Anatomy Of Habit Defies Categorization

By Jon Graef in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 3, 2011 6:00PM

A few months ago, at the double record release party for Chicago metal bands Bloodiest and Indian, we saw an opening band who truly defied categorization, Anatomy of Habit. They have a show opening up for Iceage at the Empty Bottle this Sunday, and here's why you should catch Anatomy before the Pitchfork-approved Danish buzz band.

First and foremost, Anatomy of Habit features an impressive pedigree of local talent from a wide variety of past bands. Ex-members of Radar Eyes, Cheer Accident, Animal Law, and current members of Bloodyminded and Plague Bringer, all play in this band. But even if those names don't mean anything to you, Anatomy of Habit's intoxicating, challenging mix of mood-based musical forms will. The songs are long, complex, and utterly unforgettable.

The average song-length may be 10 minutes or so, but this is a group that knows how to hold listener attention, doing so by lulling them into gothic ambiance one minute, and then snapping them out of it with whiplash-inducing fury on loan from metal and hardcore the next. Habit's Bandcamp and Facebook say an album is on the way. Get excited. Listen to live demos here, then see this band.

Anatomy of Habit opens for Iceage on August 7 at Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western, 9:30 p.m., $10, 21+