Contortion interview  22/10/2024

MM: Can you tell us about Contortion and whos your biggest influences? 

 

Stone (vox/guitars)

Being that we are a diverse metal band, our influences range, wildly. From the older originates of Thrash (Slayer/Megadeth) to the modern and cutting edge (Within the Ruins/After the Burial) 

We love so many different bands, there is not one specific subgenre that one can pin to Contortion, nor any one influence. 

 

MM: Where do you draw your inspirations and ideas from?

 

Stone (vox/guitars)

We feel most energized from the day to day issues in the world, as well as anything obscure and magnificent. From the anger felt by corruption in governments and corporations, to a newly discovered classical masterpieces or a brand new metal album that pushes neelw boundaries. It's all influential. 

 

MM: What would you say is your Bands favourite song ?

 

Stone (vox/guitars)

"Among the Stars" is without a doubt our favorite song on the new album. I had written this song as a dedication to my daughter, Who had passed away in 2020. 

 

When performing at live, Everyone in the room can feel the energy and the passion that we all have for this song. She was my ultimate inspiration. The honor of having Heidi Shepherd on this track was/is a blessing. My daughter, Larissa, was a big fan of hers. 

The song describes the moment that larissa parted from this world and my feelings about it. I truly feel that that experience translates to the audience every time we perform it. 

 

 

MM: Plans tour and festival wise for 2025?

 

Stone (vox/guitars)

We are currently in conversations and working on representation/negotiating for Brazil in the Spring, Europe in the summer for festivals, and US in the Fall. 

 

What can we expect from Contortion live? 

 

Stone (vox/guitars)

 

There is an inante power to our performance. We aim to make the show an experience, rather than watching 4 dudes play songs. 

Diversity in the music as well. We work very hard to keep the set interesting. 

The outfits are rather memorable as well. ;)

 

 

 

 MM - What's the most important thing to the band right now?

 

 (Jason- Drummer) This is a tough question, but I believe that the most important thing we are focusing on right now is making the most of spreading the sound and message of the band, we want to reach as many ears as possible and put ourselves in front of as many eyes as we can, that's why we have decided to find worthy management and focus on booking festival slots on next year's tours, we believe that our shows are the best they've ever been and we are quickly gaining a steady amount of fans throughout the U.S. as well as the U.K. and Europe, I'm certain that if you have not been hit by the CONTORTION wave yet, that next year's riptide will suck you in, stay tuned!!!

 

 

MM:If you could do a cover of any song which one would it be and why?

 

 (Jason- Drummer) I like to think of it as a reimagining rather than a cover as we would put our own spin on the cover but there are so many songs that we have talked about, it would be difficult to choose just one, from our favorite metal bands to off the wall cult classics, we have many ideas slowly coming together behind the curtain soon to be hashed out and revealed.

 

 

MM: Tell us why we should buy and listen to your Band

 

(Jason- Drummer) I believe we bring forth a great culmination of some of the most influential heavy metal acts, and I feel those that inspired us would be proud to say that they helped lay the foundation to this quickly rising force, it would mean the world to us if you lend your time to investigate our tunes and decide for yourself wether we fit into your catalogue of most favored metal!

 

 

MM: Four words to describe Contortion

 

(Jason- Drummer) Southern California Contorted Metal!!!

 

MM: Which are your Two favourite Albums of all time?

 

Spencer bass. Most favorite album of all time is Hatebreeder by Children Of Bodom. Really made me want to push my skills as a musician on all instruments. And a close second is Volcano by Satyricon. Just love the song writing and structure on that album. 

 

 

MM: Can you remember the first time you ever played live and how it felt to have people watching you?

 

Spencer bass. I rember the first show I played. I was 15 playing guitar at a pumpkin patch with my band we formed in high school. I was nervous because I had never played guitar in a band in front of people I didn’t know but I remember handling it well. It was mostly all covers with a couple of originals. Three songs in we were forced to stop playing for saying “hell” in one of the songs. But everyone loved it. And people were bummed because we were forced to stop playing. I mean it was for Halloween you gotta add some good old fashioned devil imagery into it. 

