Shortly after releasing one the best albums of 2010, we got the opportunity to speak with one of the men behind Atheist. The resurrected Floridians have picked up right where they left off in the 90s with the massive “Jupiter”. This interview was originally recorded via phone, but I decided to broadcast it during my Xmas Eve special on ‘Mind Over Metal’ (timely, yeah?).

Rating: 4.5/5
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I am thankful for the return of passionate yet coherent technical death metal—a balance attempted by few and achieved by fewer. Atheist have always been bar-setters, and “Jupiter” is yet another defining chapter in their evolution.

Rating: 5/5
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I like concert films with nice atmosphere; too many are simply sub-par. It seems that the record companies, when faced with the demise of the CD, are desperate to offer something special to the buyers. That often results in the dreaded disc of bonus material: the obligatory video, interviews cut short, and two-camera concert films. That’s not the case with this release.

Rating: 3/5
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Beneath the Massacre can play their instruments well, but solid songwriting slips from their grasp. It feels interchangeable: fast and noodly, say hello to double-bass and throat growls, we should meet up with breakdowns anytime. “Marée Noire” is cool in moments, but this sticks like a year-old Wacky WallWalker.

Rating: 4/5 …

Presumption is funny. The shorthand can sometimes be useful, but in the case of Divinity, I incorrectly anticipated either god-awful power metal or Christian metalcore. Never did I expect adventurous technical death metal that heavily draws from the influence of Strapping Young Lad.

Rating: 4.5/5

Fleshwrought offers balls-to-the-wall brutal technical death metal, but also channels a rare creative streak, demonstrating excellent writing and instrumental mastery from someone known only for drumming proficiency.

Rating: 4.5/5

This extreme melodic metal focuses on cohesiveness between their individual technical abilities which, like Colin Marks’ cover illustration, becomes intricate and well-defined art. Expect “Fragments of Form and Function” on many Best of 2010 lists, including mine.