Top Metal Albums of 2010 - Number 1

The Contortionist - "Exoplanet" 

From the moment I started playing the song "Flourish" from The Contortionist's label debut I knew I was going to love the band. I just didn't know how much I would like the music. To the untrained ear Iron Thrones may sound like the same band and its true their styles are very similar. Both progressive metal, both use heavy and light elements, Both structure their songs very well. The Contortionist just do it in a much better way.

The album starts with the song "Primal Directive" and it might be the most perfect song that's ever started an album. I was glad they decided not to go for the "Intro" route since too many bands take advantage of this mainstay that don't understand that an intro is to prepare the listener for what they will be listening to, not some stupid line from a movie you like." Primal Directive" lays out the formula that the band uses for a good deal of "Exoplanet" it also has a awesome "breakdown". It then blasts into "Flourish" which is by far my favorite song on the album and my favorite song of the year. "Flourish" shows you the talent that the band has, it also is the greatest in extremes of hard and mellow and at times is truly beautiful in both. "Expire" is a nonstop attach of brutality. Which is brought back down with "Contact", which is a more rock style tune. The tracks continue on in a path of greatness. Some of the highlights being the instrumental track "Axiom" and the three part track "exoplanet"

The album is a concept album with heavy sci fi influences. It also borrows tracks from the bands self released effort "Apparition" an album in which the band had a different singer. The new singer rewrote the lyrics for the songs they used to make them his own but also to improve and give flare to the already excellent songs. He also wanted the songs to fit better in a live setting. Which from what I've read and heard over the interwebs is a great show.

This album is more than deserving to be at the top spot. If you've not given this album a listen, then just go buy it. Seriously, don't even listen to it, just buy it. Its so good it would be impossible for you to disagree.

The Contortionist - "Flourish"


The Contortionist - "Contact"


The Contortionist - "Axiom"