The Contortionist are a very chameleon like band. They started out as At The Hands Of Machines in 2007, and were a lot more hardcore in their sound. This is their third full album, and with the arrival of Mike Lessard on vocals, they have changed their direction to a more progressive metal band. There are still hardcore moments, but Lessard’s ethereal/breathy style of vocal lends itself to a more melodic style. They are a very complex band song structure wise as there is a lot asgoing on to engage the listener. No straight four-to-the-floor here as there are lots of odd time signatures, key changes, and groovey passages. This is the rediscovered edition with an extra four tracks that were reworked from the original album.
The Source opens things up in atmospheric ambient style and showing the really soft vocal style that Lessard has. The Language follows in two parts and takes the listener on a ride with a multitude of parts and changes. Epic stuff! Integration is the last track on Side 1 and is a tech metaller’s wet dream. Clean and growl vocals abound and the riffs and off time grooves a plenty. Awesome track.
Over to Side 2 we go with Thrive. The contrast between the heavy music and the clean style of Lessard’s vocals is striking and it works really well – another fantastic track. Primordial Sound follows and starts off with a totally non-metal approach with lots of picked guitars, some vocal and ambient keys, and off into fusion territory we go. Arise is the end of this side and is possibly the heaviest track on the whole album, lots of down tuned goodness.
Ebb & Flow starts Side 3 in an Depeche Mode style before sanity prevails and odd time signature heaven returns. This is my favourite track that they do. Lots of nods to prog bands of old, and lots of invention from the now – its also supremely heavy in places. Something for everyone all in one track. The last track on the album is The Parable, and it starts with what I will call a metal ambient soundscape before lots of tech/prog metal goodness kicks in.
So over to Side 4 and the rediscovered tracks. What they have done here is that after being on the road and touring the tracks, each song had evolved, and in turn, had been rediscovered. It’s like listening to four new tracks and is interesting to hear how the band have evolved. I love this, and would be great if more bands did it.
In case you haven’t guessed, I really love this album and it is a 10/10 from The Grooveman. I am not a snob and won’t hold back from giving an album a 10 if it deserves it.
