Atheist started
Off as a 3 piece band in 1985, we were then called oblivion, i had hooked up with drummer steve
Flynn, through some mutual friends in our hometown of sarasota, florida. The drummer i had at
The time was far from the power and talent of steve, so i was very eager to get down to business
With him, so we wrote our very first tune together, called "state of oblivion(pretty clever huh?)
We really had just started to learn our instruments, so our songwriting skills were at a minimum.
We then went on over the next few months, to work on songs such as "on they slay", and a tune
Called "undefiled wisdom", we were also realising the effects of sending our tunes out to people
In the trading circles throuought europe, our demo caught the attention of a new york based
Writer named "don kaye", we had sent him an absoulute horrific demo that we recorded ourselves
Through our mixing board, and man it sounded like shit, but i called him and he basically told me it
Sounded like shit, but that i should contact this other writer named "borivoj krgn" who had a mag
Called "violent noiz"(one of the best underground mags ever!!!) So i called him up, he told us that
Basically we suck but we had some good ideas, and that we should send him our next demo, which
Was the "on they slay demo".
He was putting together a compilation album featuring unsigned death metal bands, it would be
Called "raging death vol 1", and he asked us if we wanted to put our two songs on this record and
Of course we said yes. This record ended up having executioner(now obituary) sadus, and several
Others including "r.a.v.a.g.e.". We were very excited tobe a part of this cause it would really help
Us get a record deal.
.in the summer of 1988 we finally started to get some attention from underground mags, and
Soon after we were voted the best band, as well as best demo( the beyond demo) in metal forces
Magazine, soon after that, borivoj, who had now become very helpful to our band, got himself a
Job at a record co. Called godly records, and the first band he signed was r.a.v.a.g.e.! We were
Fucking stoked, so we started working on new songs right away, with us it always took us a while
To write new songs cause at this point we were starting to get very into technicality, we were
Always into bands like "rush" and jazz music such as chick corea, king crimson, and of course we
Were into heavy shit like, slayer, kreator, and bands like that, we also loved the early music of
Bands like "exodus, trouble, etc.
So anyway we were very particular about riffs and timing changes and we really wanted to write
Stuff that had the arrangements of say "mercyful fate" with the brutality of slayer, and the
Intelect of a jazz band, big shoes to fill right? Well we dug in and wrote songs like "i deny", piece of
Time" and when we sent those of to bori and the label, they fucking shit themselves!!!! We had to
Change our name before the album was to be released, so since r.a.v.a.g.e. Meant to us raging
Atheists vowing a gory end(pretty cheesy huh?) We decided to just be "Atheist" it was the perfect
Name for us, because unlike alot of the bands around at this time, we were not into satinism or any
Of that shit so this name was right in the middle, shocking but still not to alienating.
The album was released in europe to rave reviews, 5 k's in kerrang, 91 out of 100 in "metal forces"
We sold 15,000 records the first week. "piece of time" was a very special record, not just cause it
Was the first, but because of the experiences of working with then unknown producer "scotty
Burns", who is one of the coolest people i know, and because it would be the only record we would
Be able to do with roger patterson, my life long songwriting pal. On the morning of feb 12th after
A successful u.s. Tour with "candlemass" we lost roger in an accident we were involved in in
Louisiana, this would change everything for Atheist.
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