Composer/Musician Reacts to The Contortionist - Flourish (REACTION!!!)

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  • Опубліковано 27 чер 2024
  • Bryan reacts to and talks about his thoughts on The Contortionist "Flourish"
    ORIGINAL VIDEO // • The Contortionist "Flo...
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 112

  • @MrSilentj16
    @MrSilentj16 3 роки тому +49

    Their newer stuff is probably more up your alley. Contortionist - Clairvoyant is a great tune of their latest album.

    • @tmayne220
      @tmayne220 3 роки тому +1

      beat me to it...

  • @andrewbud
    @andrewbud 3 роки тому +40

    Language is where you'll find the contrast. They blend the heavy with the serene and beautiful, and it's generally recognized as their masterpiece. The album after Languge, Clairvoyant, largely does away with the heaviness in favour of relatively simple, but arresting melodies and compositions. Clairvoyant is their most emotionally potent work, but Language has the blend you're looking for.

    • @480borat
      @480borat 3 роки тому +3

      Language? Their masterpiece? Hardly. It's a close race between Intrinsic/Exoplanet holding onto that title. The moment John Carpenter left The Contortionist, that band began to die. Language was good, but did not come close to touching the brilliance of their prior work.

    • @lanidrac
      @lanidrac 2 роки тому +1

      @@480borat agreed

  • @Alyzvettema
    @Alyzvettema 3 роки тому +5

    When this came out I remember my boyfriend at the time said the middle melodic piece of this song described how he felt about me through music and I stills cannot listen to it without crying

  • @kuneefay
    @kuneefay 3 роки тому +9

    Spiritbox // Constance, such a special track.

  • @justynsullivan507
    @justynsullivan507 3 роки тому +6

    The Contortionist is one of the best bands. Ever. Saw them back in February and my brain melted. Definitely check out some newer stuff from them.

    • @swingonthespiral
      @swingonthespiral 3 роки тому

      I had tickets to them, haken, and Devon townsend but covid cancelled that =/. Was especially hyped for Haken

    • @justynsullivan507
      @justynsullivan507 3 роки тому

      @@swingonthespiral dude I’m sorry to hear that. That was the same tour I saw them on. I was lucky enough to see them like a week or two before the shutdown.

  • @tylerpd52
    @tylerpd52 3 роки тому +8

    They change so much, check out Oscillator live, Geocentric Confusion live, Thrive, Clairvoyant, Early Grave, just to find out how much they've changed

    • @tylerpd52
      @tylerpd52 3 роки тому

      Here you go ua-cam.com/video/7SLrUrONf-A/v-deo.html

    • @tylerpd52
      @tylerpd52 3 роки тому

      And another good one
      ua-cam.com/video/1_eW2zBqd7k/v-deo.html

  • @reguba3534
    @reguba3534 3 роки тому +21

    You checked out Language by them last time. This was with their first vocalist when they were much heavier and techy, and with their new vocalist they've gone further into the atmospheric side. I'm a particular fan of Clairvoyant, even though they ditch screams entirely on that album. I'd highly recommend The Center, Absolve or Return to Earth, if you ever get the chance to check them out again

    • @reguba3534
      @reguba3534 3 роки тому

      Side note: saw this song live right before the pandemic, and compared to the rest of the show I thought I might die on the edge of the pit. Cool experience

    • @ProgPro96
      @ProgPro96 3 роки тому +2

      For some reason I'm just finding out now that Mike wasn't their vocalist the whole time lol. He absolutely kills this song live though.

    • @reguba3534
      @reguba3534 3 роки тому

      @@ProgPro96 He really does

    • @carlostaffanelly418
      @carlostaffanelly418 3 роки тому

      just one thing to note about Clairvoyant: there are actually screams on that album, they're just deep in the vocal layers, particularly on the title track and Reimagined. though it is still my favorite album from them, lack of screams included

    • @reguba3534
      @reguba3534 3 роки тому

      @@carlostaffanelly418 Yeah I've definitely heard the screams on Clairvoyant, didn't know they were on Reimagined though. I did see a video tutorial thing Michael did where he added screams to Reimagined, but I thought they weren't on the actual track for some reason

  • @AliothSenator
    @AliothSenator 3 роки тому +4

    'Intrinsic' is way ahead of its time. It's super complex, a big clusterfuck of poly metrics and crazy, unusual vocal harmonies. I think is by far their most imaginative work, ofter overlooked by the sheer density of the songs. The downside? Mixing sucks.

