Anomaly

Anomaly is the name used by several different acts, including a death metal band from Klaipėda in Lithuania, a progressive metal band from Pasadena, Maryland, a producer from Minneapolis, a producer from Chicago, a Russian amateur musician, a Dutch progressive metal group, a progressive rock supergroup, and other unrelated artists and projects.

Death metal band from Lithuania

The Lithuanian Anomaly forms in 1993 in Klaipėda and plays brutal death metal. The group releases a debut full-length album, Disforic Agony, in 1996. It performs at the “Naujas Kraujas” festival in 1997 and plays with acts including Hypocrisy, Krabathor, Meressin, Ruination, Shadowdances and Katedra. The band stops common activity in 1998 for personal reasons.

After the split, vocalist Andrius Graindas plays bass in The Perplexx, while Valentinas Valiokas continues songwriting with his project Chain of Events. In 2008, Graindas, Valiokas and drummer Mamertonis resume rehearsals. Former bassist Gumis is replaced by Regis, formerly of Dark Side, and guitarist Liucifer is replaced by Audrius from Mood. The band continues to rehearse and work on new material.

Producer and DJ from Minneapolis

Another Anomaly is Jason Heinrichs, a Minnesota hip-hop producer, musician and DJ based in Minneapolis. He is known for work with Rhymesayers artists Slug, Eyedea and DJ Abilities, and for collaborations with Brother Sun Sister Moon, featuring Barb Cohen and Paul Robb of Information Society. He jams with Prince, bassist Anthony Cox and Slug of Atmosphere at Groove Garden sessions. He also remixes Kelley Deal of the Breeders and Atmosphere.

He works in house music with Roomsa, featuring Lady Sarah, and in downtempo with a project called Anomaly featuring vocalist Bethany.

Progressive metal band from Maryland

Anomaly is also a progressive metal band from Pasadena, Maryland, formed in late 2004 by Ryan Thall, who handles lead guitars and vocals, and Ray Warrick, who plays rhythm guitars and vocals. The band later adds drummer Bill. Its sound draws on late 1980s and early 1990s metal, including Death, Gorguts, Cynic, Malevolent Creation and Foreign Objects, and it aims for riff- and beat-driven compositions with cynical and metaphorical lyrics. Demo tracks appear in early 2005 and again later that year, and the group begins to build an audience through shows and online attention. It later works on a concept album and then enters a temporary hiatus while continuing to write and arrange material.

Other uses of the name

Other artists called Anomaly include a four-piece Dutch band blending prog metal, fusion and classical elements with electric guitar and keyboards; a producer from Chicago whose music is described as a mellow melodic mix of samples and synthesis; an amateur musician from Moscow whose tracks are based on the online game Fight Club; a short-lived progressive rock supergroup featuring Jim Dorian, Sean Reinert, Sean Malone and Jim Studnicki, which releases one self-titled album in 1998; and the alter ego of Icelandic electronica composer Thorleifur Gislason.