Amplifier (band)
Encyclopedia
Amplifier are a progressive rock
band from Manchester
, England
. The main trio forming the band are singer and guitarist Sel Balamir, bassist Neil Mahony and drummer Matt Brobin. The band has released three albums and two EPs since its inception in 1999. Their self-titled
debut album was released in 2004 by Music for Nations
. Their second album, Insider
was released in Europe in 2006 on the SPV label. Their third album, The Octopus
, was released to fans in December 2010 ahead of a full release in January 2011. The band are currently working on a new album.
Amplifier's sound has been described as "Soundgarden
, Tool
, Black Sabbath
, Oceansize
and Pink Floyd
taking copious amounts of mind-altering substances and venturing on a trip through time and space (to another dimension), and back again." Their music is characterised by lead singer and guitarist Balamir's effects pedals, extended heavy sections, atmospheric compositions and philosophical lyrics mainly dealing with astronomy
, the cosmos
and the darker side of human nature
.
at Manchester Apollo. After the two singles 'The Consultancy' (b/w 'Glory Electricity') and 'Neon' (b/w 'Boomtime' and 'Throwaway'), the band’s self-titled debut album was released on the 6th of June, 2004 by Music for Nations
– which is a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records – and was very well received by English media and critics. As well as the standard 10-track jewel case, the album was released as a 13-track digi-pac. The extra tracks were the two segues (Drawing No1 and No2) and new track 'Half-Life'.
The label ran out of funds and was bought-out by Sony, which was not interested in working with smaller bands. After buying the rights for the album back the band went label-hunting. In 2005, they signed a deal with SPV (Germany). The debut was re-released in May of that year with a second disc containing the three b-sides and 'Half-Life' and videos for the singles "The Consultancy" and "Neon".
Since 2005, the band has done extensive touring both in the UK and Europe. The band uses many effects pedals to create a wall of noise. In some songs vocals are distorted and Balamir samples his guitar to create a thicker sound. Reverb and delay effects often contribute to an eerie atmosphere. The EP "The Astronaut Dismantles HAL
" which contains 6 songs as well as a hidden track was released on 17 October 2005. In 2006, the band played numerous festival dates including opening the main-stage at Download Festival, UK
After their own UK and European tour, Amplifier were main support for Opeth
's European Tour. During their European tour in early 2007 they were supported by the Swiss indie rock
band Cloudride
. Before taking time to write and record their third album Amplifier were main support to Porcupine Tree
on their UK tour in April 2007.
. The album was released online a year later in 2011, quickly followed by a full release on 21 February 2011. It was met with generally positive acclaim in the press. After his former band Oceansize
had broken up, guitarist Steve Durose joined Amplifier for their 2011 tour.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band from Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The main trio forming the band are singer and guitarist Sel Balamir, bassist Neil Mahony and drummer Matt Brobin. The band has released three albums and two EPs since its inception in 1999. Their self-titled
Amplifier (album)
Amplifier is the debut album of the Manchester alternative rock band Amplifier.Originally released by Music For Nations on June 6, 2004, it was re-released by the German-based label SPV in May 2005 after the collapse of the former. The Music For Nations release came in two formats: jewel case with...
debut album was released in 2004 by Music for Nations
Music For Nations
Music For Nations was a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. They were a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records who in turn is owned by BMG....
. Their second album, Insider
Insider (album)
Insider is the second album of the Manchester alternative rock band Amplifier. It was released by the German-based label SPV on 29 September in Germany and Austria then in the rest of Europe on 2 October.-Track listing:All songs by Sel Balamir...
was released in Europe in 2006 on the SPV label. Their third album, The Octopus
The Octopus (Amplifier album)
The Octopus is the third studio album of the Manchester alternative rock band Amplifier. The format of the album is double CD. It was released to fans online in December 2010 and was commercially released in January 2011...
, was released to fans in December 2010 ahead of a full release in January 2011. The band are currently working on a new album.
Amplifier's sound has been described as "Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
, Tool
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
, Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, Oceansize
Oceansize
Oceansize were a British rock band, formed in Manchester, England on 19th October 1998. The band consisted of Mike Vennart , Steve Durose , Richard "Gambler" Ingram , Mark Heron and Jon Ellis for the majority of its career, with Steve Hodson replacing Ellis on bass in 2006...
and Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
taking copious amounts of mind-altering substances and venturing on a trip through time and space (to another dimension), and back again." Their music is characterised by lead singer and guitarist Balamir's effects pedals, extended heavy sections, atmospheric compositions and philosophical lyrics mainly dealing with astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, the cosmos
Cosmology
Cosmology is the discipline that deals with the nature of the Universe as a whole. Cosmologists seek to understand the origin, evolution, structure, and ultimate fate of the Universe at large, as well as the natural laws that keep it in order...
and the darker side of human nature
Human nature
Human nature refers to the distinguishing characteristics, including ways of thinking, feeling and acting, that humans tend to have naturally....
.
Debut album
After forming around 1998 Amplifier toured the UK and recorded a few demos and sent promo CDs to labels and the press. After being signed in May 2002 by British label Music for Nations, Amplifier were asked to support DeftonesDeftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
at Manchester Apollo. After the two singles 'The Consultancy' (b/w 'Glory Electricity') and 'Neon' (b/w 'Boomtime' and 'Throwaway'), the band’s self-titled debut album was released on the 6th of June, 2004 by Music for Nations
Music For Nations
Music For Nations was a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. They were a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records who in turn is owned by BMG....