  • @drauth
    @drauth 3 роки тому +21

    You've actually reacted to them once before, I think you reacted to their song "Language I". I think you'd find a lot of value in returning to that song, and the group as a whole. They started off as progressive deathcore with the album this song came from, "Exoplanet". With each album their sound has evolved, and now they're much closer to prog rock than prog deathcore. They changed vocalists on their 3rd album, so you might notice a significant shift from then onwards.
    There are people in this comment section who will recommend tons of stuff from them, but I'd just recommend one song from each album for a sense of their progression.

    • @denniskipp4350
      @denniskipp4350 3 роки тому +12

      He needs to listen tolanguage again but with part 2.

    • @drauth
      @drauth 3 роки тому +2

      @@denniskipp4350 Agreed! It would introduce a lot of the contrast he was looking for

    • @billybobthekidiswack
      @billybobthekidiswack 3 роки тому +1

      they was a progressive deathcore band way before this album. They had 3 Ep's before this album and flourish is a remake of a song called "eyes closed" in a previous ep and the famous flourish solo was a remake from a song called "nonmanual dexterity" which is from a even older ep.

    • @samsavage712
      @samsavage712 3 роки тому +1

      @@billybobthekidiswack Plus it was pretty much all written while they were in high school too lol

    • @zyklqrswx
      @zyklqrswx 3 роки тому

      this

  • @nickhaas9185
    @nickhaas9185 3 роки тому +3

    The Contortionist- Geocentric Confusion and Vessel for their old sound
    Language 1 & 2 and Reimagined for their new stuff
    p.s. They get softer with each album

  • @EthanRadell
    @EthanRadell 3 роки тому +5

    Please dive deep in to these guys. Amazing band. Their new singer is one of my favorites. They change sounds every album so you will never get bored. You would love Language and Clairvoyant. Those are absolute masterpieces. Just prepare yourself before listening to clairvoyant, it can get pretty heavy on the heart.

    • @EthanRadell
      @EthanRadell 3 роки тому

      react to monochrome (Pensive) but i also wanna say you should listen to the whole clairvoyant album first since its the last song and it needs context to fully understand imo its the last song on the album and its insane

  • @trowabarton222
    @trowabarton222 3 роки тому +6

    Love this band. Intrinsic got me in to them and that's still my favorite album from them.
    I'm guessing you already saw that Spiritbox put out a new song and video for Constance. Hoping you check that one out soon!

    • @CriticalReactions
      @CriticalReactions  3 роки тому +3

      I did see Spiritbox had a new one but I haven't heard it yet.

    • @trowabarton222
      @trowabarton222 3 роки тому +1

      @@CriticalReactions Its amazing but that is to be expected with Spiritbox. It would make for a great reaction.

  • @christopherblowers443
    @christopherblowers443 3 роки тому +13

    Big fan of this band.

    • @ckokomo808
      @ckokomo808 3 роки тому +1

      They’re my favorite

    • @christopherblowers443
      @christopherblowers443 3 роки тому +1

      @@ckokomo808I listen to alot of music, so picking a fav is hard. I'd have to say the best thing I've heard in years is the terminal Redux album from VEKTOR. Recharging the void is the crescendo of a 70+min space Odyssey. prog thrash album.

  • @kevinfitz1712
    @kevinfitz1712 3 роки тому +4

    One of my favorite bands. Thier album Language is a top 10 album for me.

