AtDawnTheySquee and RD92 are making reviews, so I feel as though I want to take a stab at this as well and review one of my favorite albums of 2010. You read the title, you know what you're in for, let's go.

Deathcore is a genre where the very same-y nature of many of the bands in it has been a deterrent for many; one-note breakdowns, extremely repetitive song structures, et cetera. However, there is an exception to every conceived notion in music such as this. This is where The Contortionist comes in and delivers "Exoplanet," deathcore's breath of fresh air.

Yes, they incorporate chugga-chugga nuances countless times. Sure, they give in to the "br00tality" now and then. But the way it's done on this album is much different. The combination of these ideas with surpirisngly progressive concepts inspired by bands such as Meshuggah (that djent-y tone, if you will) and The Acacia Strain, as well as spaced out lyricism ("The rebirth of intelligent life will restore this planet's cosmic status / As the surface draws into focus, every variance and nuance realized" from the second song on here, "Flourish," for example) creates an atmosphere very akin to floating in nothingness, looking down on Earth; much like the cover of the record displays.

This mood is owed largely to this band's guitarists, Robby Baca and Cameron Maynard, who play some extremely angular riffs all over this album, and pull of some incredibly technical lines every now and then. Jonathan Carpenter's vocals and keyboards also blend into the sound of this album when they need to.

It doesn't just stop at the heaviness of it all, however; "Exoplanet" displays an incredible sense of harmony and beauty when it needs to, such as the "you have been defined" refrain of "Primal Directive" or the post-rock midsection of "Flourish," and there's even an acoustic guitar interlude in the track "Axiom."

And of course, there's the trilogy at the very end of this entire experience, named after the record itself. What needs to be said about this above all else is that The Contortionist really saved the best for last. The pacing of these three tracks and the motifs introduced and re-introduced make the cohesion second to none.

"Exoplanet" is one of those albums whose presence in modern metal music is absolutely essential. It's a far cry from the vast majority of Suicide Silences and I Declare Wars who hold so much power over the deathcore scene. If you will, this is one of the genre's diamonds in the rough, and a must have for any metal enthusiast looking for something new.

9/10

That's it for review #1. If there's an album you want my opinion on, let me know.