The Contortionist - Exoplanet (2010)

This might well be my album of 2010. That’s saying something. It’s pretty disturbing how small-time the Contortionist are when they make music quite as amazing as the stuff you’ll find on Exoplanet. I mean, they don’t even have a Wikipedia page! (Well, not yet, anyway).

They’ve often been given the label ‘deathcore’, which I suppose is fair enough; They have all the traits of contemporary deathcore; death metal vocals, heavy open chord breakdowns, etc. But this new album is so much more innovative. There’s a hint of influences from some of the new-era djent bands (Periphery and the gang) but they make a sound that is completely their own.

There is still pummelling breakdowns like their old albums, but there is also a lot of melody. They’ve become one of an elite bunch of deathcore bands that aren’t dependent on a breakdown to make a song memorable (though the one in ‘Vessel’ is particularly awesome). They’re just part of the package: The juxtaposition of throat ripping apocalyptic doom breakdown and happy days sweep picking is something that rarely works to the extent that 'The Contortionist' have managed.

There have been hints of their potential from the start: Songs such as ‘Nonmanual Dexterity’ from their 2008 Demo ‘Shapeshifter’, to the original recording of ‘Oscillator’ on their 2009 album ‘Apparation’ (the song is recorded to a slightly better quality and some changes are made on the new album). However it’s not been until the release of Exoplanet that the full potential of the Contortionist has been realised.

This is never more true than in the 13 minute, 3 part epic found at the end of the record. Going from Between the Buried and Me-esque cleans and general happiness to more than enough brutality in a progressive journey that leaves you just wanting to go back and listen again and again... and again. However each and every song is standalone and each and every song has progression so rare in deathcore, or any genre in fact.

Seriously keeping an eye out for any new material to come from these guys: if they can hold it together they have a very bright future ahead of them. Don’t miss out.

10/10


1. Primal Directive
2. Flourish
3. Expire
4. Contact
5. Advent
6. Vessel
7. Oscilator
8. Axiom
9. Exoplanet I - Egress
10.Exoplanet II - Void
11.Exoplanet III - Light


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