  • @Hellion6325
    @Hellion6325 3 роки тому +11

    "C'est la vie" by Protest the Hero pls

  • @arthaal
    @arthaal 3 роки тому +13

    The Contortionist is one of those bands I absolutely love but I can't listen to for much longer than a few hours a month. I'm more of a Clairvoyant fan than Exoplanet because they feel like very different bands and I got more used to their newer sound. Still, Flourish is probably the best one out of the album so I'm glad to hear it here. That solo bit is so damn good I always forget why I don't listen to them more lmao. Also lol @ the flourishes pun.
    Day 4 of posting as Car Bomb gang.

    • @philip863
      @philip863 3 роки тому

      What do you mean their a band you love but you can’t listen to for much longer than a few hours a month? I don’t really have a band like that so idk.

    • @EthanRadell
      @EthanRadell 3 роки тому +1

      @@philip863 he said hes a clairvoyant kind of guy, theres some heavy emotions in that album. I understand not being able to listen for long. You gotta be mentally prepared.

    • @philip863
      @philip863 3 роки тому

      @@EthanRadell ahh, ok. That makes sense

    • @arthaal
      @arthaal 3 роки тому

      @@philip863 It's a weird thing, basically I really enjoy their sound but at the same time it's not like I can put their albums on repeat over and over. Also yeah, there's a certain mood I gotta be in to be able to listen to them properly.

    • @seanh7585
      @seanh7585 3 роки тому

      Yeah Pink Floyd was the first band to do that to me. Subject is way too heavy and the songs are so long... it's just a lot.

  • @TheG3neralLee
    @TheG3neralLee 3 роки тому +6

    There is a remastered version of this album. The Contortionist changed styles after this album. For better or worse. This is the pinnacle of progressive Deathcore, not that they have much competition. I don’t even like Deathcore but this album is fantastic.
    When you reacted to language part 1 if you had done part 2 as well you would of remembered this band better.

    • @swingonthespiral
      @swingonthespiral 3 роки тому

      I would disagree about the pinnacle lol. But maybe I need to listen more.

  • @LocalNomadd
    @LocalNomadd 3 роки тому +1

    Cool reaction thanks man. I saw their tour for this album late 2010 or 11 at a tiny venue in Tampa FL. It was absolutely packed and they played the entire album in order. Whats funny is outside of the lead singer and drummer they stood as still as statues cause of how technical their songs are to play live lol.

    • @CriticalReactions
      @CriticalReactions  3 роки тому

      Was it The Ritz? That's not a super small venue (not as small as House of Blues in Orlando) but it's the smallest that I've been over in Tampa. Pretty interesting to hear about their "standing still" pre-show ritual. 😂

  • @Asgier3
    @Asgier3 3 роки тому +3

    This is actually one of my favorite bands! So glad you went back to them! This is definitely the most known of the songs on Exoplanet (for good reason) but the 3 part Exoplanet song that finishes it takes the cake on the album for me. My favorite song by FAR by them is Ebb and Flow, off of Language. It's washes away any negativity and bad vibes I'm having that day. I'm pretty sure I recommended that song to you on your emotional reaction to Fade in Fade out by Nothing More. Glad you liked it! I'm going to listen to some now 😊

  • @CassetteMelody
    @CassetteMelody 3 роки тому +2

    This album completely changed the way I wrote music back in the day

  • @volvulusx5043
    @volvulusx5043 3 роки тому +1

    Regarding the style and sound of this band, it has changed pretty drastically with each successive release throughout their (approximately) 10 year lifespan.
    This song and the album and it's from showcases their heaviest sound, and it definitely stands out compared to other bands that use what I like to call this super deep "universe is ending" type of Deathcore bands. Other examples of these bands I can think of are Aegaeon and The Acacia Strain.
    I think the song that tick more of these boxes you mentioned in your discussion would be "Holomovement". It is from their next album after this one, in which they really expanded on their progressive sound to put it on another level, while also still maintaining strong roots in the Deathcore sort of sound. Holomovement is a deeply beautiful and moving song and I really can't recommend it enough as something that will shed an entirely different light on the group in the best way.

  • @jonathanolson1185
    @jonathanolson1185 3 роки тому +1

    Oh Yeahhhhh. Early Contortionist is soooooo good. Many folks have pointed out how they've evolved and changed their vocalist. I adore this album which is their "deathcore progressive" album. It's so superb. I saw them when they were touring on this album and BTBAM headlined. Great show.

