craft. I Deny is the album's standout track, with a memorable intro riff and a catchy chorus. The song's middle section features a virtuosic guitar solo that will leave any listener in awe.
The most innovative parts of the music are the jazz fusion elements present throughout the album. The band seamlessly blends jazz chords and progressions with metal riffs and drumming, creating a unique sound that is still ahead of its time. The use of extended techniques, such as tapping and sweep picking, is also an innovative aspect of the music.
Despite its innovative sound, Piece of Time is not without its flaws. The album's production quality is raw and unpolished, which may be a turn off to some listeners. Additionally, some of the songs on the album feel like they drag on for too long, with moments of repetition that could have been edited out. However, these flaws do not detract from the overall quality of the music and the impact that Atheist had on the metal community.
Piece of Time is a classic album that deserves more recognition than it receives. Atheist's unique blend of jazz and metal was ahead of its time and continues to influence musicians to this day. The album's best songs, On They Slay, Piece of Time, and I Deny, showcase the band's technical abilities and innovative sound. The album's flaws, such as its raw production quality and occasional moments of repetition, do not detract from the overall impact and quality of the music. Piece of Time is a must-listen for any fans of metal or jazz fusion.
Piece of Time is a classic album that deserves more recognition than it receives. Atheist's unique blend of jazz and metal was ahead of its time and continues to influence musicians to this day. The album's best songs, On They Slay, Piece of Time, and I Deny, showcase the band's technical abilities and innovative sound. The album's flaws, such as its raw production quality and occasional moments of repetition, do not detract from the overall impact and quality of the music. Piece of Time is a must-listen for any fans of metal or jazz fusion.