Helen Stratford

Atheist own history begins with the arrival of the team in 1985, eccentric bassist Roger Patterson. Since its advent in the current more than a year the group started to happen drastic changes. Anyway, if before Patterson's group did not move more banal replay militants from Slayer, Trouble, Exodus, then its appearance is very young and promising guitarist and group leader Kelly Schaefer, in an amicable obnaglev, he decided that his team is worthy of more. Colorless title Oblivion soon changed more 'twisted' ravage (Raging Atheists Vowing A Gory End). The group was recruited another guitarist, Mark Shotsberg and drums are still tucked Steve Flynn.

Serves as the lead singer guy Nicknamed 'Scrappy' had been dismissed. For the final name change and the musical orientation of the guys have matured only in 1987. It is in the spirit of tricked death metal with jazz rhythms and was recorded in 1988, first full-length band. However, due to bankruptcy of the issuing label (Mean Machine Records) 'Peace Of Time' went on the shelves of music stores, only in 1990. Although the 'Peace Of Time' not the best techno-death metal album, and even the top of his creativity Atheist hardly be called, he identified the main creative priorities of the group and opened a new chapter in the development of heavy metal music.

Album 'Unquestionable Presence' was released in late 1991 and got the highest critical acclaim. And in fact, 'Unquestionable Presence' contains excellent material on order is steeper than its predecessor. There was not a hint of roughness of sound and inconsistencies with frequent changes of rhythm, and, improvisational elements does not decrease, quite the contrary, the album is supersaturated frequent jazz-rock improvisations of all without exclusion tools. The latest creation of logically continues the traditions established by another 'Peace Of Time' and 'Unquestionable Presence': complex arrangements, sinkopiruyuschy rate (new drummer Marcel Dissantos and Tony Choi they praise), improvisation, nonweak whiffy jazz. 'Elements' (1993) – the peak of creative excellence 'atheists', the album is not afraid of the lofty words in letters of gold blended Atheist in a long history of musical art. Albums of: 1989 – Piece Of Time 1991 – Unquestionable Presence 1993 – Elements

I was afraid to even imagine what it's like to sing in the streets, because people laugh at! However, everything turned out quite differently. After ten minutes of singing around my friend met a decent crowd of tourists and townspeople. After each piece was deafening sound of applause and whistles, and guitar case quickly filled with foreign currency. An hour later, a friend stood up and bowed to the audience, and we left. I asked him how he manages to stay calm in front of a crowd, and he said – Try it yourself and you will understand everything. I must admit I was scared and he could not decide on this act.

However, once I called and invited to gather in the evening on the street – to play together. He agreed. You can imagine my fear when I tried to force myself to sit down and get a guitar from its case. I said to myself, 'It's so easy! Sit down and sing, just for yourself! " Anything like that, I could not bring myself to do it. Had to be postponed until better times.

The next time we went together again. I decided that I should force myself to overcome this irrational and silly fear. I got a guitar, sat down on a quiet street in the old town and began to sing. Soon appeared the first passers-by. I tried to pretend play for himself. I remember as a sweat and was red as a lobster. However, there occurred an amazing thing.