Known for their elaborate costumes, absurd humor, simple but diverse textures and unique sound, the band has recently become known in the experimental and noise rock scenes for their outlandish performances.
Comparative Anatomy started as an experiment in 2009 between the two main members, Sir Puffers Rabbinald the Third (University of Virginia professor and demonologist Stanley Stepanic) and Ron Chickenbaby (Addison Dodds).
After deciding to work alone, the group took a different route, eliminated guitars altogether and moved away from the quirky, death metal sound where they started as well as completely scrapping vocals.
In April of the same year, after working on their image to further flesh out their goofy approach, Comparative Anatomy performed their first show in Charlottesville, Virginia at a small venue called The Outback Lodge in an effort to see how their sound was taken by local crowds.
Following this and moderate success in their hometown, the group performed with such acts as Deicide and Absu in death metal festivals before deciding to move their direction towards experimental music.
Both members indicated at this time that the decision was mainly due to the large gap between their sound and traditional death metal, as well as a growing fan base that was primarily art and experimental music focused.
During this process, the band completely altered its image with more elaborate costumes and a live act that includes silent films themed to match each song that follow the music down to the smallest beats.
Their songs also often incorporate clips from popular culture, programmed along with the drum patterns to create odd, driving landscapes of screeching animals, bizarre electronics, eccentric humor, and textured bass lines.
During live performances, Comparative Anatomy is known for wearing costumes, which were at first simple designs made with dismembered, stuffed animals, but eventually became elaborate and full-body pieces hand-made by the two main members featuring everything from top hats to black metal gauntlets.