Amplifier

Amplifier are a progressive rock band from Manchester, England. The band has an atmospheric and psychedelic sound despite the band only having three members. This can be largely attributed to singer and guitarist Sel Balamir who is seen to be the band’s backbone.

After forming around 1998 Amplifier went around making a name for themselves touring the UK, eventually being asked to support Deftones at Manchester Apollo. A few demos were recorded at this time and promo CDs sent to labels and the press. These helped the band get support among the UK rock press. 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 the British label 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'. Unfortunately, the label ran out of funds and was bought-out by Sony. Uninterested in working with smaller bands Sony left bands such as Amplifier hanging. 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 a second disc containing the three b-sides and 'Half-Life' and videos for the singles "Consultancy" and "Neon".

Since then the band has done extensive touring both in the UK and Europe. An impressive array of around 56 effects pedals between guitar and bass create a distinctive sound varying between melancholy and a wall of noise disproportionate to their physical numbers. In some songs even vocals are distorted and Sel Balamir can create the illusion of many guitarists playing by sampling his guitar. Hall and delay effects often contribute to an eerie atmosphere. Amplifier's many influences reach from classical metallic Hard Rock to Progressive Rock. Also, bands such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin should be mentioned in this context.

The EP "The Astronaut Dismantles HAL" which contains 6 songs as well as a hidden track was released on October 17, 2005. 2006 has seen the return of Amplifier, playing their first headline UK show in a year and a half at Satan's Hollow in home-town Manchester and numerous festival dates including opening the main-stage at Download Festival.

Their second album, titled Insider is finished and includes 12 tracks, three of which were been posted to the band's MySpace before the albums release. The band also recorded extra tracks to be used as future b-sides. The album was released on September 29th in Germany and Austria and October 2nd 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. It has been stated however that no singles from the album will be released to the public. A video for Procedures was filmed during the bands Munich show, on the European tour. It is not yet known when this video will surface.

After their own UK and European tour, Amplifier will be main support for Opeth's European Tour.