The Contortionist is a progressive death metal band from Indianapolis which formed in early 2007. Their latest album “Intrinsic” is divided in ten songs full of heavy riffs, growls, atmospheric ambient parts and great technical skills. But is the Contortionist worth a listen in the swarm of new bands and new releases nowadays?
Their first album “Exoplanet” was released in 2010 and since then they have created a steadily growing fan base. “Intrinsic” makes the sound the band wants to follow clearer.
In “Exoplanet” there were a few Jazz touches that are more imminent now in “Intrinsic” in songs like “Holomovement” and “Geocentric Confusion”. The downside from those touches is that the listener must remain focused not to lose the patterns. If not the listen could end up being tiring and confusing.
There are some nods to math-core elements but fortunately the band manages to keep a steady rhythm between heavy grinding and melancholic atmospheres. “Intrinsic” is a good mix between At The Gates and Anathema.
Throughout the ten songs the band tries to find balance between brutality and melody but without adding any new elements to the norm that bands like Opeth made famous.
All in all the answer to the first question is yes. A big fat yes to be exact. The Contortionist have built a sound that they can rely on and grow as a band. In my opinion “Intrinsic” is a bit better than “Exoplanet” and it creates higher standards for their next release.
