Thanks to Aquarius for the positive write-up!
Anatomy
Of Habit is the noise-rock ensemble revolving around the twisted mind
of Mark Solotroff, Chicago's long standing power electronics king known
for his numerous projects over the years including Bloodyminded and
Intrinsic Action. Accompanying Solotroff is another noise icon, Blake
Edwards (aka Vertonen), yet even with these two ear-shattering
technicians on board, Anatomy Of Habit's impressive dynamics come from
the far more traditional axis of drums, bass, guitar, and vocals, as
played by Dylan Posa (Cheer Accident, Brise-Glace), Greg Ratajczak
(Winters In Osaka), and Kenny Rasmussen, amounting to a steamroller of
huge Swans / Neurosis riffs and chugging out lots of bad vibes. Over the
past 12 months or so, they self-released a couple of LPs with lengthy
tracks gracing each side of vinyl. Both of those 12"s collected here.
The first eponymous LP (which was graced with a black sleeve) featured
two sprawling numbers - "Torch" and "Overcome" - that both hypnotically
build out of interlocking guitar and bass that steadily builds towards a
distorted, crushing climax with dexterous turns toward powerdrone
sludge. Solotroff, with his years of barking like William Bennett, has
turned into quite a deft vocalist with his baritone in perpetual motion
amidst the roiling noise-rock, coming across more like a cross between
Jaz Coleman and Michael Gira. From the second lp (also self-titled but
featured a white cover), "The Decade Plan" begins with a bright ellipsis
of guitars that wouldn't be out of place on a slowcore jam from Codeine
or Slint before the band launches into a super heavy riff, girded by
metal-bashing percussion only to settle into a assaulting groove to
further along Solotroff's tales of sex, violence, and their
psychological implications. The brutal brooding continues on "After The
Water" amplifying their smashed sound even further through the
tranced-out, sludge riffs and subharmonic roar. Think Pelican, Isis,
Bodychoke, and of course, Swans. Still fucking massive!
