BrooklynVegan is currently streaming Even If It Takes A Lifetime, the third full-length from Chicago-based experimental post-punk/doom metal collective ANATOMY OF HABIT, in its curious entirety. The premiere comes in advance of the record’s official release this Friday, December 10th. This will be the first of two new albums ready to be unveiled to the public.
ANATOMY OF HABIT – Alex Latus (guitar), Isidro Reyes (metal percussion), Skyler Rowe (drums), Mark Solotroff (vocals), and Sam Wagster (bass + lap steel) — recorded both offerings with Sanford Parker, shortly before the pandemic, with mixing (by Parker) and mastering (by Collin Jordan) carried out during the long shutdown. Along with the band’s core instrumentation, listeners will hear piano, organ, analog synth, and vibraphone woven into the songs.
Thematically, Even If It Takes A Lifetime continues Solotroff’s reflections on love and loss, the creative process, the abstracted and vanishing self, and a sense of absolute obliteration. The potentially nostalgic album title may allude to a sense of hope and may indicate that all is not lost, or at least it may point to an inner drive to keep pushing forward.
Comments band leader SOLOTROFF, “Once we were a supergroup, but now we’re a real band. Cream, Bad Company, The Lords Of The New Church, Traveling Wilburys, Tin Machine, Hollywood Vampires… just to name a few. In 2014, when Ciphers + Axioms was released, ANATOMY OF HABIT was referred to as such, and while we certainly had some legitimately notable band members, it was pretty weird to hear that term used with a very underground band, like us. And as with many other bands that carry the supergroup moniker, that version of our lineup wasn’t to last very long. Not that playing with those guys wasn’t a fantastic experience. But, what’s happened over the last several years is very different. Our band was slowly rebuilt and a very powerful chemistry resulted. We put in the work, week in and week out. Song-writing seemed to come more easily to us. Shows felt very tight (but loose). We took our time before we recorded demos. Then we finally recorded more than two albums worth of material, right before the pandemic hit. We had some cool offers to release this album, but it probably wouldn’t have seen the light of day until late 2022, so we discussed several options and we ultimately decided to handle things in a more self-sufficient manner. To me, the way Alex, Isidro, Sam, Skyler, and I have pulled together, grown, and evolved is evidence of a legitimate supergroup. I couldn’t be happier to be in a band with them and to finally release our new album. Yeah, let’s just stick with the term ‘band’ this time around.”
Adds BrooklynVegan, “It picks up right where ANATOMY OF HABIT left off seven years ago, with Mark Solotroff’s gothy, sinister baritone leading the way over lurching, doomy instrumentals. If you’re unfamiliar with ANATOMY OF HABIT, fans of Swans, Daughters, and Nick Cave should check this out.”
Stream Even If It Takes A Lifetime at BrooklynVegan HERE.
Even If It Takes A Lifetime will be released on CD, handsomely packaged in a six-panel digipak designed by Jonathan Canady, a longtime creative associate of the band. A cassette version will also be released, with light blue shells and a four-panel insert. The packaging for all formats will incorporate a series of lush, corporeal cyanotypes by New York-based artist Alexandra Lerman, a close friend of Solotroff. A vinyl edition will follow at a later date.
Find preorders at THIS LOCATION.
ANATOMY OF HABIT will celebrate Even If It Takes A Lifetime with a record release show TONIGHT December 8th at The Empty Bottle with additional performances to be announced in the weeks to come.
ANATOMY OF HABIT:
12/08/2021 The Empty Bottle – Chicago, IL * record release show w/ Human Impact, Child Bite [info]
ANATOMY OF HABIT formed in Chicago in October 2008. Although the band has experienced significant changes since forming, this is their longest-standing and most prolific lineup. It’s no wonder that they’ve gelled the way they have. Rowe and Latus have known each other since they were teenagers, growing up in Indianapolis’ heavy music scene and playing together in the band Still. Rowe and Wagster have been creating a strong body of work together in the pastoral instrumental Mute Duo. Reyes and Solotroff are old friends who’ve played together in both BLOODYMINDED and The Fortieth Day, for many years. This deep connective tissue has contributed to consistently effortless writing sessions and solidly fused live performances.
The band incorporates elements of doom metal, post-punk, death-rock, early-industrial, psychedelic, and shoegaze. The band’s last album, Ciphers + Axioms, was released by Relapse Records. Once Even If It Takes A Lifetime completes its full cycle, the band intend to follow up with their next album, Black Openings.
“…an immersive, meditative, slow-building storm…” – Decibel Magazine
“Still apocalyptically heavy and thoughtfully complex, ANATOMY OF HABIT‘s lost time simply vanished. It’s 2013 again and I’m watching ANATOMY OF HABIT at the Cobra Lounge, completely leveling the place, my friends and I all damaging our necks and brains and minds to the swirling mass of volume.” – Invisible Oranges
“The music is intelligently crafted and builds atmosphere and emotive tapestries with ease. Each of the three songs has its own feel, structure, and personality, yet they all tie together and flow into a holistic mass very well.” – Wonderbox Metal
ANATOMY OF HABIT:
Alex Latus – guitar
Isidro Reyes – metal percussion
Skyler Rowe – drums, vibraphone
Mark Solotroff – vocals, analog synth
Sam Wagster – bass, lap steel, piano, keyboard
http://anatomyofhabit.com
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