Sarasota, Florida's "Jazz-Death" outfit ATHEIST started out life originally titled R.A.V.A.G.E. The band, regrettably lasting just three albums, excelled in highly complex innovation taking Thrash into uncharted realms. Although held in awe by their peers ATHEIST found it tough going on the commercial circuit. Guitarist Rand Burkey's distinction came from not only playing his guitar left handed but performing this feat on a regular but upside down guitar with the strings aligned for a right handed player.

Under the R.A.V.A.G.E title the band contributed tracks 'Brain Damage' and 'On They Slay' to the 1987 'Raging Death' compilation album. Going even further back, to 1984, Kelly Shaefer had forged OBLIVION, this unit inducting Steve Flynn on drums. The following year OBLIVION, then fronted by singer Scrappy and pulling in Roger Patterson on bass, evolved into R.A.V.A.G.E. The group, minus Scrappy, recorded the five-track demo 'Rotting In Hell' in August 1985, later commonly known as 'Kill Or Be Killed'. The band expanded, augmented by second guitarist Mark Schwartzberg, for second demo 'On We Slay'. The band then contributed the tracks 'Brain Damage' and 'On They Slay' to the 1987 'Raging Death' compilation album released on the Godly Records label.

As ATHEIST their first undertaking was the 1987 demo 'Hell Hath No Mercy'. The group issued a 1988 demo, entitled 'Beyond', featuring the tracks 'No Truth', 'Choose Your Death', 'Beyond', 'On They Slay' and Brain Damage'. Promoting this, they would support the likes of TESTAMENT, SNFU, DEATH ANGEL and OBITUARY prior to signing to European label Active Records. The band had originally signed a deal with the US label Mean Machine Records, a subsidiary of Three Cherries Records, but the label was on the verge of bankruptcy so an arrangement was made with Active to take the band. The Scott Burns produced debut album 'Piece Of Time', worked up at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, was issued in February 1990.

On February 12th 1991 ATHEIST suffered a huge blow. A major auto accident involving the entire band tragically resulted in Roger Patterson being killed. Persevering, the band added ex-CYNIC bassist Tony Choy to record 'Unquestionable Presence', released in October 1991. Flynn would opt out after completion of dates with CANNIBAL CORPSE. Choy exited too accompanying Dutch Death Metal crew PESTILENCE for their 1991 world tour. He would later find an alternate, and more sedate, career as a Jazz musician on a cruise boat.

The May 1993 'Elements' album was, at the band's admission, thrown together in haste in order to fulfil their label contract but would still prove a worthy effort. Josh Greenbaum would handle drums in the studio. A European set of dates ensued alongside BENEDICTION which saw Shaefer joined by guitarist Frank Emmi and drummer Marcel DeSantos. ATHEIST then bowed out of public view. With the albums deleted, no official product would be forthcoming for over a decade.

Shaefer's NEUROTICA side project would blossom into a full time venture. The ex-ATHEIST man was still at it in 2001 launching the 'Living In Dry Years' album produced by none other than Brian Johnson of AC/DC fame. Shaefer acquired the rights to all ATHEIST material for a round of long overdue CD re-releases. Emmi would later figure in GENTLEMEN DEATH. Burkey would hook up with erstwhile CRIMSON GLORY vocalist MIDNIGHT for a project band.

In 2001 Shaefer, Burkey, Emmi and Flynn announced the reformation of ATHEIST. Meantime, Darren McFarland joined UNKNOWN CURE. In October 2002 Kelly Shaefer would be revealed to be involved in a project of the highest magnitude, fronting the new band of the erstwhile GUNS N' ROSES triumvirate of guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum. However, his tenure would be shortlived as this band unit pulled in ex-STONE TEMPLE PILOTS frontman Scott Weiland and duly evolved into VELVET REVOLVER. Shaefer launched a fresh band project, STARRFACTORY. Included on this new project would be the guitar pairing of ex-E3 and SERRAPHINE man Donny Jaurols and Noah Thompson of MEGABLATTA repute with erstwhile SANCTUARY drummer Dave Budbill. The singer also featured as a guest artist on the 2003 'Moments Of Clarity' Progressive Rock album by CRYPTIC VISION. Meantime, Word arrived in late 2003 that Rand Burkey was preparing a new band project entitled RANDOM XAOS.

In September 2004 Kelly Shaefer, switching to the guitar role, teamed up with ex-BURIAL frontman Mike Callahan in a Southern Florida based project called UNHEARD. However, in early 2005 it was learned that Shaefer, alongside UNHEARD band mate guitarist Donny Jaurols, would also be plugging a brand new band venture BIG MACHINE sponsored by no less than AC/DC's Brian Johnson.

ATHEIST drummer Steve Flynn resurfaced in 2005, forging a brand new band project, entitled GNOSTIC, with ENDERS GAME, AOS and CAUSTIC THOUGHT vocalist Kevin Freeman, CORPSEWORM and SEVERED guitarist Sonny Carson and CORPSEWORM, AOS and CAUSTIC THOUGHT bassist Stephen Morley.

The entire ATHEIST catalogue would be the subject of a re-issue campaign by Relapse Records in 2005. The collection commenced in July with a foil stamped box set, limited to 1000 copies, comprising vinyl versions of each ATHEIST plus the R.A.V.A.G.E. 'On They Slay' 7" EP. ATHEIST announced a reformation in January 2006 to perform at the Italian 'Evolution' festival and Germany's 'Wacken Open Air' event. Line-up was announced as comprising the classic formation of Kelly Shaefer, guitarist Rand Burkey, bassist Tony Choy and drummer Steve Flynn. However, Burkey was forced out due to "legal problems". GNOSTIC's Chris Baker substituted. The band also pulled in second guitarist Sonny Carson of GNOSTIC to cover for Shaefer, the frontman's abilities being hampered by tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.

During ATHEIST's European run of dates Tony Choy suffered a sizable accident when he fell through an unsecured part of the large outdoor stage at Italy's Evolution Festival on July 16th. Fortunately the musician was uninjured but, having broken all his bass strings, had to be loaned another instrument to finish the set.

ATHEIST live dates continued into 2007 with European shows including appearances in June at the Hellfest in France as well as Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium. ATHEIST, THE FACELESS, PSYOPUS, THE AGONIST and GNOSTIC teamed up for US dates in July 2009. In August the band partnered with GNOSTIC and Germany's OBSCURA for a European run of dates.