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General => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: Joshin U on July 31, 2013, 12:09:17 PM
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Any other Contortionist fans out there? I didn't see a thread for them yet soooo....
Exoplanet is probably in my top 15 albums of all time. I love that album. Flourish gives me chills every single time, and Oscillator isn't too far behind. It's also one of the albums that I can easily listen to without wanting to skip any songs.
Intrinsic was disappointing to me, but not exactly a step behind; more like a step in the wrong direction. The first time I heard it, I was legitimately angry with some of the musical directions they had taken. It wasn't the lack of harsh vocals that got me, but the mechanical feel to many of the songs and styles. For instance, I HATE the vocal delivery in Anatomy Anomalies and the first minutes of Dreaming Schematics. I also DESPISE Parallel Trance for the fact that it completes deflates the album and it leaves you with a flat impression. There is no grand finish or even a graceful exit. Just some "relaxing" white noise after the mediocre Solipsis and then the album ends. ALL THAT SAID, I enjoy Holomovement and LOVE Causality, Cortical, Geocentric Confusion, and the second half of Dreaming Schematics.
IF YOU HAVEN'T LISTENED TO THE CONTORTIONIST, and you're a fan of progressive death metal (think a spacy, less technical BTBAM), check out their debut, Exoplanet. Seriously, your mind will be blown.
I'm SUPER disappointed that they lost Jonathan Carpenter. I haven't heard Lessard's vocals in TC yet, but I hope they can make it work and he can contribute as well as JC could (however doubtful).
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I loved Intrinsic, but yeah, Exoplanet's god tier quality. These guys are really, really good, I can't imagine someone who likes Periphery not getting into them. I am worried about the vocal change though, that can make or break a band.
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Probably the only good band that's ever come to my town. They were opening for Veil of Maya which I don't like, but I went for The Contortionist. They had to borrow Last Chance to Reason's vocalist, but it was a hell of a show. :tup
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Great band :tup
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Probably the only good band that's ever come to my town. They were opening for Veil of Maya which I don't like, but I went for The Contortionist. They had to borrow Last Chance to Reason's vocalist, but it was a hell of a show. :tup
And now they've stolen him :'(
At least Level 3 is fantastic, so they have a great last album and tour to go into hiatus on.
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Probably the only good band that's ever come to my town. They were opening for Veil of Maya which I don't like, but I went for The Contortionist. They had to borrow Last Chance to Reason's vocalist, but it was a hell of a show. :tup
And now they've stolen him :'(
At least Level 3 is fantastic, so they have a great last album and tour to go into hiatus on.
Oh he's officially a member now? I didn't know, haha.
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This band is great. Exoplanet is badass and Intrinsic is good as well, but I feel like Intrinsic has overall better song writing. :metal
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This band is great. Exoplanet is badass and Intrinsic is good as well, but I feel like Intrinsic has overall better song writing. :metal
I'm not sure. Lyrically, I think TC's impersonal style fit better in the concept album badassness of Exoplanet, whereas this almost robotic style makes it sound like JC is reading out of thesaurus or something in Anatomy Anomalies, using "big words" just for the sake of using big words.
Musically, one thing that stands out is I loved the way the bass drumming in Exoplanet was almost synchronized with the guitars in key portions of the songs. It gave each note an extra punch (think "Contact"). That element is mostly missing from Intrinsic, but really, that's a personal gripe. Also, there are more direct missteps in Intrinsic than Exoplanet, especially regarding transitions. For instance, Holomovement's heavy section. I think the song would have done much better without it, as it seems out of place and kind of ends awkwardly without transitioning to the chorus.
I DO like the sound production on Intrinsic better. It sounds clearer and less muddied, but hell, that just might be because the album has a less pummeling sound overall.
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New album "Language" will be out on Sep. 16.
Here's the first single: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtnfmzEBvMs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtnfmzEBvMs)
(https://i.imgur.com/OvWDDhu.jpg)
1. The Source
2. Language I: Intuition
3. Language II: Conspire
4. Integration
5. Thrive
6. Primordial Sound
7. Arise
8. Ebb & Flow
9. The Parable
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Can't listen to right now, in class at the moment, but aside from the obvious neck beards that come out of the woods to trash every newer metal band these days, I've heard fantastic things about the song and album in general. Can't wait to listen.
After Fallujah and Grimes, this is the album I'm most looking forward to.
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I love these guys and I need this album massively. :metal
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Gonna see them on tour with Intervals and Polyphia
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I didn't realize there was a thread for these fellas here on DTF. My roommate is a big fan of theirs, and I enjoy parts of Exoplanet, so I'll definitely be checking out the new album later this year.
And listening to the single now :)
ETA: That's actually really nice. Very relaxed, and the side of their sound that I've always preferred.
