The Contortionist - Clairvoyant Review



The Contortionist - Clairvoyant 
Released - September 15th, 2017
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Formed in 2007, The Contortionist has come a long way from their early deathcore sound. It wasn't until 2010 that they had released their first studio album. While this wasn't exactly The Contortionist we have come to love today, it built the platform for the band to enhance their style. To be more technical, creative, and melodic. As seen on 2014's Language. 


Long gone are the screams and fast paced shreds. Now we are left with atmospheric vocals and beautiful guitar riffs. But honestly is this a bad thing? Maybe to hardcore fans who loved their early sound. But Language was the band evolving and growing. Clairvoyant is the product of that growth. Shown above, The Contortionist's first single, Reimagined, takes a page from Language and puts the vocals on steroids. So strong yet beautiful. The atmosphere is infectious.



Now where I praise the album, I must point out one of its flaws. I did feel like the bass was lacking in the album. There was points where it did feel nonexistent and it is unfortunate because some of the songs on Language had perfect bass lines. I can only hope they fix this on the next release. But its not something that's totally necessary to make the next album good. I really feel like Jonathan Carpenter has to be proud of the way his old band has evolved since he gave the keys to Mike Lessard.



Like Language, the songs are longer and more strewn out which I give credit where its due, I really feel like this allowed them to create more of a relaxing and atmospheric feel for the songs. Where in regular songs, you have three to four minutes to verse, chorus, bridge and jam. Now within 6+ minutes, The Contortionist allows the instrumentals to play out and give you an almost addictive feel to how they intertwine together the beauty of the vocals and the aesthetic instrumentals. Really creating an experience for the ears to enjoy. 

While I must admit, I wasn't as pleased with this album as I was with Language but it truly was a tough act to follow. I only see them improving on their flaws and perfecting their sound. The Contortionist truly is one of the most talented group of guys in our generation and we shouldn't take it for granted. Check out the album and support it. 

OVERALL RATING: 8.5

BAND LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/thecontortionist/
TheContortonistYoutubeChannel

MY LINKS:  
https://www.instagram.com/downtownmusicmountain/
https://twitter.com/DowntownMusicMt

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