Tech Death is a little bit like the early days of Prog Rock. Each band appears hell bent on outdoing the next, I guess that’s just music for you in general but in this case it’s very apt. There has been a real rocket of talent exploding from the likes of Unique Leader Records and The Artisan Era in recent years, two very impressive labels for the genre. A whole load of new ideas are being brought to the forefront in ever-changing fashions, it really is a genre without bounds. Even artists like Swarmagedon who lean into an almost Symphonic Metal sound are being praised, something which years ago would have perhaps seemed impossible.
Willowtip Records are another label who generally provide the good stuff in the Death Metal world, especially BDM and the occasional bit of Tech. So todays subjects Contrarian are clearly in good hands. Having formed back in 2014 the New York Prog/ Tech Death squad worked away to release their 2015 debut Polemic. Keeping the faith and soldiering on they have produced a further two full lengths not including todays album Only Time Will Tell. So four full lengths in with a strong work ethic and a brilliant label, surely it can’t be that bad right?
In The Blink Of An Eye opens up the album, an instant Tech feel is emitted through Death Metal infused riffs and crazy drum patterns that are very impressive. This oddity flows into the heart of the song all whilst retain quite an OSDM feel through the traditional vocals. The Final Hour continues this rather standard Old School Tech sound, it’s good and all the right elements are in place but I think seeing what the Tech scene can do now it’s not quite as inspiring as one might think, save for the drumming which I think is one of the biggest credits to the record. Instrumental track Beat The Clock is a little pointless, an interlude only three tracks in? Really! I can see the atmospheric edge of the track but again the only thing that really leaps at the listener is the drumming, other than that it’s pretty generic for Tech Death. Case Closed gets back into the swing of things but again comes off as a touch lacklustre.
Even moving into the second part of the record The Mega Metropolis offers nothing new, just more of the same atonal Tech Death. I can really see what Contrarian are trying to do here with the whole Old School brought anew but I’m sad to say that the time for that has passed. Sure we all love Cynic and Atheist but they’re classic for a reason. New Tech Death in my mind should go a bit more above and beyond or at least sound exciting and less one note. As if one interlude wasn’t enough, we also get the title track, this one is a little more excusable being that it’s later in the album and whilst I enjoy the ambience it’s still unnecessary. It’s almost like the album is telling you to break because the music is so ‘extreme’ but then the music really isn’t all that outrageous. The album closes with a longer song in Your Days Are Numbered, this is the kind of length track we should have been seeing throughout, although it doesn’t make the music any more interesting. The song simply bumbles along like some sort of Tech Death elevator music.
So, not the greatest Tech Death album I’ve heard this year it has to be said. However, I’m not one to completely put down a band. There is still some merit here, namely that drumming, I mean really wow, that should be commended. Yet sadly the rest of the music lets it down, the term pedestrian is bandied about a bit and I think that descriptor is a perfect fit for Only Time Will Tell. I’m sure to a lot of people this album will be a winner, especially to a more OSDM audience and I do agree that Contrarian are bringing that old sound forward. However, as a lover of the genre and especially so in recent years I know there is better because I’ve heard it.
(6/10 George Caley)
Leave a Reply