Editing Unquestionable Presence

{{Infobox album
| name       = Unquestionable Presence
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Atheist (band)|Atheist]]
| cover      = Unquestionablepresence.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = August 30, 1991
| recorded   = 1991
| venue      =
| studio     = [[Morrisound Recording|Morrisound]], [[Tampa]], [[Florida]]
| genre      = {{flatlist|
* [[Technical death metal]]
* [[progressive metal]]
* [[jazz fusion]]
|}}
| length     = 32:25
| label      = [[Active Records]]
| producer   = [[Scott Burns (producer)|Scott Burns]]
| prev_title = [[Piece of Time]]
| prev_year  = 1990
| next_title = [[Elements (Atheist album)|Elements]]
| next_year  = 1993
}}

'''''Unquestionable Presence''''' is the second studio album by [[United States|American]] [[death metal]] band [[Atheist (band)|Atheist]]. It was released in 1991 and added a new sound by using [[fusion jazz|jazz]]-like harmonies, subtle [[Latin music|Latin]] rhythms and unusual [[time signature]]s.

== Background ==
Bassist [[Roger Patterson (bassist)|Roger Patterson]] wrote the bass lines for ''Unquestionable Presence'', but died in a touring van accident before the recording sessions took place. His work, however, can be heard on the pre-production demos included with the 2005 re-release. [[Tony Choy]] was brought in as a replacement to play bass on the album.

==Composition and music==
The album makes use of [[Slapping (music)|slap bass]] and odd [[Time signature|time signatures]]. According to Eduardo Rivadavia of [[AllMusic]], ''Unquestionable Presence'' is characterized by "sparing but highly effective use of [[melody]] (mostly nuances and [[Accent (music)|accents]] during [[Solo (music)|solos]] and [[Chorus (song)|choruses]])."<ref>{{Citation |title=Unquestionable Presence - Atheist {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/unquestionable-presence-mw0000676961 |access-date=2025-01-21 |language=en}}</ref> ''Unquestionable Presence'' is considered a landmark album in the genre of [[technical death metal]].<ref>Badin, O. (December 2006). ''Terrorizer'' #151, "Death Metal: The DM Top 40", page 53.</ref> [[Ultimate Guitar]] senior editor David Slavković states the album "dives deep into [[progressive metal]] waters", highlighting the album's stylistic diversity, and complex [[Song structure|song structures]] and transitions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Friday Top: 25 Best Death Metal Albums of All Time |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/friday_top_25_best_death_metal_albums_of_all_time-102419 |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=www.ultimate-guitar.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Reception and legacy==
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
|rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r949|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[Terrorizer (magazine)|Terrorizer]]''
|rev2score = 9.5/10<ref name=terrorizer>{{cite journal|last=Hinchcliffe|first=James|title=Atheist: Piece of Time/Unquestionable Presence/Elements|journal=[[Terrorizer (magazine)|Terrorizer]]|date=November 2005|issue=137|page=72}}</ref> 
}}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot-->
James Hinchcliffe described the album in ''Terrorizer'' as "the very pinnacle of scorching yet brain-twisting technical metal".<ref name=terrorizer /> Phil Freeman in ''[[The Wire (magazine)|The Wire]]'' (issue 261, p.&nbsp;53) described ''Unquestionable Presence'' as a "more complex and progressive album, every song rocketing through multiple tricky time signatures and endless variations on already baffling riffs."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6930013 |title=Atheist - Unquestionable Presence CD Album |publisher=Cduniverse.com |date=2005-08-30 |access-date=2012-03-13}}</ref> In October 2005, ''Unquestionable Presence'' was inducted into the [[Decibel (magazine)|Decibel Magazine]] Hall of Fame being the ninth album overall to be featured in the Decibel Hall of Fame.<ref name="dB HoF">{{cite web|last1=Chase|first1=Jesse|title=Atheist – "Unquestionable Presence"|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2005/10/01/atheist-unquestionable-presence/|website=[[Decibel (magazine)|Decibel]]|access-date=2018-05-11}}</ref>

The album has been called "one of the [[Florida death metal|Floridian death metal]] scene's ultimate statements in [[progressive metal]]."<ref>{{Citation |title=Unquestionable Presence - Atheist {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/unquestionable-presence-mw0000676961 |access-date=2025-01-21 |language=en}}</ref>

==Track listing==
All lyrics by Kelly Shaefer.  All music composed by Atheist.
{{tracklist
| total_length = 32:25
| title1 = Mother Man
| length1 = 4:34
| title2 = Unquestionable Presence
| length2 = 4:07
| title3 = Your Life's Retribution
| length3 = 3:17
| title4 = Enthralled in Essence
| length4 = 3:38
| title5 = An Incarnation's Dream
| length5 = 4:53
| title6 = The Formative Years
| length6 = 3:30
| title7 = Brains
| length7 = 3:41
| title8 = And the Psychic Saw
| length8 = 4:45
}}

===2005 re-release===
In 2005, [[Relapse Records]] re-released Unquestionable Presence. This edition has been digitally remastered, and features nine bonus tracks.

{{tracklist
| total_length = 68:32
| title9 = Enthralled in Essence
| length9 = 3:32
| note9 = Pre-production Demo 8/90
| title10 = The Formative Years
| length10 = 3:29
| note10 = Pre-production Demo 8/90
| title11 = Unquestionable Presence
| length11 = 3:55
| note11 = Pre-production Demo 8/90
| title12 = An Incarnation's Dream
| length12 = 4:09
| note12 = Pre-production Demo 8/90
| title13 = Retribution
| length13 = 3:19
| note13 = Pre-production Demo 8/90 (Instrumental
| title14 = Brains
| length14 = 3:40
| note14 = Pre-production Demo 8/90 (Instrumental
| title15 = Enthralled in Essence
| length15 = 3:44
| note15 = Demo 1990
| title16 = Mother Man
| length16 = 4:42
| note16 = Drums & Bass Tracks
| title17 = And the Psychic Saw
| length17 = 4:27
| note17 = Rhythm Tracks
}}

==Personnel==
* Kelly Shaefer – [[Death growl|vocals]], [[rhythm guitar]]
* Rand Burkey – [[lead guitar]]
* [[Tony Choy]] –  [[Bass guitar|bass]]
* Steve Flynn –  [[Drum kit|drums]]
* [[Roger Patterson (bassist)|Roger Patterson]] –  bass (on tracks 9–15 on 2005 re-release)
* [[Scott Burns (producer)|Scott Burns]] – production
* [[Atheist (band)|Atheist]] – production
* Justice Mitchell – cover artwork

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Atheist (band)}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1991 albums]]
[[Category:Atheist (band) albums]]
[[Category:Active Records albums]]
[[Category:Relapse Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Scott Burns (record producer)]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at Morrisound Recording]]
[[Category:Jazz fusion albums]]
[[Category:Technical death metal albums]]
[[Category:Progressive metal albums]]