Language (The Contortionist album)
Language represents the third full-length album by the American progressive metal ensemble The Contortionist, released on September 16, 2014, under the labels eOne Music and Good Fight Entertainment. This record introduces Michael Lessard, formerly of Last Chance to Reason, as the new lead vocalist following Jonathan Carpenter's departure. Upon release, the album entered the Billboard 200 chart at position 52, secured the #6 spot on the Hard Rock chart, and reached #15 on the Rock chart.
Background
The songwriting process commenced in January 2014, with the band regularly updating fans through social media platforms. By April, they had begun tracking at The Basement Recording Studio alongside producer Jamie King. Recording sessions wrapped up by late April, with the group expressing high satisfaction with the outcome.
On June 26, details regarding the album title and release date were made public, accompanied by a teaser released on June 30. Comprehensive information—including cover art, tracklist, and pre-order packages—was unveiled on July 9. The lead single, "Language I: Intuition," was launched on iTunes on July 14, followed by its music video debuting on August 26 via Alternative Press. The second single, "Primordial Sound," premiered on MetalSucks.net on September 2.
Rediscovered edition
A special "Rediscovered" edition was issued on November 24, 2015, featuring four reimagined tracks alongside four live session videos. Keyboardist Eric Guenther described this edition as an artistic progression inspired by their live performances: "We want these songs to continue their evolution and life." Vocalist Michael Lessard noted that this rerelease provides listeners with a renewed experience after extensive touring.
The videos accompanying the rediscovered songs were directed by Erez Bader, engineered by John Douglass, and mixed and mastered by Jamie King. The live session video for "Language (Rediscovered)" was uploaded to YouTube on December 15, 2015 through eOneMusicUS.
Critical reception
Language achieved a peak position of #52 on the Billboard 200 and garnered significant praise within Progressive Metal communities.
Jeff Stevens from Prog Metal Zone commended the album for its fusion of intricate heaviness with progressive melodies and elements of jazz fusion, describing it as "one of the most exciting and sophisticated approaches in modern metal." Chris Grenville of The Monolith singled out tracks two and three as delivering "ten of the best minutes of progressive songwriting I’ve heard all year," likening their dynamic shifts and vocal intensity to those of Cynic.
Weid Reitz at This is Not A Scene considered this release’s song arrangements and sonic clarity superior to previous works. Chris Kemp from The Circle Pit highlighted the band's capacity to "lead the way for an entire genre," forecasting that this album would elevate them beyond just the prog metal scene. Stefan Andonov of Djent Mag lauded the album’s philosophical themes, particularly its focus on metaphysics and communication.
Personnel
- The Contortionist
- Joey Baca – drums
- Robby Baca – guitar, bass
- Jordan Eberhardt – bass solo on "Thrive"
- Eric Guenther – keyboards
- Michael Lessard – vocals
- Cameron Maynard – guitar
- Production
- Jamie King – engineering, mixing, mastering
- Bobby Jeffries – art direction, design
Charts
| Chart (2014) | Highest ranking |
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