Band: Contrarian
Album: Only Time Will Tell
Label: Willowtip Records
Genre: Progressive/Technical Death
Release Date: 20 November 2020
The progressive label tends to get poked at within the metal community a little unfairly at times I feel. "Oh, it's geek music," you might say, or, "only nerds listen to prog metal," others might say. While that may be true to an extent, (cough - D.T. - cough) Contrarian are here to set the record straight that thinking man's metal can be geeky AND slam your face into the wall.
If you're new to Contrarian let this next bit serve as an introduction. The band is comprised of like-minded musicians that all have the same idea of what modern death metal can and should sound like. Organic yet forward-thinking, Contrarian uses the best of the past for the bedrock on which to build their modern sound. Jim Tasikas and Brian Mason wield the guitars, Bill Bodily is on bass detail, Bryce Butler on skins and finally Cody McConnell croons ever so sweetly into your ears.
Only Time starts off with a Cynic-esque passage that gets your blood pumping. Mind-bending sweeps and arpeggios from Tasikas and Mason pollute the record whilst Butler masterfully erects a massive wall of sound with his grooves and fills - but knowing that oftentimes less is more when it comes to the blast-beats. Bodily might be one of the better bass pickers I've heard in a long while, and McConnel consistently shines throughout on the record. The music is remarkably natural-sounding, not a lot of studio gloss that is often present.
If you've been craving some 90's style death in your life I'd highly recommend getting some Contrarian in your ear holes.