 

MM: Growing up which Bands posters did you have on your bedroom wall.

 

Spencer bass. I had Children Of Bodoms first four albums plastered on my walls. Along with satyricon, dimmu borgir, Wednesday 13 and more. 

 

 

MM - Who do you think influenced the world of Metal / Rock more than any other person

 

Spencer bass. I can’t pin point that to one person or band because I feel like it comes in waves. However I feel like Robert Johnson set the tone of the imagery and sound back in the 1920s. And then the sound of the guitar slowly evolved and then you had bands like Black Sabbath that kicked it off into high gear.

 

MM: What do you like best and worst abt touring

Gene/guitar: Hands down, the best parts are the shows and the crowds loving what we've been bringing to them on the stages. It's all been a wild ride. As for the worst parts, definitely gotta be the sleep deprivation and 14 hour overnight drives we've had here n there haha. Cant forget to mention having the tour van broken into. Aaaand the band getting sick half way through wasn't quite the best either.

MM: Which three Bands would be your ultimate touring buddies? 

 

Gene/guitar: Oh man, I would have to say our buddies from Carved Memories, who were on tour with us for a little over 2 weeks on this venture. Everyone just clicked like brothers we and we all worked very well with one another. As for 2nd and 3rd, I dunno, let's throw some wild names out there like The Black Dahlia Murder and Fit For An Autopsy. They seem like super cool cats.

MM: What's the most memorable concert you've been to (other than your own) and why? 

 

Gene/guitar: Well damn.. that's tough. But I would have to say it's a toss up between my first couple of concerts. Going to Gigantour and seeing Rush. Different genres but equally a super sick experience. 

MM: What do you feel has been your biggest accomplishment so far with Contortion? 

 

Gene/guitar: Other than not killing each other after being couped up in a van for weeks, I would have to say this tour is the biggest accomplishment so far. It's definitely a huge feat for us. This took a whole lot of planning and plotting. Loads of time and effort has gone into this to make it happen and I couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. Cant wait for next years tour. We'll be back

MM: Can you tell us about Contortion and whos your biggest influences? 

 

Stone (vox/guitars)

Being that we are a diverse metal band, our influences range, wildly. From the older originates of Thrash (Slayer/Megadeth) to the modern and cutting edge (Within the Ruins/After the Burial) 

We love so many different bands, there is not one specific subgenre that one can pin to Contortion, nor any one influence. 

 

MM: Where do you draw your inspirations and ideas from?

 

Stone (vox/guitars)

We feel most energized from the day to day issues in the world, as well as anything obscure and magnificent. From the anger felt by corruption in governments and corporations, to a newly discovered classical masterpieces or a brand new metal album that pushes neelw boundaries. It's all influential. 

 

MM: What would you say is your Bands favourite song ?

 

Stone (vox/guitars)

"Among the Stars" is without a doubt our favorite song on the new album. I had written this song as a dedication to my daughter, Who had passed away in 2020. 

 

When performing at live, Everyone in the room can feel the energy and the passion that we all have for this song. She was my ultimate inspiration. The honor of having Heidi Shepherd on this track was/is a blessing. My daughter, Larissa, was a big fan of hers. 

The song describes the moment that larissa parted from this world and my feelings about it. I truly feel that that experience translates to the audience every time we perform it. 

 

 

MM: Plans tour and festival wise for 2025?

 

Stone (vox/guitars)

We are currently in conversations and working on representation/negotiating for Brazil in the Spring, Europe in the summer for festivals, and US in the Fall. 

 

What can we expect from Contortion live? 

 

Stone (vox/guitars)

 

There is an inante power to our performance. We aim to make the show an experience, rather than watching 4 dudes play songs. 

Diversity in the music as well. We work very hard to keep the set interesting. 

The outfits are rather memorable as well. ;)

 

 

 

 MM - What's the most important thing to the band right now?

