Core Atoms

Core Atoms is an American musician and songwriter known for his work in progressive and experimental rock. He is a founding member of the synth-metal band Arcadea and the bands Gaylord and Zruda.^[1] A multi-instrumentalist, Atoms is known for his unconventional guitar technique—playing a right-handed guitar left-handed and upside down^[1] —and for his experimental songwriting, which blends genres and explores shifting time signatures.^[2] He is also noted for his synthesizer arrangements^[3] and lyrical themes rooted in science fiction and narrative-driven concepts.^[1]

Core Atoms
Origin	Rochester, New York, U.S.
Genres	Progressive rock, synth-metal, experimental rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)	Guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, vocals
Years active	1995–present

Early life and career

Atoms is originally from Rochester, New York.^[3] At age 18, he co-founded the progressive funk rock trio Gaylord, known for its fusion of funk, metal, jazz and classical music.^[4] His distinctive guitar style contributed to the group's eclectic sound and local recognition.^[1][3][2]

Gaylord (1995–2009)

Gaylord was a three-piece progressive rock band active from 1995 to 2009, founded by guitarist Core Atoms and bassist Jeff Steverson.^[5] Drummer Brann Dailor, who later co-founded Mastodon, joined in 1996.^[6] Following the departure of Dailor and several subsequent drummers, percussionist Drew Verstraete joined the band in 2000 and remained through its later years.^[7] The band released several recordings, including Tsunami (2005),^[8] and Resplendent Locution (2007),^[9] before disbanding around 2010. Afterward, Atoms and Verstraete formed the progressive metal quartet Zruda.^[10]

Zruda

In the early 2010s, Atoms and Verstraete co-founded Zruda, a progressive metal quartet based in Atlanta, Georgia and featuring members of Lazer/Wulf.^[10]

Arcadea

In 2015, Atoms formed the synth-driven progressive rock project Arcadea with Brann Dailor (Mastodon) and Raheem Amlani.^[1] The band's self-titled debut album, released in 2017 by Relapse Records, is a concept work set five billion years in the future, thematically centered on synthetic life and cosmic evolution.^[3] On the album, Atoms performed exclusively on synthesizers and keyboards, omitting guitar to emphasize the band's futuristic, science fiction-inspired sound.^[11] A visual artist as well, Atoms is credited with creating the official videos for “Gas Giant,” “Army of Electrons,” and “Through the Eye of Pisces.”^{[3][12][13][14]}

In July 2025, Relapse Records released “Fuzzy Planet”, the first single from Arcadea's second album, The Exodus of Gravity, scheduled for release on August 22, 2025.^[15][16][17] The Exodus of Gravity features Atoms’ distinctive science fiction themes and lyrics. He contributed as a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, performing on synthesizers, guitars, bass, Moog Taurus pedals, Mellotron, Hammond organ, theremin, and samples.^[18] The album features founding member Brann Dailor on lead vocals, drums, and percussion, and introduces keyboardist João Nogueira.^[19]

Musical style and influences

Atoms' musical style combines elements of progressive and experimental rock, characterized by complex compositions and a blending of genres.^[2][20] His self-taught guitar technique—playing a standard right-handed guitar left-handed and upside down—contributes to his unconventional chord voicings and phrasing.^[3][1] Atoms' work with Arcadea features science fiction themes and conceptual narratives within a synth-driven progressive rock style. By contrast, his earlier band Gaylord incorporated funk, metal, and jazz influences, with lyrics spanning satire, social, and political commentary.^[7][9]

Atoms' musical influences include 1970s progressive rock, funk, classical music, electronic music, heavy metal, punk, and jazz.^[21] He has cited artists such as Stevie Wonder, Rush, Charles Mingus, and Beethoven as inspirations.^[3][6][1]

Selected Discography

With Gaylord

• Tsunami (studio album, 2005)
• Resplendent Locution (studio album, 2007)

With Zruda

• Zruda (EP, 2011)

With Arcadea

• Arcadea (studio album, 2017)
• The Exodus of Gravity (studio album, 2025)