Album Premiere: Contrition’s New EP Pariahs is a Death Metal “Punch to the Throat”
When it comes to death metal, we’re living in an age of abundance. So many bands out there are vying to be the biggest, the baddest, the most brutal, but end up going for hokey gimmicks or memes to garner online traction. That’s not the case for Chicago-based death metal motherfucker Contrition. With their new EP Pariahs set to release this Friday, there’s just one thing they want to be known for — no bullshit, unadulterated death metal.
Formed from the ashes of now defunct band Doomsday, Contrition forged their sound amid the chaos of the COVID-19 lockdowns, releasing their debut full-length Broken Mortal Coil back in October 2021. Now comprised of vocalist Jerome Marshall (Yakuza, Cobalt-live), guitarist/synth player Jeff Wilson (Chrome Waves, Deeper Graves, ex-Nachtmystium), bassist Jon Woodring (Bones, ex-Usurper), and drummer Garry Naples (Trouble, Novembers Doom, Wolvhammer), they’re returning with three new tracks to break your neck to.
Speaking of the band’s overarching mantra, Wilson said that in a world of superfluous bullshit in the metal scene, it’s all about the music for Contrition.
“In an overwhelmingly, oversaturated death metal scene, where memes are more important than music, I hope that Pariahs comes off as what it ultimately is; a lean, no bullshit, no gimmicks, no nonsense punch to the throat.”
Having already listened to the EP in full, I can tell you right now that the songs all feel taut with purpose. There’s no fat to be trimmed from any of these offerings because it’s already been pared down to the bone. It really feels like a love letter to 90s death metal in the most honest way possible. In particular, while listening to the track “Trauma Queen”, I can imagine it being played by some band in a grainy VHS bootleg of some long-past concert. And of course, Goatwhore’s Sammy Duet is on stage with said band, since he makes a guest solo on the actual track.
Pariahs will be released digitally this Friday, October 18 via Disorder Recordings, but you can pre-order your copy today.
