You Shouldn't Need a Reason to See ATHEIST at the Hilo Town Market.

But in case you do . . .

(Hilo, Hawai'i) Don’t miss your chance to see music legends blend jazz, progressive rock, death and thrash metal into the sound that inspired a generation of technical metal bands. Thanks to our good friend, Damien Boynton for bringing Atheist to Hilo for a concert at the Hilo Town Market. If you haven’t figured it out yet, this show on Saturday night, May 24th is a big deal.

Atheist is one of those bands throughout history who have been forefathers of their time, creating and defining a sound that will end up influencing generations of musicians to come. In their 35-year career, Atheist released 4 albums (5 including their live set at the Legendary Wacken Open Air Festival in 2006). Their first two Albums, “Piece of Time” and “Unquestionable Presence” set the bar for future bands and albums.

Atheist rose from the depths of the Florida Death Metal scene that gave us other bands such as Obituary, Deicide and Malevolent Creation. Bands from this era not only challenged musical norms, but also provoked strong reactions from mainstream audiences and parents, who were often more unsettled by the genre’s dark themes than by society’s own harsh realities.

Atheist is led by original member and lead vocalist -  Kelly Schaefer, Kelly originally was also the lead guitarist for Atheist but gave up the guitar for medical reasons. Since 2019, he’s been joined by Yoav Ruiz-Feingold for bass and backing vocals. Rounding out the band since 2023 are Jerry Witunsky on lead guitar, Alex Haddad on rhythm guitar and Dylan Marks on Drums. 

As a younger man when all this began to take off, it gave me a new level of heavy metal to explore. Stories of shows from these bands and especially the mosh pits hit legendary status. While metalheads my age were already well versed in the sounds of say, the Big 4 (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax), there was always that drive to play faster, darker, and create more thought provoking songs. This sound was it, and it turned the metal scene past 11.

Most heavy metal music will remain underground, and that is all good. Back in 1987 Heavy Metal was heavily frowned upon in society. Dressing in black, wearing leather jackets and the long hair, we were looked down upon by a part of society that the sound rallied against, pointing out the hypocrisy of their self righteous behavior.

New to Atheist?

MoshPlayLive gives you a list of 5 tracks to check out in no particular order, all the albums are top notch, give them a listen, then grab your tickets and join us in the pit.

1. “And the Psychic Saw”

2. “An Incarnation’s Dream”

3. “Piece of Time”

4. “Mother Man”

5. “On They Slay”

The ticket price of $25 is a great value; you’d pay up to twice that or more to see them on the Shred Fest Tour that is tearing up North America right now. And the Hilo Town Market is an intimate enough venue that you will see them as most audiences will never experience. If you see me or Damien around the scene in the days before the show you may even score a deal on tickets. 

See you in the pit,

Graham