The Contortionist | facebook | twitter |
Released on September 15, 2014 via eOne Music / Good Fight Music">eOne Music / Good Fight Music
This Indianapolis sextet’s third album belies their youth. Since the release of Exoplanet in 2010 they have refined their tech death approach to create one of the year’s most accomplished and cohesive prog metal albums.
That old cliché of the genre, the ambient intro, is present and correct but, for once, serves as more than faux-portentous lead-in – it is a scene-setter for the themes of language, understanding and human evolutional development. Its wordless vocalisations work on the boundary of comprehension before the confessional “A wave of intuition washed over me” introduces the two-part title track and the main course is served.
A sumptuous tapestry of tap delayed guitars immediately brings to mind the seminal sound of Marillion’s Steve Rothery. ‘Language I: Intuition’ radiates – its kaleidoscopic array of harmonies giving way to a denser, heavier sound with ‘Language II: Conspire’. The lyrical theme of the ebb and flow of tidal forces is a recurring motif and the music reflects these cycles. Riffs come, go and return as if caught in a maelstrom and yet there are few hooks to give the listener something stable and tangible to hold on. This is not intended as a criticism: the stream of ideas is relentless but interconnected, adding to that cohesion I have already mentioned.
Musically, The Contortionist are allying themselves with the likes of Between The Buried And Me and Cynic. Also, if you’re familiar with Britain’s Enochian Theory then you will want to pick this album up pronto. Vocally, at least in terms of melody and phrasing, there are similarities with Fair To Midland (although avoiding that band’s predilection and uncanny knack for writing huge poppy hooks).
There is a warmth to the production which makes Language a surprisingly easy listen for all its multi-layered technical musicianship. ‘Arise’ is the most immediate track on the album (its hanging vocal melody is straight out of the Chino Moreno songbook) and yet if you listen closely to the complexity of the interlocking riffs you will be sucked into that whirlpool.
Too many artists who attempt this style of music radiate more heat than light, full of sound and fury but signifying nothing. That is what is so heartening about this album. Sure, these guys can play their socks off but there is heart and mind at work, elevating Language from the run-of-the-mill to the quite brilliant.
