amphoteric

Ambient. Progressive. Metal. All describe the atmospheric prog-metal outfit from Santa Cruz, California. Defying trends and finding their own way, amphoteric has earned a reputation of being on the fore-front of the progressive music scene.

amphoteric was born in 1996 as hard rock band, led by schoolmates Tim Thompson, Andrew Nielsen and Dan Ellis. Each member brought their own element to the band in its early form: punk and progresive rock, experimental and blues music. The band released their first album, Desolation, in the late summer of 1998, and quickly made a name for themselves in the underground/indie rock scene.

It was quickly decided that the band needed a full time guitarist. Tim recruited fellow Shock Headed Peter guitarist Hart Hancock to join the band as lead guitarist. The band quickly went to work on their next album, When Time Folds and Dimensions Meet with new drummer Craig Brown. Touring followed, later acommpanied by the release of their groundbreaking album, pH7 in 2001, the band was in top form.

Nielsen would leave the band shortly after wrapping up the pH7 sessions, and singer/guitarist Thompson would move to bass guitar. The band would go on to record 2002's Rivers of Understanding.

Thompson would leave the group immeadiately after the 'Rivers' sessions. Guitarist Hancock became lead vocalist and New York-based bassist Bryan Blair would join the group for the subsequent tour. While on the road, the band began writing what would become their most successful and diverse album to date, the 2004 release The Origin of Consciousness was hailed as the bands magnum opus. A massive tour and subsequent live album The Last Broadcast chronicled the bands slow climb to success.

The end of the tour saw the departure of both Blair and Brown, and Hancock began other projects with former amphoteric singer Tim Thompson, collaborating on his solo album, MNP: No Turn on Red.

2008 saw amphoteric re-emerge from its two-year silence. The band began to rehearse with new members Jeff Wasson (guitars, vocals) and Maverick (drums). The band has written brand-new material for a new album to be released in early 2010.