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(https://i.imgur.com/bhO990D.jpg)
9/13 St. Paul, MN @ Amsterdam w/ The Contortionist
9/15 Merriam, KS @ Aftershock w/ /The Contortionist
9/16 St. Louis, MO @ Fubar w/ The Contortionist
10/12 Columbus, OH @ Double Happiness w/ Contortionist, Polyphia
10/13 Knoxville, TN @ The Concourse w/ Contortionist, Polyphia
10/16 Fort Worth, TX @ Tomcats w/ Contortionist, Polyphia
10/17 Austin, TX @ Dirty Dog Bar w/ Contortionist, Polyphia
10/18 Corpus Christi, TX @ House of Rock w/ Contortionist, Polyphia
10/19 Houston, TX @ Walters w/ Contortionist, Polyphia
10/20 San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit w/ Contortionist, Polyphia
10/22 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad w/ Contortionist, Polyphia
10/23 Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole w/ Contortionist, Polyphia
10/24 Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction w/ Contortionist, Polyphia
10/25 Van Nuys, CA @ White Oak Music w/ Contortionist, Polyphia
10/28 Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue w/ Contortionist, Polyphia
10/29 Denver, CO @ The Marquis Theatre w/ Contortionist, Polyphia
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Finally have a chance to listen. All I can say is,
AW YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEUUHHHH BOIIIIIIIIIIII
(https://i.imgur.com/qZPKdiq.gif)
This is right behind if not on par with Fallujah and Grimes in terms of what the fuck I'm excited for.
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Language II: Conspire is streaming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbM--F4nam8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbM--F4nam8)
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That song has hyped me more for the new album than I already was if it was even possible. Damn this year has been good and still so many good things about to come out.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjiJBW--Zds
Both parts together.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjiJBW--Zds
Both parts together.
SHiiiiiiiiiiet, I know what I'm doing when I get back home. :hat
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"Primordial Sound"
https://www.metalsucks.net/2014/09/02/exclusive-track-premiere-contortionist-primordial-sound/ (https://www.metalsucks.net/2014/09/02/exclusive-track-premiere-contortionist-primordial-sound/)
I'm going to see them in a couple weeks with Periphery.
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Longest 2 weeks of the year is starting to feel like with these releases and how great they sound.
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Another awesome track. Can't wait for this :metal
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Just found out these guys are playing near me in a couple weeks with Periphery in NY. Checked them out on YouTube and I like what I'm hearing so far. Nice!
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Luckys get to see them with periphery. I just get a headlining show.
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So already 3 days since the album came out. Thoughts?
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I would say this is probably by far the best progressive release we've gotten this year. Can't think of another one on the same level, at the top of my head.
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With this album, I get the feeling of wanting to play every song again right away to give it another listen instead of just listening to the album from beginning to end like usual.
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It's gonna sound weird, but to me, this is not a song-album. It's certainly one of those albums where the sum is better than the individual parts, and the biggest highlight for me is the concept/idea of the album, and the execution of it. There's a connection running through all songs, and I love how they take certain elements of each song and sprinkle it into other songs. It's not like the songs are bad on their own, but they make so much more sense in the context of the album.
If I had to pick favorites though, I think the combo of the two Language-tracks is really strong. The end with Ebb & Flow and The Parable is also really powerful. I also love how the end of the album kinda mimics the beginning of the album - it starts and ends on a very tranquil, peaceful and atmospheric place. There's quite the journey in between, but whenever I reach that vocal sample in The Parable, I feel at peace. It's a really cool spiritual experience, because you feel like you've changed, even if you haven't.
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I actually get what you mean since most of the album if just listened straight away, has many moments like it feels as one song with it just progressing into certain moments. Every song has something similar to each other which gives it that feeling imo and helps the album have a cohesive feeling to it while it being made up by different songs of course. And each song having its climaxes and all.
I also get that spiritual experience you're talking about because the album just feels like it takes you somewhere with each song. Maybe you could say that's why the album is called Language since the language is music telling you and guiding you to places but man this is starting to sound cheesy lol but yeah, just an awesome album and like this direction they have taken.
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I'm pleasantly surprised, because to be honest, I did not like what I heard on Intrinsic. Maybe the band has changed, maybe I have changed, or maybe both have changed. I know they have a new vocalist, but all I can remember Intrinsic was Deathcore-ish grunts and just a lot of songs sounding like the intro to "Language II: Conspire" except worse. At least from what I remember it lacked finesse and melody, whereas the new album is incredibly beautiful and atmospheric, and using the clean vocals more than the harsh vocals really gives the harsh vocals more punch once they are used.
I guess I should go back and re-listen Intrinsic, maybe I'll really like it now.
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I never gave Intrinsic enough listens since too many songs felt samey and didn't just grab me and I just liked Exoplanet more so I need to give Intrinsic a listen as well but I feel confident in saying that Language is the best album they've done so far.
