The Contortionist

The Contortionist is a progressive metal band from Indianapolis, United States. Formed in 2007, it is active from 2007 to the present and is associated with deathcore, experimental and progressive metal.

History

The band begins as At the Hands of Machines in 2007, with vocalist Jake Morris, guitarists Robby Baca and Cameron Maynard, bassist Christopher Tilley and drummer Joey Baca. Its first release is the EP Sporadic Movements, followed by Shapeshifter in 2008. After that EP, the group changes its name to The Contortionist. These early recordings present a deathcore sound, which later gives way to a broader progressive metal approach.

After Shapeshifter, Jake Morris leaves and Dave Hoffman replaces him on vocals and keyboards. The band records its third EP, Apparition, in 2009 and releases it in September that year. That release keeps the earlier deathcore influence but also adds more progressive metal elements. Hoffman leaves in early 2010 and Jonathan Carpenter joins on vocals and keyboards. Soon after, the band starts work on its debut album.

Albums and releases

Exoplanet is released in 2010 through Good Fight Entertainment. Its lyrics focus on space and interstellar travel, and several tracks are reworked from Apparition with new lyrics by Carpenter and revised musical passages. The second album, Intrinsic, follows in 2012. It still includes deathcore elements but shifts further toward melody and atmosphere, with science-fiction themes in Carpenter’s writing and in the videos for “Causality” and “Dreaming Schematics.” The band has four studio albums and three EPs in total.

Line-up and later membership

By the period covered in the discography, the group’s line-up includes Robby Baca on guitars, Joey Baca on drums, Cameron Maynard on guitars, Michael Lessard on vocals, Eric Guenther on keyboards and Jordan Eberhardt on bass. Jonathan Carpenter, who previously handles vocals and keyboards, is also a member, and Michael Lessard is the vocalist listed from 2013 onwards. The band also signs with eOne Music and Good Fight Entertainment in early 2010.