Review by Sam on January 25, 2026.

What an album intro! This is, at times, what I love most about OSDM. Classic records such as this or Deicide’s "Legion" with its iconic chorus of braying lambs, or "Slowly We Rot’s" ethereality emanating straight from the Floridian sewers from whence it was conceived set the stage so lovingly for the slaughter to ensue. Here we have the timeless tides of the eternal ocean, ushering in the first and title track, 'Piece Of Time', by the evolutionary Atheist.

When it comes to Atheist, the term that is often tossed about to describe them is “jazz metal”. I’m not so sure I hear jazz in this work (that would be more pronounced on subsequent releases) as much as I hear Megadeth’s first couple of albums, filtered through the sensibilities of some incredibly apt pupils. Who even knows if the guys in Atheist listened to jazz? I kinda doubt it. I think they were just big fans of Slayer and Megadeth who happened to be even more talented than those respective players. I mean, I guess you can say jazz because these cats are a bit flamboyant and very busy wielding their high-powered chops. However, a much more likely vision of Atheist in 1988 is of them sitting around listening to Rush records, not Weather Report.

The aforementioned chops are showcased from the get-go, with the jagged precision riffs of mad surgeons and the vivid voice of Roger Patterson’s (RIP) bass singing out deliciously. And let’s not forget the loquaciously expressive Steve Flynn behind the kit. Dude’s admiration for the The Professor is apparent, and a joy to behold. The snare ghost notes are everywhere, along with intricate hi-hat and ride patterns, adventurous and cascading fills; couple all of that with an aggressive and well-balanced double bass attack, and you’re left with a rather breathtaking performance. I have to specifically shout out the triplet pattern used in the verse drum riff of 'On They Slay', because I spent many hours as a young drummer inspired and attempting to perfect that technique so gloriously demonstrated by Steve Flynn.

Obviously, Atheist were a technically proficient band plying their thrash-inspired metal prowess in new and previously unexplored ways, but I will suggest it was their guitar playing that probably first drew the application of the adjective “technical” to describe them. Kelly Schaefer and Rand Burkey formed a formidable duo of ax-wielders, both of them left-handed, which I’m not sure has occurred again in death metal ever since, certainly not before. I’m no guitar player, and I generally prefer a more downtuned tone for the instrument, but these guys shine with their exactitude in standard E tuning. Could be E flat, again, I don’t play, and I’m definitely too lazy to try and find out for sure. Where Atheist excels as an ensemble is with their creative application of dynamics to songwriting, such as tempo and time signature changes, which, for such young and bold musicians, are generally executed dexterously and without flaw, rarely jarring to the listener.

Ahhh… With album closer 'No Truth', we are treated to yet another indulgent introduction of yore with a providential synthesizer choir of angels giving way to the eloquence of a lightly picked clean guitar, which is then smashed to bits by the rage and intensity of this fearsome foursome. Lyrically, Schaefer adopts the philosophical bent that would become commonplace in technical death metal in the years following this release. “I see our music scares you. Can’t you see that!?!” demands young Kelly in his sandpapery rasp. I can only imagine what it must have been like to be purveyors of such a freaky and shockingly new form of music at its time of birth. Atheist actually went on tour with fucking Candlemass back in the day. This, to me, is an unthinkable pairing that can only be described as counterintuitive. It was indeed an experience that familiarized the dudes with categorizing audiences as “closed-minded.”

Atheist were originally called R.A.V.A.G.E. This stood for Raging Atheist Vowing A Gory End. There were already other Ravages in existence, so I’m glad they went with, simply, Atheist. For a moniker, this is a succinct statement. It’s cutting and direct to the point, just like naming your band Death or Deicide. This statement is simple yet effective: Beware.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Review by chrisc7249 on January 24, 2023.

When it comes to all forms of technical and progressive death metal, from the spastic brutality of a modern day Archspire or the warm, clean sounds of Descent, these two very differing sounds can all harken back to one pioneering prog/tech death band - their name? Atheist.

Yes, formerly known as R.A.V.A.G.E. in the early to mid 1980s, Atheist is widely accepted to be the first band to blend progressive rock influences with the brutality of death metal. They aren't the first metal band to do so; Watchtower, Coroner and Voivod to name a few got headstarts in the mid 80s, albeit blending the prog elements with more heavy/thrash metal.

This here in 1989 is their debut album, Piece of Time and on it slays indeed. It is a very musically impressive, warping mass of riffs, solos and drum fills that beats the listener down with thrash-like intensity. It is, despite its technicality, extremely abrasive. Tech/prog death bands tend to let their complexity diminish the ferocity of their music a lot. This has always been what makes Atheist my favorite; that rage, that fury, that aggressive passion that comes with early death/thrash is on full display on their first two records, both a magnificent combination of bounce, brutality and virtuosity. I'd say Piece of Time is definitely more unhinged and raw when compared to Unquestionable Presence, but it doesn't deter really any from the listening experience - it is its own beast, and really shouldn't be compared to the next album.

Honestly, if you just enjoy thrash or death metal, there isn't any reason you wouldn't enjoy this album. It's surely technical, and would throw a more casual listener for a few twists and turns, but it's definitely far from inaccessible, and that's what makes it so good. It's raw, simple and it just works well for what it is. It's tech death in its most caveman form.

I'd say most, if not, ALL, death metal fans should listen to Atheist, they grew up in the same place, knew the same guys and even INSPIRED Death. So… yeah. They're one of the top 5 most important death metal bands ever and you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you haven't heard either of their opuses. Of course the second one is my favorite album of all time, but that's for another day. Their third album is a step down in quality, unfortunately not because of circumstances the band really had much control over, but it is what it is. They split up, reformed and put out an album in 2010 which… no.

FFO: Death, Cynic, Hellwitch

Favorite song: I Deny

Rating: 9 out of 10