The disc proves a raucous return, its eight songs continuing the challenging mix of metal, Latin rhythms and free jazz which is the band's hallmark. Despite nearly two decades apart, Atheist retains a firm grip on writing songs which balance complexity and catchiness. It's a comforting thought for older fans, many of whom have watched the genre the band invented peak at inhuman playing ability devoid of emotion. Such a displeasing outcome is avoided given Atheist 2.0's lineup contains founding members Kelly Schaefer (vocals) and Steve Flynn (drums). New guitarist Jonathan Thompson and incoming bassist Jonathon Thompson are welcome additions, having jammed with Flynn in Gnostic. All four men possess incredible talent and the necessary synergy for music this intricate.

The spastic, polyrhythmic drumming opening "Second to Sun" should eliminate any doubts that Atheist isn't legitimate in reuniting. Furious flight ensues when the guitars shred their way through frantic solos and weave in and out of multiple chord progressions. "Fictitious Glide" disorients at times with lurching grooves, at others with flamenco rhythms buried under heaps of distortion. Jittery and manic, it hypnotizes with its serpentine undulations of sound.

"Fraudulent Cloth" ratchets up the aggression by delivering short but bludgeoning bursts of metal. The drums ricochet between time signature changes like a pinball while the guitars careen out of raw riffing into unhinged, jazz-influenced melodies. "Live and Live Again" offers a moment of peace, providing listeners with cello strings before the mayhem returns. When it does, it proves the album's crowning glory. Atheist streamlines death metal's mix of blastbeat drumming and raw riffs into one complicated whole. The icing on the cake is the straightforward chorus, a gigantic groove backing the band's droning refrain of the song title.

"Faux King Christ" rambles by with a cocktail of jangly guitars and Latin bass rhythms. It's a tango of terror, Atheist unleashing a mesmerizing tune punctuated by random acts of aggression. The awkwardly-titled "Tortoise the Titan" rumbles past at the pace of its namesake, winding its way through speed-picked notes and meandering solos. It launches into a full thrash assault by song's end, rendering the song title ironic. "When the Beast" expands from ominous melodies into guitar sweeps which drunkenly shamble through listeners' ears. The song soon collapses into a galloping, jagged breakdown, barreling in every direction available. "Third Person" seems like a letdown in comparison, contenting itself by releasing wave after way of complicated melody and riff attacks.

It finishes an album not without flaws. It's disappointing the recording features only half of the original lineup and Schaeffer's vocals occasionally sound rough on his larynx. Most disappointing is the run time – 33 minutes feels thin after such a long wait between albums.

Minor gripes aside, Jupiter is still a welcome addition to the Atheist archives. Speaking musically, it will raise both goose bumps and the bar for technical music. Speaking historically, it's a compelling new chapter in the Atheist story many thought long closed. Welcome back.

Tracklisting
Second to Sun
Fictitious Glide
Fraudulent Cloth
Live and Live Again
Faux King Christ
Tortoise the Titan
When the Beast
Third Person

Mark Hensch is the editor of Thrashpit. His writing also appears on his Heavy Metal Hensch blog at The Washington Times.