Amicus

Officially launched in 2013 by brothers Anthony and Nick Galindo, and Jeff Bearden, Amicus is an innovative, heavy rock trio from Chicago, IL. The band skillfully combines aggressive, melodic vocals with precise guitar work, impactful bass lines, and dynamic, biting drums. Their debut EP, Pathways, demonstrates the uniquely modern sound that defines this promising three piece.

How was the band formed?

Nick and I are brothers and we have been in a few bands together. We were looking for a drummer and we connected with Jeff via Craigslist. He responded to our ad, we sent a few emails, and we decided to meet up to try some things out. I had a small batch of songs that already had multiple parts, so it was easy for us to start working with original material right off the bat. We never had a phase of jamming a bunch of cover tunes. It was all original music from the beginning.

What was the motivation for forming this band?

We all started doing this out of a love for creating music, but at this point we feel that we’ve developed a unique and innovative sound that sets us apart from our peers. This motivates us to pursue music professionally and to see how far we can take it.

What are the major influences of the band?

We each have had different experiences with music, but we certainly have some things in common. We have all been influenced by classic bands like Metallica, Rush, and Black Sabbath, but we are also influenced and inspired by more contemporary music. It’s difficult to only list a few things, but we are into bands like Trivium, In Flames, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Gojira, Dream Theater, Times of Grace, Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, Sevendust, and the list goes on.

What plans does the band have in the future?

We are always working to write the best songs that we can, so that process is in motion. We are currently booking late spring and summer so stay tuned to our sites for updates and show announcements.

How would you describe yourself to someone that has never seen/heard you guys play?

I would say that we are a heavy rock trio that combines aggressive, but melodic and clean vocals with heavy guitar work, powerful bass, and dynamic, energetic drums.

What has been your favorite show so far?

We just played the Cobra Lounge and we had a killer time. I see it as the type of place where we can really build a strong following. They’ve established a great music culture and everyone involved is on the same page. It’s definitely a great place to see or play a show, great beer and food as well!

Do you have any upcoming shows/releases/news?

We’ve got a video for “The Nothing” that is in the works, so stay tuned for that. Definitely some show announcements in the coming weeks as well.

What’s a little known fact about the band?

Our writing process is extremely collaborative. I play the drums in addition to the guitar, and Jeff can play guitar and sing in addition to playing the drums. This allows us to write music for every aspect of the band, whether it’s guitar riffs, drum parts, vocal melodies, etc.

What is your favorite song to play live?

I love playing the four songs on our Pathways EP, but my favorite at the moment is an older one that we’ve updated and reworked called “No Static Remains”.

Your song, “The Nothing”, is featured in this month’s podcast. What is that song about?

“The Nothing” is about difficult situations in life that come up suddenly and without warning. It’s inspired by the experience of a family member of mine that had a health issue that came up out of nowhere. Despite this somberness, we feel that the message of the song is ultimately a positive one because it suggests that “hope is never gone.” - Rock in Chicago Magazine

Artist: Amicus
EP reviewed: Pathways
Link: http://open.spotify.com/album/2gZDfIjBeX8E7JbUmV6TDe

Amicus evenly divides its four-song Pathways EP among alternative metal ("We Are the Truth" and "Heal Ailing Eyes") and post-grunge ("The Nothing" and "Recover the Fire"). No doubt alt-metal will figure largely in Amicus' future recordings -- their instrumentalists are just too good to limit to the down-tempo. But even on the excellent post-grunge dirges, we get guitar riffs tucked into fills, and some of the most accomplished soloing of the album. (Indeed, the solo at 2:20 of "Recover the Fire" compares favorably to one of Amicus' metal influences, Trivium.)

Regardless of genre, Amicus' Pathways boasts ever-evolving guitar and drum parts that set up instantly memorable vocal hooks. (After closing Spotify, you may find yourself singing, "Ignite the rage, no giving up / ...ignite the rage, recover the fire.")

Album-opener, "We Are the Truth," is built on multitudinous guitar parts sounding like the how-to on how to write nuanced guitar music around pop convention. It starts with an intricate guitar pattern, and gives way to minimalist notes that set both melody and space to sing. And the transition (at :37) and chorus feature equally suitable percussion, and yet another guitar riff. It's musical flourishes like these that diminished grunge in light of its more commercially sustainable successor.

Listen to the care that went into the hook of Amicus' "Heal Ailing Eyes" (starting at :40): the chugging build of the pre-chorus; several tracks of expertly recorded/mixed vocals; a guitar riff stabbing the space between; and drums that evolve to fill and shift or stop-and-start. (Keep listening at 1:02 to catch more of the drum show.) In this, Amicus recalls the memorable hooks of Breaking Benjamin, but manage to rock harder by flashing glimpses of metal-inspired vocal/drum/guitar that evoke the harsher elements of Sevendust.

Every synapse is firing on the Pathways EP. In Chicago's alt-metal tradition, there's a new Chevelle in town: Amicus' constantly mutating guitar and drums accent powerful vocal hooks as visceral as they are memorable. - Chicago Indie Music Live

Tunelab radio feature - Tunelab Chicago

Battledrawn podcast feature - Battledrawn