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Unquestionable Presence
1991 studio album by Atheist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Unquestionable Presence is the second studio album by American death metal band Atheist. It was released in 1991 and added a new sound by using jazz-like harmonies, subtle Latin rhythms and unusual time signatures.
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Background and lyrics
Bassist Roger Patterson wrote the bass lines for Unquestionable Presence, but died in a touring van accident before the recording sessions took place. His work, however, can be heard on the pre-production demos included with the 2005 re-release. The band initially approached Watchtower bassist Doug Kayser (whom Patterson had idolized) to substitute on bass duties for the album, but he declined this offer. Tony Choy was ultimately brought in as a replacement to play bass on the album. According to Atheist frontman Kelly Shaefer: "Tony Choy was really the only other capable person we knew [who] could physically play this stuff. Tony used all four fingers and his thumb, which was insane when it came to the fast parts. Most guys play half-notes, but Roger was all over the place and not many could pull it off." The band rented an apartment and rehearsed the album's material with Choy for eight weeks prior to recording. The album was recorded at Morrisound Recording and was produced by Scott Burns.[1]
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Music
The album makes use of slap bass and odd time signatures. According to Eduardo Rivadavia of AllMusic, Unquestionable Presence is characterized by "sparing but highly effective use of melody (mostly nuances and accents during solos and choruses)."[2] Pestilence bassist Tony Choy was recruited to track bass guitar following the passing of original bassist Roger Patterson.[1]
Unquestionable Presence is considered a landmark album in the genre of technical death metal.[3] Ultimate Guitar senior editor David Slavković states the album "dives deep into progressive metal waters", highlighting the album's stylistic diversity, and complex song structures and transitions.[4]
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Reception and legacy
James Hinchcliffe described the album in Terrorizer as "the very pinnacle of scorching yet brain-twisting technical metal".[6] Phil Freeman in The Wire (issue 261, p. 53) described Unquestionable Presence as a "more complex and progressive album, every song rocketing through multiple tricky time signatures and endless variations on already baffling riffs."[7] In October 2005, Unquestionable Presence was inducted into the Decibel Magazine Hall of Fame being the ninth album overall to be featured in the Decibel Hall of Fame.[8]
The album has been called "one of the Floridian death metal scene's ultimate statements in progressive metal."[2]
Track listing
All lyrics by Kelly Shaefer. All music composed by Atheist.
2005 re-release
In 2005, Relapse Records re-released Unquestionable Presence. This edition has been digitally remastered, and features nine bonus tracks.
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Personnel
- Kelly Shaefer – vocals, rhythm guitar
- Rand Burkey – lead guitar
- Tony Choy – bass
- Steve Flynn – drums
- Roger Patterson – bass (on tracks 9–15 on 2005 re-release)
- Scott Burns – production
- Atheist – production
- Justice Mitchell – cover artwork
References
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