Friday, November 18, 2011

Loud Loop Press on AoH LP

Loud Loop Press posted a great review of the Anatomy of Habit LP today, written by Richard Giraldi, and we appreciate their attention!















Anatomy of Habit’s self-titled debut might be the most un-metal metal album I’ve heard. In fact, calling it metal is probably a stretch. What it is, however, is a dark, moody and often haunting record that culls together a variety of sounds of the psychedelic, ambient and industrial sort. And that unwillingness to be boxed into a particular genre or any kind of strict categorization works to make Anatomy of Habit a bold and compelling debut.

A warning for fans of the four-minute single: You won’t find any here. No, Anatomy of Habit‘s two tracks, “Overcome,” and “Torch,” are both over 15 minutes long and are obtuse and difficult on the surface. But further investigation reveals much more as vocalist Mark Solotroff’s (of Bloodyminded) terrifying croon slash spoken word weaves its way through a sea of noisy percussion and droning guitar work.

“Overcome” opens like a predator stalking its prey – slow but sly and careful. Solotroff’s monotonic vocals hover over the clinky rhythms and repetitive, warbling guitars. A slight variation that includes eerie guitar picking takes hold until shortly after six and a half minute mark as menacing, grinding riffs pummel for a short moment as if the predator attacks. But the piece simmers down shortly thereafter. Finally, the real build up begins with a scratchy, distorted seque that leads to the song’s prog-metal coda.
And speaking of animals, Anatomy of Habit‘s second piece, “Torch,” is a different one altogether. It begins with a bleak hum filled with abstract cymbal play, which takes on a terrifying feel as demented ramblings about flesh, sternum and lungs seeps in. The trudging tempo gets more power via slow-burn fuzzy guitars before the chugging metallic riffage finally takes center stage. The song eventually breaks down again into a cacophony of demonic howls and bone rattling beats.

Yes, Anatomy of Habit isn’t the year’s most sunny album. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. But the moody tension and and sense of horror the band creates is extremely impressive. There’s no doubt that Anatomy of Habit have crafted one of the year’s most intriguing debut LPs from a Chicago band.


BLOODYMINDED recording this weekend

We are wrapping up "Within The Walls" this weekend... Really!  We will fill in the details AFTER this happens...

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Tonight (11/13)

Flyer for November 13, 2011 show

KFJC on AoH

A really thoughtful review of our LP from the radio station KFJC:

Anatomy of Habit – “Anatomy of Habit”

Thickago! Five man band, two songs, two sides, ten tons.
Purposeful plodding, Dylan Posa’s drums redoubled by
Blake Edwards’ bonus percussion. Hard to call this doom
or metal, as there is so much space in each epic. Hard
to call it punk, but it has a lean, stripped down
energy to it, without ever rocking the 4/4. Mark
Solotroff’s minimal abject vocals, sung as if into a
casket. A heavy undertaking here indeed. A minor hint
of ceremony to the pieces, without a drop of pomp.
Feels like keys on “Overcome” but it’s probably Greg
Ratajczak’s guitar ratcheting up the tension before huge
slashing start-and-stop chords. Kind of like Om in
demeanor and atmosphere, but swapping out stoner riff
swagger for more methodical art crimes. Each song
feels like a boxing match that goes extra rounds,
certain lyric phrases jabbed into your kidney through
repeated blows, and etched into the run-out groove.
May we have another soon, please.
-Thurston Hunger