Customer Ratings & Reviews

I like this record a lot (and doesn't all this stuff come down to personal taste anyway?). I particularly like progressive rock/metal bands because the best of them keep the music very interesting. I also like a profound sense of melody (in any musical genre), especially in the lead vocals (if vocals are present). I don't particularly like the screaming and growling style of vocals that have found their way into many contemporary metal records, including those of the progressive ilk. On this new release by The Contortionist, "Clairvoyant", they meet all my preferences in this kind of music. However, on their previous release, they did as well.. But they also had quite a bit of the screamo/gutteral type vocals, which is one of the reasons I can't really listen to much that previous release. On "Clairvoyant" though, they've pretty much done away with the screamo/growling vocals, but maintained the masterful musicianship, melodic sensibilities, compelling messages and interesting musical arrangements. They are particularly good at melding various odd time signatures together between the guitars and drums. They also tend to have very ethereal sounding lead vocals over aggressive rhythms as well. These aforementioned elements in their sound may collectively be the trademark of their sound. Besides being melodically accessible and musically interesting, the messages have substance as well. If you like everything I just described, you will like this record a lot and it will prove to be a satisfying listen time and time again. But then that's what great progressive metal records are all about anyway.

Been following The Contortionist since the early days and always loved the sense of melody they were able to lace over their slamming technical compositions. As time has gone on, their sound evolved away from what I'd have called "melodic deathcore" into an arguably safe progressive rock sound. Despite this change, the band continues to deliver the same ingenious sense of melody over everything they do. "Clairvoyant" is an exceptional piece of music, and I would recommend it to anyone looking to step away from the world for an hour and get lost in the sound of music.

This album is a natural progression from Language. I loved them before Language but I look at that as a completely different band at this point and not just because of the newer singer. On Clairvoyant they have mostly abandoned the screaming and I can't say I miss it because this album is flawless.

Ohhh what a nice cover and of course the music!!!!