The Metal Files

Satan have returned again with a new offering for 2015 on Listenable Records entitled “Atom By Atom” and it’s everything you’d expect after 2013’s Life Sentence.

This album rolls hard from beginning to end and proves once again that the guitar duo of Steve Ramsey and Russ Tippins is damn near untouchable.  Brian Ross’ vocals are on point and his patented high wails are ever prominent in all the right places.  After their Richmond, VA show in 2013, my friend asked Brian how he’s maintained his voice so well since “Court In the Act”.  Brian simply replied with, “It’s my job.”  And he still does it well.

“Atom By Atom” features 10 tracks and one thing I’ve noticed is that this album seems a bit darker lyrically than their last album and even “Court In the Act”.

Let’s go track by track:

1. Farewell Evolution – The album opens with Brian’s falsetto, and lyrically tackles the lack of critical thinking in modern society.
2. Fallen Saviour – “Some still believed that he’d return to save them”.  I think you can figure out the rest of the sentiment here.  I love the guitar solos in this one.
3. Ruination – This is one of my favorites on the album so far.  The combination of the riffs and rhythm section matched with Ross’ descending vocal pattern just makes for a clean song.
4. The Devil’s Infantry – Sean Taylor and Graeme English open this one with a marching pattern.  Lyrically what you’d think based on the title.  It all works so perfectly.  The breakdown/transition mid-song is killer.
5. Atom By Atom – The opening riff on this gives me chills.  “Out to get you, atom by atom.”  You can hear Russ’ distinctive vocals in that part and it just sounds wonderful.  The solos are both crushing as well.
6. In Contempt – What Satan album would be complete with a song dealing with judgement?  No worries here.  You got it and shan’t be disappointed!
7. My Own God – Brian lays it out in this one with, “I am my own God, I made myself, broke the mold, life is what I make it, I will not be told.”
8. Ahriman – Lyrically dealing with Zoroastrianism, of which I am not too familiar.  Great song though.  Love the backing vocals in the chorus.
9. Bound In Enmity – This is a total fist pumper.  Riffs and licks for days.
10. The Fall of Persephone – Final track on the record.  A bit of a slow roller and took a few extra listens to warm up to completely.  English has some great bass licks that really stand out.  This one clocks in at almost 7 minutes and has several parts.  The dueling guitar solos are perfect.

I really cannot praise this album enough.  It’s everything I expected and more and I can’t wait to get a physical copy in my hands and especially can’t wait to catch them live again.  If I could give only one critical opinion about this album, it would be in the drum production, mainly the snare.  On much of the album it’s just a bit too bright but really doesn’t detract from Sean’s solid playing or from the album itself.

Long live Satan and thanks to Listenable Records for letting me review this!

10/10!

Satan are:

Brian Ross
Russ Tippins
Steve Ramsey
Graeme English
Sean Taylor

l-r: English, Taylor, Tippins, Ramsey, Ross