Elements (Atheist album)

Elements
Studio album by Atheist
Released August 30, 1993
Recorded Pro Media Studios, Gainesville, Florida in May, 1993
Genre Technical death metal, progressive metal, jazz fusion
Length 41:43 (1993 release)
65:30 (2005 release)
Label Music for Nations (original European issue)
Metal Blade (original US issue)
Relapse (2005 re-issue)
Producer Atheist
Mark Pinske
Atheist chronology
Unquestionable Presence
(1991)
Elements
(1993)
Jupiter
(2010)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]

Elements is the third album released by the progressive / technical death metal band Atheist. It was released on August 30, 1993 by Music for Nations in Europe and by Metal Blade Records in the US. Elements was reissued by Relapse Records in 2005 and was digitally remastered with the addition of six bonus tracks.

The album has more of a jazz influenced style than their two previous albums, but it remains highly technically complex. Elements was written, recorded and mixed in forty days in Pro Media Studios.[2] The band wanted to dissolve but they were required to finish their third album in order to fulfill a contract to their record label. Elements features the addition of a third guitarist, Frank Emmi. Initially, Rand Burkey was not going to appear on the album, and as Kelly Shaefer had developed carpal tunnel syndrome, (preventing him from playing anything but rhythm guitar) a new lead guitar player was needed. Before recording, Burkey rejoined the band, and thus the band ended up with three guitarists. Shaefer plays rhythm guitar, while Emmi and Burkey share responsibilities for leads and solos.

Contents

Track listing

No. Title Length
1. "Green"   3:21
2. "Water"   4:27
3. "Samba Briza" (Shaefer, Choy) 1:57
4. "Air"   5:32
5. "Displacement" (Shaefer, Burkey) 1:23
6. "Animal"   4:10
7. "Mineral"   4:32
8. "Fire"   4:36
9. "Fractal Point" (Shaefer, Burkey) 0:43
10. "Earth"   3:41
11. "See You Again" (Shaefer, Emmi) 1:16
12. "Elements"   5:35
Total length:
41:43

2005 Re-release

In 2005, Relapse Records re-released Elements. This edition was digitally remastered, and features six bonus tracks.

Live BBC Radio Broadcast (1992)

No. Title Length
13. "Unquestionable Presence"    
14. "On They Slay"    
15. "Enthralled in Essence"    
16. "The Formative Years"    
17. "Mother Man"    
18. "Retribution"    
Total length:
65:30

Credits

Line-up

Guest:
Piano by David Smadbeck

Production

References