  • @chacecampbell2697
    @chacecampbell2697 3 роки тому +2

    New track from Slice The Cake - Homecoming is phenomenal and I really think you and a lot of viewers would really love it!

  • @kanametousinabasi
    @kanametousinabasi 3 роки тому +1

    This most definitely my favorite track from this band.
    Fun Fact: There's 3 versions of this song actually. This one, off the 2010 'Exoplanet' album. The original version, which was called 'Eyes Closed,' off of their second EP 'Apparition' in 2009 (where several other tracks on the 'Exoplanet' album originated from & got reworked). Then back in 2016 'Exoplanet' got remastered in a "Redux" version of the album, which makes 3 lol
    Also after their previous vocalist left the group, their current vocalist, Michael Lessard, formerly of the Progressive Metal band Last Chance to Reason joined in on their album 'Language.' That one & their album 'Clairvoiant' would have more tunes that you'd most likely dig as they featured less of the Deathcore elements on those & more of the melodic ideas that you enjoyed in this song due to some member shifts. Try the title tracks from both of those albums (you already did the first half of 'Language' but you kinda need to listen to 1 & 2 back-to-back to get the full experience haha)
    Ps. I would highly recommend listening to Last Chance to Reason (try 'Upload Complete') they have a video-game themed concept story that spans their 3 "Level" albums & even made an actual game to go along with the story of their second album.

  • @christopherblowers443
    @christopherblowers443 3 роки тому +4

    Vektor- recharging the void

    • @maaaaaap
      @maaaaaap 3 роки тому +1

      that song needs the context of the album to be fully appreciated

    • @christopherblowers443
      @christopherblowers443 3 роки тому +1

      @@maaaaaap thats not going to happen on this channel so im just suggesting the best song.

    • @EvilZlo
      @EvilZlo 3 роки тому +2

      I really can't believe he didn't react to Vektor yet, definitely a must-listen for anyone even remotely intertested in modern metal.

    • @christopherblowers443
      @christopherblowers443 3 роки тому

      @@EvilZlo im trying man. Im trying. I need some help. Please request Vektor. Ive been on brian for over a month easy.

  • @1adoremusic
    @1adoremusic 3 роки тому

    My favorite song by them is "Ebb & Flow" which they merge with the middle part of this song live sometimes. Truly beautiful! Also "Language i & II", "Primodial Sound", "The Parable", "Return to Earth", "Clairvoyant", "Relapse" , and "Reimagined" are all phenomenal. Here's a link to where the combined "Flourish" with "Ebb & Flow" live. The vocals gives me chills! ua-cam.com/video/EJwMjDNnwyA/v-deo.html

  • @progperljungman8218
    @progperljungman8218 3 роки тому +1

    Great band! Saw them supporting TesseracT some years ago in a really small venue (close and intimate😊)

  • @haydenlee2696
    @haydenlee2696 3 роки тому +1

    Anything from clairvoyant is gonna be amazing. Absolve & return to earth being my favorites

  • @cgafken
    @cgafken 3 роки тому

    This is one of my favorite bands of all time. Really amazing discography and I cant wait to see what their next album sounds like

  • @MJ-vd8bj
    @MJ-vd8bj 2 роки тому

    This song, while it's like 2 different songs (a deathcore and a post-rock/metal one), it feels natural and cohesive.

  • @Panda_SMM
    @Panda_SMM 3 роки тому

    I really love the song Follow by The Contortionist. Definitely one of my most favorites from their newer stuff

  • @HelixNebuIa
    @HelixNebuIa 3 роки тому +5

    You should check out Humanity’s Last Breaths new single “Tide”

  • @xedgeforeverx
    @xedgeforeverx 3 роки тому

    I don't see it posted in the comments but they did some really cool acoustic versions of their songs. Look up The Parable Rediscovered. Miiiiiight want to make a reaction video out of it.

  • @jmalko9152
    @jmalko9152 3 роки тому

    Good analysis!

