Has it really been a whole two weeks since I’ve posted on here? Surprisingly, it has. Did you miss me? Good, because this year we’re back with more album reviews, concert photos, and artist interviews than ever. We’ll continue to cover the bands you know and love, as well as shine light on the rising stars of the metal underground. Since this is a new year, I figured it would only be right to kick things off with a review of a new band…a new band of familiar faces, that is. Meet Kontact. Featuring members of Blackrat, Chieftan, and traditional metal stalwarts Traveler, Kontact specializes in some of the most bizarre prog metal this side of the solar system on their debut EP, First Contact.
I’ve written many times how today’s prog metal (and prog metal of the past 20 years for that matter) tends to fall into the trappings of senseless Dream Theater worship. There’s none of that here: no instrumental wankery or overambitious lyrical ideas over the course of a never ending 20+ minute song. First Contact is about the length of one Dream Theater song on its own. That said, this collection of four originals and a cover manages to be a headscratcher for all the right reasons. At no point on this release can you predict what will happen next.
The EP opens with the hypnotic “Ancient Malice”, which can best be described as classic Voivod gone Manilla Road style epic metal, layered with flanged out guitars bordering on psychedelia. Contrasting this is the slow, cryptic, and dark Sabbathian aura of “The Devil in Iron”. This retro dirge incorporates some sweet melodic guitar passages throughout, making it an enjoyable listen by doom metal standards. What stands out to me about both of these songs, and the remainder of the EP for that matter, is the raw, 80s demo like production. I’m sure this was intentional and only intensifies the obscurity at hand.
My choice cut, “Heaven’s Gate”, gives off some strong Defenders of the Faith era Judas Priest vibes, particularly in the lead riff. It’s a straightforward headbanger that doesn’t screw around. Meanwhile, “City of the Pyramid” is a metallic crusher with tribal rhythms. It’s not full blown doom like “The Devil in Iron”, but most definitely doom tinged in nature. Closing it all out is a rather faithful rendition of “Fieldz the Sunshrine”, the cult prog metal classic from fellow Canadians, Sacred Blade. After listening to this EP, I decided to revisit Sacred Blade’s Of the Sun + Moon (1986) album, and let me tell you; their unique blend of space rock, psychedelia, and metallic prog is being channeled heavily through Kontact.
Kontact is a lot of things: strange, unusual, flat out weird. Just don’t call them conventional, because that they are not. If you’re looking for some hallucinogenic heavy metal that’s bound to totally freak you out, you’ve come to the right place. Kontact are the dealers and they’re supplying some heavy shit man! Close your eyes, crank up the volume, and take the trip.
6 out of 10
Label: Temple of Mystery Records
Genre: Progressive Metal
For fans of: Voivod, Sacred Blade, Manilla Road