EP Extravaganza! Episode 1: Ouroboros (Featuring Wormed/Elder/The Contortionist)

Welcome to the very first EP Extravaganza!, where I, PMMetalGuide, will highlight three extended plays that have been released at some point this year and take a more brief--yet critical--view of releases from artists holding the highest record contracts to the penniless Bandcamp bedroom projects. This format is merely for experimentation currently, and the normal reviews are not going away. This week, an EP was released that I felt would not constitute a full review, so I had the brilliant idea to make a compilation piece of other EPs in order to create a full post. Now that logistics are out of the way, let's jump right into Episode 1: Ouroboros!

Metaportal - Wormed

Stereogum's 'The 40 Best Metal Albums of 2016' opened my eyes as a less seasoned metal listener. The vast amount of albums from bands I had not heard was breathtaking; so much quality metal music and I had missed basically all of it! As I was grinding through the list, I came across the brutal monstrosity that is Krighsu, Wormed's release from that year, and I was blasted with the most destructive space-themed technical death metal my puny mind could conceive. The rapid-fire drums complimented the excellent dissonant riffage performed by the guitars, and the pig-squeal vocals were among the most merciless I had heard. The mere technicality of this band was then a force to be reckoned with, and still is, with their newest release, Metaportal.

This group’s 2019 release comes after the tragic passing of their drummer G-Calero (RIP), but the newest member of the band, V-Kazar, holds his own for sure. The 16 minute EP flies by, with one song after another bringing savage and almost inhuman performances from every member of the band. Phlegeton's vocals scream about terrifying cosmic entities, Migueloud's guitars create abrasive and churning riffs and although previously mentioned, though never to be forgotten, the drum performance is absurd. The talent that must be possessed to play drums in a technical death metal band truly amazes me. While each track is perfect at highlighting the  aspects of Wormed’s sound (and that of the brutal/tech death genre as a whole), 'Remote Void' and 'E-Xystem://Ce' are my favorite examples, the first being easily the most brutal and the latter showcasing their more melodic side. Each one of these songs sounds like a ferocious space battle, where aliens are boarding human ships left and right, to then devour all of those inside. Though derivative and somewhat formulaic, Wormed is able to once again blast full force into the cosmos, and into our death metal-loving hearts as well. 

The Gold & Silver Sessions - Elder

Doom metal and most of its subgenres are so appealing for a variety of reasons; perhaps the first true genre of metal, thanks to Black Sabbath, it has always struck a chord with me as a listener. Everything from epic doom to funeral doom, I just can't stop loving it. Stoner doom falls nicely into this category as well, and with such standout bands like Electric Wizard and Sleep, the subgenre is concretely defined. Elder is a fantastic band that has emerged from this scene, and to widespread critical acclaim. Their 2017 release Reflections of a Floating World was one of the best albums of that year, with their beautifully fuzzy mixture of psychedelic doom metal and progressive rock instantly hooking me and forcing me to repeatedly get lost in thier monolithic jams. 

The Boston-based three-piece have now returned with a 3-song EP known as The Gold & Silver Sessions, and have switched up their sound since their last album. Where RoaFW was much heavier in tone and more closely resembled doom metal in the form of songwriting, TG&SS is leaps and bounds closer to a pure progressive/psychedelic rock album. Dialing down the fuzz and focusing on more stoner melodies helps the band create a sonic high that puts the listener in an almost drug-induced trance. The monolithic 'Weißensee' stands a lengthy eighteen and a half and is easily the best at showcasing this change in tone. What also becomes apparent on repeated listens to this album, is the vibe that this album feels similar to a jam session, with no vocals and only riffs upon riffs. Whether this type of style fits your fancy or not, Elder kills it; their chemistry together as performers is almost perfected at this point, with not a dull minute in the entire 33-minute track length. While I do enjoy doom-focused Elder, this style lends perfectly to their talents, with The Gold & Silver Sessions being an exceptionally strong release that will satiate us until their 2020 album.

Our Bones - The Contortionist

I have mentioned this in previous articles, but a band evolving their sound is a scary thing for everyone involved; the band, their label, and maybe most important, their fans. If the group is taking a risk in their sound, I say go for it. An artist experimenting and stepping out of their comfort zone is one of the most important factors in challenging both their musical ability and songwriting talent. While artistic exploration is certainly important, most bands (particularly in metal) have a sonic aesthetic that they are known for and a sound their fanbase resonates with. 

Drastic change in sonic output can often be a cause for worry in the hands of many artists, but The Contortionist are one of the few groups who have completely eradicated that possible sense of doubt.

This Indianapolis-based progressive metal band already evolved into what they are on their last two albums, 2014's Language and 2017's Clairvoyant. While both of their first two albums, 2010's Exoplanet and 2012's Intrinsic, had sweeping melodic sections and beautiful synth passages, the progressive deathcore sound was distinctly their own. As time went on, the band's sound has grown closer to that of an atmospheric prog rock group with strong metal and post rock influences. This has only enhanced their songwriting and performances on their most recent releases, as the band’s style and songwriting trends fit perfectly in this interesting genre bubble. Language was somewhat rocky in terms of a transition, as they had not let go of their deathcore roots, but Clairvoyant was the perfect representation of the band's evolution, with each song bringing territory that had not been explored by the band before. That 2017 release was one of my favorites of that year and for good reason. Therefore, if The Contortionist already cemented their sound on their last album, what could they do next?  

Our Bones is the newest release from The Contortionist, and it could be their strongest release to date. A mere 14 minutes is able to completely captivate and awe listeners due to the near perfect performances and songwriting chops on display. Tracks 'Follow' and 'Early Grave' show both sides of The Contortionist, the first showcasing an evolution to their heavier side, complete with the rare Mike Lessard harsh vocal to boot, and the second following a similar, yet breathtaking approach to their Clairvoyant-era sound. 'Follow' struck me initially as very similar to a Northlane track, with the bass-heavy melodic prog and melodic metalcore-esque vocals reminding me particularly of that bands 2017 album, Mesmer. These aspects help define this as a true oddball in the band's discography; it has many aspects of both of TC's other sounds, but still invents a new style that the band can use in their future music. 'Early Grave' feels like a B-side from their most recent album, however, it is easily one of their best songs in this style. The guitars crunch and create beautiful melodies that build to a beautiful climax towards the end of the song, reminding us of how special and brilliant the sound of this band is. 'Early Grave' reinforces their newer sound, while 'Follow' both returns to prior influences and introduces new ones, and makes an amazing start to this 4-track release.     

'All Grey' is a concise and beautiful piano and vocal-driven track, with Eric and Mike performing a duet between instrumentation and mellow tenor. The keyboards ascend and descend intervals with melodic ease and the atmosphere ending the track bleeds beautifully into the next and final cut; the band’s cover of The Smashing Pumpkin's iconic '1979'. An absolutely stunning rendition, with Mike's amazing vocal performance easily outshining Corgan’s nasally tenor which marred many of the Pumpkin’s greatest tunes. Overall, the track is performed with breathtaking magnificence and grace that only The Contortionist's sound could create. A fantastic rendition of one of the classic 90's hits, and one that slots in perfectly amongst the band’s newer style.

Once again, The Contortionist has delivered an amazing progressive metal release that continues to push boundaries in the modern music scene. It is always a pleasure to hear what this band has to offer, and it makes me even more excited for their next full length. My only complaint is that I wish it were longer. Check this out if you haven't.

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You can purchase all of these releases from their respective websites, or from their Bandcamp pages listed below. 

-Wormed

-Elder

-The Contortionist