  • @guitarshredder456
    @guitarshredder456 3 роки тому

    The concept for this album is really cool and fits the music quite well! Even though the lyrics were added later in the writing process it sounds like the music is a soundtrack to the story. A perfect album IMO

  • @trowabarton222
    @trowabarton222 3 роки тому

    Just checked the spreadsheet and you have Dreadnought on there but no song. The song is Vacant Sea and I'm dying to see you check it out! I would call it Progressive Blackened Folk Doom.

  • @jaredbryce7964
    @jaredbryce7964 3 роки тому

    These guys are fantastic. Right up there with Between the Buried and Me and Opeth in my opinion

  • @RikiazGaming
    @RikiazGaming 3 роки тому +1

    If you want more contrast from The Contortionist you can't get any better than Language I and II. You did a video on part 1 already but part 2 adds a lot of contrast to the more mellow part 1. It's an incredible track that really needs to be listened to as a whole.

  • @jonathanhenderson9422
    @jonathanhenderson9422 3 роки тому

    Fascinating listen! When it started I was mostly just thinking it was solid but unspectacular djenty deathcore... but then it just did a 180 with that gorgeous middle section and phenomenal solo that slowly built into a great quasi-black-metal climax. Really cool stuff. Perhaps the only negative is that the two aspects seem like two different songs rather than a single coherent one. This is apparently off their first album and I've found many bands have trouble making ideas cohere on their first albums; I guess transitions is a skill that comes with time and practice. They're a band I've vaguely heard of before but never heard. Definitely going to be checking some more out based on that, and I hope their other stuff plays more with this contrast.

    • @CriticalReactions
      @CriticalReactions  3 роки тому

      You and I had the same initial thoughts and reaction to the middle. Completely unexpected.

  • @brianyates3504
    @brianyates3504 3 роки тому +1

    I LIKE IT THE DRUMMER AND BASSIST ARE KILLING IT....SOME OF THE BREAKDOWNS REMIND ME OF THE BAND 311...WHICH BTW THATS A BAND I THINK YOU'LL DIG...GOOD STUFF..PEACE

    • @Posirep
      @Posirep 3 роки тому

      311 comparison to The Contortionist....
      That's a comparison I never thought I'd see....although can't deny P-nut and Chad Sexton are one of the best rhythm sections ever.
      I'd expect more of a 311 /Linkin Park comparison.... Even those Linkin Park. Was like the ripoff emo version of 311.

  • @ApplySomePressure54
    @ApplySomePressure54 3 роки тому

    just an fyi that little section around 6:30 in this vid, that you mentioned thinking was in 6, is actually in 9! The song opens up with the very same signature as well. And the part earlier on around 2:55 that you mentioned you couldn't quite catch the signature of, I believe can be counted like an alternating 8/4-7/4.I'm having a hard time figuring out if it gets down into a tighter sort-of semantic when it goes into the second measure or it's just the funkiness of the groove, though.
    And not to nag, but I peeped the request spreadsheet and Negation Consumes Affirmation and Negation Consumes Itself by Cryptodira still didn't manage to make it's way in there even though you said you'd amend it :P

    • @CriticalReactions
      @CriticalReactions  3 роки тому

      I got you. I had your last request screenshotted to be added later but it's been busy around here. It's in there now though :)

  • @FamineWolf
    @FamineWolf 3 роки тому

    Great choice! These guys were locals for me. Super cool guys.

  • @collinolevson6883
    @collinolevson6883 3 роки тому

    I'd suggest the title track from their Clairvoyant album

  • @zyklqrswx
    @zyklqrswx 3 роки тому

    still holding out for that amogh symphony quantum hack code vid

  • @xavierbonilla1164
    @xavierbonilla1164 3 роки тому

    LOVE Contortionist! I think you did listen to their newer stuff off the Language album a few months back. They tour with BTBAM often and work in the same universe. I know you love BTBAM now and so you should listen to everything by Contortionist!

