Contrarian – Polemic
While I’m not entirely sure if Contrarian are a studio project or a “proper” band that’s going to tour they bloody well should because this album is amazing!
Contrarian are a somewhat supergroup for want of a better term comprising of members of Delirium Endeavor, Mithras, Goemagot and notably the almighty George Kollias of Nile on drums. The band plays a spacey, melodic, progressive yet equally brutal kind of Death Metal. The sound and whole feel of the album perfectly complements the album cover, there’s loads going on. A little too much to take in on first glance but it’s intriguing and once all reveals itself you can view the whole thing and be in awe of its massive scope. Things are actually summed up nicely in the opening title track, the heaviness and the wonderful melody during its chorus. The fantastic musicianship on display. Take another track like 'Foreknowledge' in under 5 minutes you are taken from one end of the musical spectrum to the other. Starting out with this beautiful melodic introduction and it kicks in with this hail of brutality. One thing that has to be pointed out is that as melodic as this album gets it never takes away from the heaviness. Vocalist Cody McConnell makes sure of that with some of the deepest grunts you’re likely to hear. Later on there is a quiet passage where there is some breath taking guitar and lead solo work, now my two all time favorite guitar solos are Kirk Hammet’s during "Master Of Puppets" and Chuck Schuldiner/Paul Masvidal on 'Secret Face' by Death and the solo work in this track is up there with those two tracks for me. Again I come back to the album artwork but this album sounds like the soundtrack to an awesome Sci-fi epic which really is the best way to describe it! At 32 minutes it leaves you wanting more and begs repeated listens, with this type of music it could easily have been this overblown, over long, prog piece of crap but the song and album length is nicely constrained doing exactly what it needs to do and nothing more. We are even treated to a nifty cover of Death’s 'Nothing Is Everything' which is never a bad thing!
If you love later era Death, and you like spaced out progressive death metal you are sure to love this. It’s a shame this came out in November and I’ve only just been made aware of it now because this would have made my top ten of last year. This is a wonderful album!
Contrarian are a somewhat supergroup for want of a better term comprising of members of Delirium Endeavor, Mithras, Goemagot and notably the almighty George Kollias of Nile on drums. The band plays a spacey, melodic, progressive yet equally brutal kind of Death Metal. The sound and whole feel of the album perfectly complements the album cover, there’s loads going on. A little too much to take in on first glance but it’s intriguing and once all reveals itself you can view the whole thing and be in awe of its massive scope. Things are actually summed up nicely in the opening title track, the heaviness and the wonderful melody during its chorus. The fantastic musicianship on display. Take another track like 'Foreknowledge' in under 5 minutes you are taken from one end of the musical spectrum to the other. Starting out with this beautiful melodic introduction and it kicks in with this hail of brutality. One thing that has to be pointed out is that as melodic as this album gets it never takes away from the heaviness. Vocalist Cody McConnell makes sure of that with some of the deepest grunts you’re likely to hear. Later on there is a quiet passage where there is some breath taking guitar and lead solo work, now my two all time favorite guitar solos are Kirk Hammet’s during "Master Of Puppets" and Chuck Schuldiner/Paul Masvidal on 'Secret Face' by Death and the solo work in this track is up there with those two tracks for me. Again I come back to the album artwork but this album sounds like the soundtrack to an awesome Sci-fi epic which really is the best way to describe it! At 32 minutes it leaves you wanting more and begs repeated listens, with this type of music it could easily have been this overblown, over long, prog piece of crap but the song and album length is nicely constrained doing exactly what it needs to do and nothing more. We are even treated to a nifty cover of Death’s 'Nothing Is Everything' which is never a bad thing!
If you love later era Death, and you like spaced out progressive death metal you are sure to love this. It’s a shame this came out in November and I’ve only just been made aware of it now because this would have made my top ten of last year. This is a wonderful album!
- Polemic
- Need For Apathy
- Retrieval
- Foreknowledge
- Predestined
- Libertarian Manifesto
- Diogenes At Delphi
- Nothing Is Everything (cover Death)
Self released
Reviewer: twansibon
Jan 29, 2016
Jan 29, 2016
Next review:
Bombs Of Hades - Death Mask Replica
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