Album Review (Language - The Contortionist)

Language - The Contortionist

 Language is the third studio album from The Contortionist but the first album to feature Michael Lessard (of Last Chance to Reason) as the vocalist. The Contortionist are a progressive metal band from Indianapolis, The Contortionist formed in '07 and have swiftly found recognition for their atmospheric and experimental sound. The Contortionist are currently signed with E1 records.

 Notable Tracks

 Language I: Intuition - Intuition is the first single released from the album and with good reason. Intuition opens with a soft guitar riff that builds steadily with added percussion and backing rhythm. At the 1:15 mark the track explodes into its full potential with vocals and more percussion. The vocal style used utilizes layers with a harsh background layer with a more melodic layer on top. Towards the 4:15 the track gets a lot heavier with a slow breakdown and harder riff, the tempo slowly increases from this point until the track ends and leads into the second part.

 Language II: Conspire - Conspire is the second and heavier part of the Language two-piece. Conspire opens with some heavily palm muted notes and slowly builds into a deep melody. Conspire features a more prominent harsh vocal style throughout and overall just heavier approach towards the start. At the 2:45 mark the vocals mellow into a more melodic style that compliment the instrumentals well. Towards the end of the track the layers build and build until they dissipate for the finish.    

 Integration - Unlike the mathematical function, Integration is far from boring and tedious. Integration starts with a funky keyboard intro with a slowly build bass line. Guitars are added to the mix. At the minute mark the vocals kick in with a melodic tone, the vocals on this track are echoed at times adding immensely to the atmosphere of the track. The bass line from the intro continues throughout the track while the other instrumentals evolve around in. Towards 3:45 the track get a lot heavier with the volume being thrown up to max and the vocals getting a load more deeper. 

 Primordial Sound - Primordial Sound is the second single from the album. Primordial Sounds starts immediately vocals that soon stop and make way for a purely dynamic instrumental. After a minute vocals begin again  for a short time before they stop again. The main riff for the track sounds more like a scale with an inquisitive tone to it. Towards 3:15 the vocals take a more death metal style that works surprisingly well, the vocals soon return back to a more melodic tone. Leading up to the finish of the track, it take a more sci-fi sound with cosmic like sounds until it slowly fades out.

 Arise - Arise starts more like a rock take with vocals and audible lyrics, the main riff for this track is complex and sounds awesome and is impossible not to close your eyes to it for the first time it enters your ears. Arise takes an overall faster pace than previous tracks that adds to the diversity on the album. At 2:30 the track gets heavier with the harsher vocals on the album yet and a schizophrenic guitar riff to match. Arise is a relatively short track compared to the runtimes of other tracks on the album but still manages to squeeze in the familiar Contortionist complexity

 After more than a few playthroughs, it is clear to see the Language is a contender for best album of the year. Language is immensely atmospheric but each track is unique enough to be told apart. Each track is incredibly detailed, so much so that every listen through a notice a different instrument in the mix. If you are thinking about buying this album then don't hesitate in doing so because this album is truly awesome or for more dramatic effect, inspires awe.

 To round off, here is the video for the first single from the album, Language I: Intuition (video linked here for mobile users)