  • @swingonthespiral
    @swingonthespiral 3 роки тому

    I love the language 1 album

  • @TheMrPace
    @TheMrPace 3 роки тому

    They have a new singer for a couple albums now. Language part 1 AND 2 together is at the top of their songs. Thrive is also a really good one. Almost night and day compared to Flourish. In a good way, the way you like I'm pretty sure.

  • @FurorAeternumXBL
    @FurorAeternumXBL 3 роки тому

    Their later work is fantastic but the OG mix of Exoplanet is a fuckin banger and a half

  • @mikefearon3577
    @mikefearon3577 3 роки тому +1

    How do you get a special selection request? I've been hoping for a Karnivool reaction for months. D:

    • @CriticalReactions
      @CriticalReactions  3 роки тому +1

      It's closed at the moment due to a massive influx. The process of requesting is handled through Paypal donations and I'll make a video announcing the re-opening so everyone knows at the same time.

  • @seanh7585
    @seanh7585 3 роки тому

    If you never re-visited "The Human Abstract" then I really think you should.
    They switched things up big time between their three albums, and the third one is in line with this song. "Faust" is worth a listen at least.

    • @CriticalReactions
      @CriticalReactions  3 роки тому

      I've been a big fan since their debut and have all 3 albums, Midheaven being my favorite. Easily in my top favorite bands. Their third album shows strong maturity musically but the vocals just didn't work for me.

  • @GanjawarsLostPro
    @GanjawarsLostPro 3 роки тому

    amazing band

  • @Chupie77777
    @Chupie77777 3 роки тому +1

    You listened to Language 1 by these guys. You should check out
    Language 2....

  • @ambient6668
    @ambient6668 3 роки тому

    They certainly hold up to their name...so many transitions and variation in style... the music is contortionist as much as the person trying to dance or bop to this lol

  • @Panda_SMM
    @Panda_SMM 2 роки тому

    man this band is too perfect for their own good

  • @martyngregg2527
    @martyngregg2527 3 роки тому

    Cool shirt of X-Force

  • @xdivinematrix9291
    @xdivinematrix9291 3 роки тому

    Awesome reaction please react to Artificial Sun Projection by Scar Symmetry 👍😁

  • @jonathanmorillos3818
    @jonathanmorillos3818 3 роки тому

    Have you checked out Sithu Aye?

  • @leotourscher6725
    @leotourscher6725 3 роки тому

    Regarde les hommes tomber - the renegade son

  • @PaN1xX
    @PaN1xX 3 роки тому

    listen to Language 1&2, different vocalist. this was the very beginning of the band, its changed now (for worse, but thats just my opinion haha)

  • @yunusemrekarabacak8539
    @yunusemrekarabacak8539 3 роки тому

    Post metal stuff over the Djent. I love this band

  • @kurukq
    @kurukq 3 роки тому

    One of the few bands that took djent to a new level while all the other bands were just trying to be Meshuggah.

  • @merkaba_lite
    @merkaba_lite 3 роки тому

    Love this song, I feel like the ending is a bit much. Should have ended it with the "lift off into space" moment. Feels like you crash back into earth when it gets heavy again.

  • @Daddygeeek
    @Daddygeeek 3 роки тому

    Please, can you react any GHOSTKID (ex-eskimo callboy) video, may be Supernova or This is not Hollywood !!! Please

  • @billybobthekidiswack
    @billybobthekidiswack 3 роки тому

    yea im not a fan of the harsh vocals on this version. The song Eyes closed (older version of flourish) has much better harshes and more feel to it imo.

  • @michaelc1541
    @michaelc1541 3 роки тому +1

    Their newer stuff is very very different. I’d recommend that over this.

  • @geraltoftexas7631
    @geraltoftexas7631 3 роки тому +1

    LANGUAGEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

  • @CassetteMelody
    @CassetteMelody 3 роки тому +1

    You should check out VOLA's new song "Head Mounted Sideways"
    Production is tops and I think you'll really enjoy it.
    ua-cam.com/video/shwx0jK_II0/v-deo.html

  • @americanindisguise
    @americanindisguise 3 роки тому

    Best song from their best album, they are still great but they arent metal anymore