Atheist - Jupiter
Rating
RIYL
DeathCynic
Pestilence
Release Date
11/08/2010
Label
Season of MistTracklist
1. Second to Sun2. Fictitious Glide
3. Fraudulent Cloth
4. Live, and Live Again
5. Faux King Christ
6. Tortoise the Titan
7. When the Beast
8. Third Person
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Easily one of the most influential death metal bands of all time, Florida's Atheist caused quite a stir when they announced their first new album after 17 years out. Jupiter, due to be released this week, is the long anticipated follow-up to 1993's Elements, and if the band has their way, it will be the most important Atheist album yet. The group’s back catalog is a tough act to follow, but Jupiter has been described by death metal brethren Flo Mounier and Mike Smith as a return to the classic Atheist sound and a refreshing breath of air for the community as a whole. While the first may be true, the latter is a bit of an overstatement.
From the beginning, Jupiter’s sound is decidedly Atheist. Kelly Schaefer’s familiar snarl has gathered some moss over the years, but he seems to have picked up some clarity along the way, as evidenced by the opener, “Second to Sun.” The band, led by guitarists Chris Baker and Jonathon Thompson, doesn’t slow down for track two, tossing out riffs that outshine some of the earlier Atheist material and holding true to the classic style. One thing the album is noticeably lacking, however, is bass presence. In the weeks before the album’s release, longtime bassist Tony Choy was very publicly dismissed from the band. Thompson was subsequently called on for writing and recording bass, in addition to rhythm guitar. Not only are the lines themselves lacking in substance, but the album’s production also plays a role in holding them back. Jupiter’s production, handled by Jason Suecof, is a definite nod to previous Atheist albums, with its lack of low end and rather monotonous guitar tone. While definitely a modern twist on their classic sound, the bass is buried until it comes time for a slap and pop stand-out, and the album as a whole is far too mid-heavy. Its lack of dynamics and over-compression honestly make it hard to listen to.
That said, the first four tracks on the album are strikingly solid, and it doesn’t seem like the band has skipped a beat. Tracks like “Live, and Live Again” and “Fictitious Glide” bring both new ideas and a familiar energy to the album, ensuring that someone will find something to enjoy. The second half of the album, however, is where things begin to slow down, and the album begins to lose focus. “Faux King Christ” relies too heavily on vocal motifs which, frankly, aren’t that good, while “Tortoise the Titan” is un-focused and simply could have been left off of the final product. The final two tracks seem to recall a little of the energy from the beginning, at least changing the course of where the album seemed to be headed. Still, they lack the overall atmosphere of the album’s beginning, and they finish less than strongly.
Overall, Jupiter is a great effort after 17 years between albums and a loss of more than half of the band. Atheist fans will be pleasantly surprised to hear that the same style and attitude is present, but those looking for a Cynic-esque return will be disappointed. If you’re an old school fan, then this is a must have. If you’re the opposite and this is your first foray into Atheist, then you would be better suited to start with Unquestionable Presence and move onward from there. Either way, if Kelly Schaefer is indeed planning the comeback he has been hyping for months now, the future will be bright once again for Atheist.
--Cody Rogers
Comments
Green Brook, NJ
i grew up on this band, but i can't stand this type of music anymore. i think i'll check it out for nostalgiac purposes, but i probably won't listen to it more than once or twice.
Raleigh, NC
I mean, for the record, I like it more than Piece of Time and Elements. Unquestionable Presence is my absolute favorite, though.
Infinitely Inwards
agree with the review. I'm not saying that this band is overrated, but i definitely wouldn't hold this against the best death and cynic have to offer. I've listened to all they have to offer and ive never been severely impressed.
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