– which is a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records – and was very well received by English media and critics. As well as the standard 10-track jewel case, the album was released as a 13-track digi-pac. The extra tracks were the two segues (Drawing No1 and No2) and new track 'Half-Life'.
The label ran out of funds and was bought-out by Sony, which was not interested in working with smaller bands. After buying the rights for the album back the band went label-hunting. In 2005, they signed a deal with SPV (Germany). The debut was re-released in May of that year with a second disc containing the three b-sides and 'Half-Life' and videos for the singles "The Consultancy" and "Neon".
Since 2005, the band has done extensive touring both in the UK and Europe. The band uses many effects pedals to create a wall of noise. In some songs vocals are distorted and Balamir samples his guitar to create a thicker sound. Reverb and delay effects often contribute to an eerie atmosphere. The EP "The Astronaut Dismantles HAL
The Astronaut Dismantles HAL
The Astronaut Dismantles HAL is an EP by Amplifier. The title references the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, in which astronaut David Bowman disables homicidal computer HAL.-Track listing:# "Continuum" – 8:50# "Into the Space Age" – 4:58# "For Marcia" – 4:57...
" which contains 6 songs as well as a hidden track was released on 17 October 2005. In 2006, the band played numerous festival dates including opening the main-stage at Download Festival, UK
Second album
Their second album, titled Insider includes 12 tracks, three of which were posted to the band's MySpace before the album's release. The band also recorded extra tracks to be used as future b-sides. The album was released on 29 September in Germany and Austria and 2 October in the rest of Europe 2006 on SPV in a Digipack with 12 page booklet. 'Procedures' was chosen as a radio single to promote the album and has been played by Zane Lowe on Radio One. No singles from the album will be released to the public. A video for Procedures was filmed during the band's Munich show, on the European tour.After their own UK and European tour, Amplifier were main support for Opeth
Opeth
Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...
's European Tour. During their European tour in early 2007 they were supported by the Swiss indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band Cloudride
Cloudride
Cloudride is a Swiss rock band from Basel. Cloudride's style is similar to British and American independent bands. First appearances took place in small clubs in the Basel region, nowadays Cloudride are performing at clubs and festivals all across Europe....
. Before taking time to write and record their third album Amplifier were main support to Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree is a progressive rock band formed by Steven Wilson in 1987 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. Their music is difficult to categorise, being associated with both psychedelic rock and progressive rock, yet having been influenced by trance, krautrock and ambient due to Steven...
on their UK tour in April 2007.
Third Album
In March 2008, Amplifier confirmed that they were recording their third and fourth albums simultaneously. In January 2010, Amplifier confirmed that this had changed and that they planned to release the combined works as a double album, named The OctopusThe Octopus (Amplifier album)
The Octopus is the third studio album of the Manchester alternative rock band Amplifier. The format of the album is double CD. It was released to fans online in December 2010 and was commercially released in January 2011...
. The album was released online a year later in 2011, quickly followed by a full release on 21 February 2011. It was met with generally positive acclaim in the press. After his former band Oceansize
Oceansize
Oceansize were a British rock band, formed in Manchester, England on 19th October 1998. The band consisted of Mike Vennart , Steve Durose , Richard "Gambler" Ingram , Mark Heron and Jon Ellis for the majority of its career, with Steve Hodson replacing Ellis on bass in 2006...
had broken up, guitarist Steve Durose joined Amplifier for their 2011 tour.
Members
- Sel Balamir – GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and vocals - Neil Mahony – BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Matt Brobin – DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Albums
- 2004: AmplifierAmplifier (album)Amplifier is the debut album of the Manchester alternative rock band Amplifier.Originally released by Music For Nations on June 6, 2004, it was re-released by the German-based label SPV in May 2005 after the collapse of the former. The Music For Nations release came in two formats: jewel case with...
(Re-issued in 2005) - 2006: InsiderInsider (album)Insider is the second album of the Manchester alternative rock band Amplifier. It was released by the German-based label SPV on 29 September in Germany and Austria then in the rest of Europe on 2 October.-Track listing:All songs by Sel Balamir...
- 2011: The OctopusThe Octopus (Amplifier album)The Octopus is the third studio album of the Manchester alternative rock band Amplifier. The format of the album is double CD. It was released to fans online in December 2010 and was commercially released in January 2011...
(including the 70 page booklet 'limited edition')
EPs
- 1999: Untitled Demo
- 2005: The Astronaut Dismantles HALThe Astronaut Dismantles HALThe Astronaut Dismantles HAL is an EP by Amplifier. The title references the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, in which astronaut David Bowman disables homicidal computer HAL.-Track listing:# "Continuum" – 8:50# "Into the Space Age" – 4:58# "For Marcia" – 4:57...
- 2009: Eternity
- 2011: Fractal
Singles
- 2003: "The Consultancy"
- 2004: "Neon"
- 2005: "Everyday Combat" (Radio promo only)
- 2006: "Procedures" (Radio promo only)