 

 (Jason- Drummer) This is a tough question, but I believe that the most important thing we are focusing on right now is making the most of spreading the sound and message of the band, we want to reach as many ears as possible and put ourselves in front of as many eyes as we can, that's why we have decided to find worthy management and focus on booking festival slots on next year's tours, we believe that our shows are the best they've ever been and we are quickly gaining a steady amount of fans throughout the U.S. as well as the U.K. and Europe, I'm certain that if you have not been hit by the CONTORTION wave yet, that next year's riptide will suck you in, stay tuned!!!

 

 

MM:If you could do a cover of any song which one would it be and why?

 

 (Jason- Drummer) I like to think of it as a reimagining rather than a cover as we would put our own spin on the cover but there are so many songs that we have talked about, it would be difficult to choose just one, from our favorite metal bands to off the wall cult classics, we have many ideas slowly coming together behind the curtain soon to be hashed out and revealed.

 

 

MM: Tell us why we should buy and listen to your Band

 

(Jason- Drummer) I believe we bring forth a great culmination of some of the most influential heavy metal acts, and I feel those that inspired us would be proud to say that they helped lay the foundation to this quickly rising force, it would mean the world to us if you lend your time to investigate our tunes and decide for yourself wether we fit into your catalogue of most favored metal!

 

 

MM: Four words to describe Contortion

 

(Jason- Drummer) Southern California Contorted Metal!!!

 

MM: Which are your Two favourite Albums of all time?

 

Spencer bass. Most favorite album of all time is Hatebreeder by Children Of Bodom. Really made me want to push my skills as a musician on all instruments. And a close second is Volcano by Satyricon. Just love the song writing and structure on that album. 

 

 

MM: Can you remember the first time you ever played live and how it felt to have people watching you?

 

Spencer bass. I rember the first show I played. I was 15 playing guitar at a pumpkin patch with my band we formed in high school. I was nervous because I had never played guitar in a band in front of people I didn’t know but I remember handling it well. It was mostly all covers with a couple of originals. Three songs in we were forced to stop playing for saying “hell” in one of the songs. But everyone loved it. And people were bummed because we were forced to stop playing. I mean it was for Halloween you gotta add some good old fashioned devil imagery into it. 

 

MM: Growing up which Bands posters did you have on your bedroom wall.

 

Spencer bass. I had Children Of Bodoms first four albums plastered on my walls. Along with satyricon, dimmu borgir, Wednesday 13 and more. 

 

 

MM - Who do you think influenced the world of Metal / Rock more than any other person

 

Spencer bass. I can’t pin point that to one person or band because I feel like it comes in waves. However I feel like Robert Johnson set the tone of the imagery and sound back in the 1920s. And then the sound of the guitar slowly evolved and then you had bands like Black Sabbath that kicked it off into high gear.

 

MM: What do you like best and worst abt touring

Gene/guitar: Hands down, the best parts are the shows and the crowds loving what we've been bringing to them on the stages. It's all been a wild ride. As for the worst parts, definitely gotta be the sleep deprivation and 14 hour overnight drives we've had here n there haha. Cant forget to mention having the tour van broken into. Aaaand the band getting sick half way through wasn't quite the best either.

MM: Which three Bands would be your ultimate touring buddies? 

 

Gene/guitar: Oh man, I would have to say our buddies from Carved Memories, who were on tour with us for a little over 2 weeks on this venture. Everyone just clicked like brothers we and we all worked very well with one another. As for 2nd and 3rd, I dunno, let's throw some wild names out there like The Black Dahlia Murder and Fit For An Autopsy. They seem like super cool cats.

MM: What's the most memorable concert you've been to (other than your own) and why? 

 

Gene/guitar: Well damn.. that's tough. But I would have to say it's a toss up between my first couple of concerts. Going to Gigantour and seeing Rush. Different genres but equally a super sick experience. 

MM: What do you feel has been your biggest accomplishment so far with Contortion? 

 

Gene/guitar: Other than not killing each other after being couped up in a van for weeks, I would have to say this tour is the biggest accomplishment so far. It's definitely a huge feat for us. This took a whole lot of planning and plotting. Loads of time and effort has gone into this to make it happen and I couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. Cant wait for next years tour. We'll be back