Lifeforce Records has announced the signing of Northern Californian progressive metal instrumentalists Abnormal Thought Patterns. The band's new album, "Manipulation Under Anesthesia", will be released in the spring.

In 2008, Jasun Tipton (guitars and keys) wrote and recorded the 12-minute instrumental "Velocity And Acceleration", the track that would ultimately lead to the founding of Abnormal Thought Patterns. Upon hearing the song, Troy Tipton (bass) expressed his desire to put together an instrumental band. The Tipton brothers looked no further than longtime drummer and friend Mike Guy to provide the rhythmic foundation for Abnormal Thought Patterns. The three members then headed to the studio and tracked seven songs for CynNormal Lab Recordings.

Prior to forming Abnormal Thought Patterns, the trio was for many years the backbone of prog-metal powerhouses Zero Hour, releasing five albums, including the landmark 2001 epic "The Towers Of Avarice". The band landed Zero Hour gigs alongside such notable bands as Opeth, Cynic, Symphony X, All That Remains, The Human Abstract and Liquid Tension Experiment, in addition to multiple successful European tours and three appearances at America's premier progressive metal festival, ProgPower Usa. The Tipton brothers have also been guest columnists on the popular guitar enthusiast web site Chops From Hell, and have released two instructional videos.

Commented Lifeforce Records Ceo about the signing: "It is definitely not the easiest to go through a huge pile of demos and nothing can better describe it than what Season Of Mist founder Michael Berberian just recently said '...That’s the equivalent of Mordor — a dark place where we don’t usually go unless we really have to.... However, I made my way through and it was that not very substantially looking demo that caught my attention after the first few tunes... Thank god (or whoever was responsible for) that I listen through pretty much everything being sent to Lifeforce... I'm still blown away by the sheer technicality these guys have in their fingers and I truly believe the Tiptons are guitar mutants! :)"

Added Jasun Tipton: "We'd like to thank Lifeforce for this awesome opportunity. The band is very pleased with the new material as 'Manipulation Under Anesthesia' is truly the thoughts and sounds of Abnormal Thought Patterns."