EP REVIEW: Our Bones – The Contortionist

THE CONTORTIONIST have always been something of a musical rubix cube, a multi-faced, ever shifting riddle that becomes ever more difficult to solve as the years and releases fly by. Two years on from their last full length, the American titans have returned armed with a concise EP, Our Bones, and are set to continue their mind-bending concoction of challenging progressive bravura. Although likely intended as filler between albums, Our Bones demonstrates a contemporary version of THE CONTORTIONIST, despite its short run time. ‘Quality not quantity’ is an age old adage for good reason, and while mapping out the EP, this philosophy was clearly high on the agenda for the band.

Over the course of about fifteen minutes, we are treated to three new tracks and also a cover of 1979 by cult icons SMASHING PUMPKINS. The first of which is Follow, an angry number that allows an outburst of angst to emerge. As expected from THE CONTORTIONIST, this rage is tackled in good taste. Front man Mike Lessard keeps a lid on what could easily become unbridled aggression, instead opting to refine his vocal performance and save his gnarlier screams for when they really count. Most of the time, the singing is tuneful, and conveys the lyrical matter fluidly. Instrumentally, we don’t see THE CONTORTIONIST at their most technically creative. Perhaps in later passages things get a little trippier, but for the most part, hooky riffs bring a moody texture, and Joey Baca allows his drum arrangements to drag the song along with a certain bounce.

Early Grave is an encapsulating listen, showcasing the band at their most refined. We hear lavish solos cut through the mix, riffs that sound equally entangling through heavy and soft sections, and more intermittent screams amidst Lessard‘s soaring vocal. It is a serene juxtaposition against the first track, and once we have listened through the key driven All Grey, it becomes apparent that the EP is a good benchmark for what THE CONTORTIONIST is in 2019, and the direction they might be taking. The shorter formula works well, but does not appeal in the same way as some of their more ambitious, eclectic work.

But they are not a band prepared to slip into a comfort zone. The 1979 cover is a nice finishing touch, but primarily the first three tracks are well written and well balanced. Unlikely to do much more than whet the appetite for a lengthier release, Our Bones is a welcome aperitif, and a lively reminder that THE CONTORTIONIST are still well worth our attention.

Rating: 7/10

Our Bones is set for release August 9th via eOne.

Like THE CONTORTIONIST on Facebook.