Time Signature Seismic statement...

Genre: thrash / metalcore

A four-track self-released EP, "Oath of Inequity" represents the sound of Contrition anno 2011. While part of the metalcore underground scene in Denmark, contrition are actually, I think, more of a thrash metal act than a metalcore band.

Granted, the vocals are metalcore-ish, and no less than two of the four tracks are concluded with a breakdown, but apart from that, this is a much more thrash metal oriented release. Also, the few breakdowns that do appear are more akin to the tempos that are used in thrash metal than those that populate many metalcore songs by other artists.

While "A Seismic Statement" and "A Letter to Inamorata" are melodeath-inspired (the former being a modern thrash metal tune and the latter a triplet thrash tune), 'Last Song for your Last Breath' sounds like a major source of inspiration was Anthrax's classic 'Caught in a Mosh'. In any case, Contrition show on this EP that they're actually quite good at writing solid riffs and that they are also good at putting together songs (but maybe they should consider alternatives to breakdowns as a way of ending a song).

"Oath of Inequity" is a well put together EP, and if Contrition build on it and play their cars right, they could have a promising future ahead of them.

Time Signature Lycanthropy...

Genre: metalcore

A one-track single from Danish the Danish metalcore act Contrition, "Lycanthropy" is another piece of evidence that metalcore does not per se have to suck.

The tune starts out with a "What the fuck is wrooooong!?!?"-scream and then an uptempo thrashy section kicks in and all hell breaks loose before some heavier and groovier sections kick in, which I guess count as breakdowns, but which do not - in my experience at least - sound like run-off-the-mill metalcore breakdowns (although the breakdown towards the end is more in the vein of traditional metalcore).

Although there are no guitar solos to speak off, Contrition nevertheless make use of a nice lead guitar melody in the chorus, which adds a nice touch to the otherwise aggressive and heavy music.

It seems that the Danish underground metalcore scene that I Am Because We Are talk about in an interview posted on this site is beginning to come up to the surface, and with acts like Contrition around, things definitely look promising.