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Fuck yeah. Show tonight.
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I'm jealous.
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In case anyone is interested, I did an interview with Michael Lessard last month on their first show of their tour with Intervals (they did a few shows before and after the recent Periphery tour). Lots of great info about the band in all aspects including Language, the new lineup, last Chance To Reason and More.
I consider Michael a good friend of mine, so i think i was able to get some good info out that normally wouldn't be out there.
Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKZaTg0us-o (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKZaTg0us-o)
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'Language' is fantastic, but it's the first album I've heard by them. Recommendations for their earlier albums?
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'Language' is fantastic, but it's the first album I've heard by them. Recommendations for their earlier albums?
Just go back in order. Intrinsic is amazing as well, and Exoplanet is pretty damn good but my least favorite of the 3.
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I saw them last week in Milan with Protest The Hero, The Safety Fire and Destrage. The vocalist is incredible, the best one I've ever seen live, he sounds even better than on the album. Unfortunately I knew only the songs of the new album and they played only Intuition and Conspire from it.
Primordial Sound is one of the best songs I've listened to this year, but the album is less accessible than that song. I think I have to spin it at least two or three times again to remember something more of the other songs
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I saw them during the tour as well. Too bad they got a short spot (25 minutes?) while Safety Fire got almost a full hour. Safety Fire is supposed to be the bigger band, but Contortionist stole the show with their songwriting.
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After they were on tour with Periphery I heard some good things about these guys, so I checked out 'Language'. Most of it was good, but I wasn't blown away by it. I might check out some of their earlier work soon, because 'Language' still had enough to make me interested. 'Intuition' is a really cool track.
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Just got an e-mail yesterday that these guys are playing 20 mins away from me in six days. I missed them last year with Periphery, so I'm catching this one. I like the two music videos from their latest album and I like what I've read of them in Prog magazine. I still need to really sink my teeth into the full album though. Looking forward to seeing them live.
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Going to see them either tomorrow night or Sunday evening. A little more excited to see Fallujah and Revocation though.
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'Lil necro here to say that the Rediscovered tracks are so fucking gorgeous. Most of the time things like this tend to be nothing more than a retread, but these renditions add a whole lot of nuance to the instrumentals and there's the obvious big vocal change for most of the tracks. I really like Lessard's voice, especially when he's singing...I could honestly take or leave his growls but they get the job done and when in the right moment can be powerful but other than that, a lot of the time (unless I'm just feeling roro-y) I prefer the rediscovered tracks. Really great stuff.
I just got into the band with Language and am hesitant to go back to check out the others but I'm sure I'll get to them eventually, not that there's a lot or anything. I remember hearing Causality a bit a while ago but I was pretty meh on it. Language hit me like a ton of bricks though. I'm really eager to hear more from these guys and when I saw them touring last year they blew me away and I just for some reason never really check 'em out after that (went with a friend who is a big fan), I was kind of whooshed away with other bands that I consider my favorites so they kind of got buried. Definitely will be following them though.
The Parable and Language rediscovered are fucking goose-pimple inducers to the max. Call it my period but watching the video I got a bit choked up on the lines "... and the truth is, I couldn't love you more than I have come to know ... and the truth is, a son is what a mothers for" DEM EMOTIONS DOE!!!
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They just announced a tour date here...here's the kicker. It's the same day as Coheed....ahhh....I'm so sad.
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I would like to give this thread a little bump since I've been listening to The Contortionist quite a bit over the last few days.
I have loved Language for its jazzy/ambient influences and unique atmosphere. The earlier albums were always a little too heavy for me but I am getting into some more harsh music (and vocals) thanks to TesseracT, BTBAM and Meshuggah for about a 1,5 years now.
So the band just released a new beautifully looking vinyl box set. And as some of you may know, I am a sucker for all things limited vinyl and I can't control myself sometimes :-[ And although I only really knew Language, I just decided to order the thing. It arrived on Thursday and let me tell you. This is not a boxset, it's work of art.
I had to drive to Germany from Vienna over the weekend and started listening to the Redux version of Exoplanet, inspired by that beautiful box set and with my newly acquired tolerance towards harsh music/vocals. And what can I say, it is one hell of an album :lol I have never heard the original version and I don't think I want to because the keys fit perfectly!
And thoughts on this band and their albums?
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I absolutely love Clairvoyant, a masterpiece. Slowly getting into their older stuff but always end up playing Clairvoyant again lol
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I discovered The Contortionist when Language came out and quickly bought the first 2 records as well. Language is an amazing record! I enjoy all their records, but Language is definitely my favorite. Hope they have some new stuff in the works soon.
I have yet to see them live, but I did see Michael Lessard in his previous band, Last Chance to Reason, when they opened for Intronaut years ago.