THE CONTORTIONIST - Language

September 25, 2014, 9 years ago

(eOne Music)

Kelley Simms

Rating: 8.0

review heavy metal the contortionist

THE CONTORTIONIST - Language

The Contortionist has forged a sound first developed by prog titans such as Yes, Rush and King Crimson and combined it with different genres, including catchy, modern progressive metal styles along the lines of Between The Buried And Me, Threshold, Opeth and others. The Indianapolis-based band’s expansive rhythms and lush melodies shine brightly on its third full-length album, Language. The energetic counter-play between each musician is outstanding, often ricocheting off into different directions but always returning to common ground. Although the band’s technical aspect: intricate rhythms, innovative riffs and odd time signatures is present, the focus is more on the overall songwriting process. However, some of the songs take awhile to warm up to due to their length and the minor variation in the tempo. New vocalist Michael Lessard shines brilliantly on Language, boasting an excellent tenor voice, yet is highly capable of busting loose with some divine death metal growls, most notably on “Language II: Conspire,” “Arise” and “Ebb & Flow.” Moments such as these is when the band is at its best by showing its full range. From the throbbing riffs of “Thrive,” to the euphoric Marillion-esque elements of “Primordial Sound,” to the soaring Pink Floyd-ish crescendos of “The Parable,” Language skates across many different platforms while constantly pushing the melodies to expand its sound. For fans willing to invest their time in Language will find it greatly rewarding, but for a casual prog fan or even a newbie to this genre might have more difficulty feeling an immediate impact.



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