A Q&A with Contortion

Thrash Groove Metal from California – here’s singer/guitarist Brian…

What’s the title of your latest release, and what does it mean to you?
The Common Thread is in reference to how all the songs tie together, as well as our personal paths, the issues discussed on the record, and we as humans. Everything is interconnected, and there is a constant thread that connects it all.

What was the hardest part about putting this release together, and why?
The list is long… but simply put, the guest artists, scheduling, multiple studios, and writing over a multiple-year time span.

Who produced the release – what did they bring to it?
We had worked on this record in four different studios and with four different producers: Adassi Adassi, Darian Rundal, Frank Torres, and Josh Gilbert. We’d chosen these producers based on their personal preferences for music, how they approach song structures and production. Adassi, being Brazilian and more geared to a hard-core sound, insisted on us using a whammy pedal in all the tracks we did with him. Darian really honed in the balance and flow of the songs, adjusting compositions, and helping the songs have a unique approach for each track. Frank is a lover of progressive music, and truly brought his A-game when weaving together some of the more interesting and wild ideas I had brought to the studio. Josh may be the biggest name out of the bunch, and we brought the powerhouse songs to him. His attention to detail was astounding, and he really helped us polish off those tracks in a way that made them feel more natural and like big hits for the record.

What do you want the listener to take away from listening to your music?
The versatility of what we do. We are a difficult band to pigeon-hole into a specific subgenre. And of course, the lyrical content. We try our best to bring awareness to our audience that spans the globe of social, political, and economic issues.

How does a track normally come together? Can you tell us something about the process?
Oftentimes, a member or two will bring riffs to the table, and I will figure ways to join them all to one another. Eventually, filling in empty parts with my own ideas and riffs. But we are working on new techniques and ideas to build our songs in unique or untied methods for the coming album.

What band/artists have influenced you the most since you started this project, and why?
Oh man, the list is long. When attempting to be a versatile metal band, we balance out the “influences” with “originality” as best we can. With so many different ideas, styles, and sounds to blend together, there’s no single or grouping of artists that we call upon for influence.

What countries would you like to tour? Are there any standout venues you’d like to play in?
After our recent Europe tour, we have checked off a number of boxes, as far as locations go. For 2025, we have our sights set on returning to Europe, and also hitting Brazil and/or Mexico. I would love to tour Japan or even Australia someday.

If you could pick one track for our readers to listen to in order to get a taste of your music, what would you pick, and why?
‘Among the Stars’ might be one of our best tracks. It highlights so much of what we do and where we’re going. Plus, it’s my favorite song; it means a lot to me, personally.

What ambitions do you have for the band/your career?
Overall, if we could do this and pay our bills from playing and writing music, I don’t know that we could ask for much more. We would love to tour with some of our heroes and favorite bands as well! And this might be a reality for us very soon.

Finally, as you leave the stage, what are your parting words?
All we ask is that, if you like or love what we do, please share it with friends. No one becomes famous overnight. We love our fans and audience, all over the globe, and hope that they appreciate what we do and continue to do.

For more info about Contortion, visit contortionofficial.com