ALBUM COVER STORY: ANATOMY OF HABIT's "PAIRED SENTINELS"

American collective, Anatomy Of Habit, has returned with a new album titled, "Paired Sentinels." This recording offers an intersection of post‑Punk, Doom Metal, Industrial, Noise‑rock and Shoegaze. Such musical mixture is reflected on the front sleeve which features the piece "Untitled (Sedlec Ossuary)" created by Australian-born artist, Jeff Gibson. In the following interview, vocalist Mark Solotroff talks about this image and other related topics.

How did you discover Jeff Gibson's artwork "Untitled (Sedlec Ossuary)"?

Mark Solotroff: I discovered Jeff's work through my close friend and Bloodyminded bandmate, Pieter Schoolwerth, whose own artwork we previously used on Anatomy of Habit's second album, "Ciphers + Axioms." Until very recently, Jeff was the managing editor of Artforum, a magazine that has covered Pieter’s work. After getting to know Jeff over a period of time, and after he saw Bloodyminded play a show in New York, he actually approached me with this specific piece. He thought it might resonate with me and that I might want to use it in a musical context. After my wife and I spent time looking at it and discussing it, it became crystal clear to us that it would be the absolute ideal visual identity for the new Anatomy of Habit record. My bandmates loved it right away and supported the decision.

Why did you choose this piece as the cover artwork for "Paired Sentinels"?

Mark Solotroff: "Paired Sentinels" is an album deeply concerned with emotional thresholds, the erosion of identity, and the unstable structures that shape longing and loss. Jeff’s piece, with its incredibly dense, layered montage of anatomical diagrams, sharp urban structures, and reflective surfaces, captures that exact tension. The title of his work references the famous Czech chapel known for its intricate bone architecture. That concept of taking something raw, mortal, and fractured and arranging it into a rigid, deliberate structure perfectly mirrors how we approach songwriting. It felt like a natural visual anchor for the album's themes.

Can you talk about the process of getting the permission to use the artwork? Did you personally contact Jeff Gibson?

Mark Solotroff: Because Jeff had approached me directly with the piece, the process was incredibly organic. It wasn't a matter of cold contacting an artist out of the blue to ask for permission; it grew out of a genuine personal connection, mutual artistic respect, and an ongoing dialogue. Once we formalized using the piece, we handed it over to Jonathan Canady, who has meticulously handled the graphic design and visual presentation for every single one of our releases since day one. Jonathan knows our aesthetic inside and out, and he did an incredible job framing Jeff's artwork and establishing the typography to ensure the physical packaging across the LP, CD, and cassette formats felt completely cohesive.

In your opinion, why is this artwork a visual representation of the album's music and lyrics?

Mark Solotroff: Musically, the four compositions on "Paired Sentinels" balance a monolithic, heavy force with patient, open moments of vulnerability. The songs rely heavily on repetition. Not to circle back to where we started, but to dig into the same patch of earth until we uncover something foundational. Jeff's artwork operates the same way. It isn't passive; it demands sustained looking. The juxtaposition of cold, geometric urban lines against raw anatomical elements mirrors the tension in my lyrics, which constantly move between stark external observation and ritualistic internal monologues. It visualizes the delicate, rigid frameworks holding human desire and anxiety in place.

The band's logo/symbol (featuring five nails/spikes) is quite interesting and memorable. Can you tell us about its meaning, origins and design?

Mark Solotroff: The origin of the symbol actually traces directly back to our sonic roots and our first percussionist, Blake Edwards. Early on, Blake introduced the use of actual railroad spikes as percussive striking instruments in our live setup, which became a signature element of our sound. Because Anatomy of Habit has always been a five-piece band, we decided to take five of these weathered nails/spikes and arrange them into a distinct formation that visually represents the quintet. We then worked with Jonathan Canady to refine that concept into a clean, geometric icon that stepped away from standard metal or post-punk tropes. While people often guess that the shapes are sticks, bones, or casting stones, they are fundamentally rooted in our physical instrumentation. That primitive, industrial minimalism captures the rhythmic architecture of our music, anchoring our collective identity into a singular, recognizable glyph.

Pre-order "Paired Sentinels" at https://anatomyofhabit.bandcamp.com/album/paired-sentinels 

See more of Jeff Gibson's work at https://jeffgibsonjeffgibson.com/