The month of May will be something of a special event where we have teamed up with Your Mate Bookings and Gig Gage to present US death metal legends ATHEIST!!! The iconic band, known for their groundbreaking contributions to the genre, will perform across Australia for the very first time and will kick off the tour in Perth on Saturday May 31st at Lynott's Lounge.
Joining Atheist will be Sydney death metal band ANOXIA plus local legends ASHEN and NEOMANTRA. Tickets are on sale now at Oztix - BUY HERE
Originally forming in the mid-1980s as the thrash metal band Oblivion, which later became R.A.V.A.G.E, ATHEIST emerged from Florida's vibrant death/thrash scene. The band, consisting of founding members Kelly Shaefer (vocals/guitar), Steve Flynn (drums), Roger Patterson (bass), and Rand Burkey (guitar), recorded their debut album, Piece of Time, at the iconic Morrisound Studios in 1988. The album became a genre-defining release in the death metal world, hailed for its complexity and musicianship, setting ATHEIST apart from their peers.
ATHEIST's follow-up album, Unquestionable Presence (1991), further solidified their reputation as innovators in the genre, combining technical prowess with progressive elements that pushed the boundaries of death metal. Unfortunately, during the height of their success, tragedy struck when bassist Roger Patterson died in a car accident. The band continued, bringing in Tony Choy, a former member of CYNIC, to replace Patterson. ATHEIST's third album, Elements (1993), marked the band's creative peak before disbanding shortly thereafter, but their influence on the technical death metal genre was already firmly established.
ATHEIST's legacy continued to grow, inspiring bands like NECROPHAGIST, OBSCURA, and FALLUJAH. After a 17-year hiatus, the band returned in 2010 with Jupiter, reasserting their place in the metal world. In 2019, ATHEIST reformed with a new lineup. Alongside founding member and vocalist Kelly Shaefer, Yoav Ruiz-Feingold (Bass), Alex Haddad (Guitar), Jerry Witunsky (Guitar) and Dylan Marks (Drums) launched successful tours in South America, North America, and Europe.
Atheist’s entire discography was reissued by Nuclear Blast Records in 2023, and the band continues to tour and develop new material, maintaining their standing as pioneers and architects of the technical death metal genre.