higherthanatmospheric

Higher Than Atmospheric (often stylized as higherthanatmospheric) is an American progressive metal band from New York City that formed in 2006. The original lineup consisted of vocalist and guitarist Alex Monroe, bassist Samira Khalid, drummer Dave Peterson, and keyboardist Laura Chen. The group quickly gained a reputation for combining technical guitar work with atmospheric synth textures, drawing influences from progressive rock, doom metal, and ambient music.

The band's debut studio album, Echoes of the Void, was released in 2010 on independent label Ember Records. The record received positive reviews for its intricate song structures and ethereal soundscapes, and it established higherthanatmospheric as a niche but dedicated act in the progressive metal scene. A subsequent EP, Celestial Drift (2012), explored more experimental electronic elements and later attracted attention from larger metal magazines. Their second full-length release, Beyond Horizons, arrived in 2015 after signing with Horizon Music, and it expanded their fanbase through extensive touring in North America and Europe.

In 2018, after the release of a live recording and a brief farewell tour, the band members announced their decision to disband in order to pursue other projects. Despite their relatively short career, higherthanatmospheric is remembered for its blending of melodic complexity and expansive atmospheres, influencing a new wave of progressive metal artists in the late 2010s.