The Contortionist - Primal Directive (Live)

Live performance of "Primal Directive" off our 2010 album "Exoplanet" while on our "Reimagined" tour. Grab limited edition Exoplanet (Redux) vinyl in the Good Fight Music store www.goodfightmu...
Experience our return to the road this fall on our upcoming tour with special guests Rivers of Nihil. We'll be performing LANGUAGE and EXOPLANET in FULL each night, and Rivers will be performing THE WORK in its entirety. Tickets and VIP at www.thecontorti...
11-Sep Dallas, TX The Granada Theater
13-Sep Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall
14-Sep Austin, TX Come And Take It Live
16-Sep Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom
17-Sep San Diego, CA Brick By Brick
18-Sep Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theater
20-Sep Portland, OR Bossanova
21-Sep Seattle, WA El Corazon
23-Sep Salt Lake City, UT Metro Music Hall
24-Sep Denver, CO Summit Music Hall
26-Sep Minneapolis, MN Cabooze
27-Sep Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge
28-Sep Detroit, MI St Andrews Hall
30-Sep Montreal, QC Le Studio TD
1-Oct Toronto, ON Opera House
2-Oct Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom
4-Oct Pittsburgh, PA Mr Smalls
6-Oct Philadelphia, PA Underground Arts
7-Oct Washington, DC Union Stage
8-Oct New York, NY Gramercy Theatre
9-Oct Boston, MA Paradise
11-Oct Greensboro, NC Arizona Pete's
12-Oct Atlanta, GA Terminal West
13-Oct Nashville, TN Eastside Bowl
15-Oct Indianapolis, IN Deluxe at Old National Centre
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Shot by Mike DeMellia
Edited by Michael Lessard
Engineered by Julian Gargiulo
Mixed by John Douglas
Mastered by John Douglas & Maor Applebaum

[@tomatomtom4921]

Wish they would play intrinsic in full. Unfortunately the album doesn get all the love it deserves imo

[@poweroftheweez]

secret dimensional boys

[@user-kn6dq8uw2p]

@@poweroftheweez fucking holomovement bro

[@itsmeurboy]

It needs a serious re-recording. Great album but the production on it is unfortunate.

[@tomatomtom4921]

@@itsmeurboy so everyone says. I never thought that it was any good, but I never understood the very harsh critics... I loved the tracks so much, I don't mind the production that much 😅

[@tomatomtom4921]

@@poweroftheweez Lol, is this like a meme I never heard of? Listening to the track with "boys" made me laugh pretty hard 😂

[@Ironsvillage]

Just goes to show how great Michael is as a singer, he even makes the older songs sound better.

[@geraltoftexas7631]

Seriously!

[@oxmodius]

Exoplanet is one of the greatest metal albums ever. It’s truly standing the test of time and better than almost anything coming out these days.

[@reptarien]

Honestly. Seriously one of the best pieces of music ever IMO.

[@miserirken]

It helps it's a concept album yet no much people mention that 'cause the concept isn't the important part but the music, the journey, the art.

[@sirzechsazazel1150]

Their absolute best till this day. They are still gretat, but they sounded so unique back then. No one sounds like they did in that album.

[@empyreuma]

​@@sirzechsazazel1150 Agreed Exoplanet & Intrinsic are masterpieces - the musicianship, the lyrics, the performances Language is also brilliant along with the revisited versions I feel lucky to be alive & have been to so many live shows in my life so far - yes I missed Pink Floyd & Led Zeppelin live at their peaks as I wasn't alive then, but Tool, Soundgarden, Omnium Gatherum, Psycroptic & The Contortionist in concert multiple times have been incredible experiences & I just really hope they all continue making music & touring for many more years

[@MRchapterfour08]

fuck yea man

[@xMONOCHROMEx]

Michael Lessard is a fucking BEAST. Screw what anyone says, he absolutely kills that old TC stuff.

[@jamesonmohr1184]

the "you have been defined" break at 2:42 with Michael's voice is spine tingling

[@paulh.8094]

So amazing

[@itsbrooklynbabyyy]

Yesss ✨ and the other one when he says : endlesssss mooootiioonn (now the experience is long gone) 😭💔

[@eliminatetheleader]

the voice of an angel

[@AJL1116]

Finally releasing versions with Michael, can’t wait for more.

[@TheFlatPancakeTheory]

His vocals are always so incredible! Such a perfect match for the band

[@godlesspeacesign8852]

​@@TheFlatPancakeTheorydisagree. John and the original vocalist were better

[@TheMeefmaster]

@@godlesspeacesign8852Michael makes this band.

[@godlesspeacesign8852]

@@TheMeefmaster harder disagree

[@MJ-vd8bj]

Exoplanet is incredible man, so many bangers!

[@americanaccents]

Absolutely beautiful. It makes my heart so happy to see exoplanet still getting play. That album brought me to tears first time I listen to it. While simultaneously making me punch the shit out of my friends. Love to see it.

[@drumslnkprk]

That's a perfect way to describe this album.

[@ssan08]

The first time I saw The Contortionist was in NYC with the prior vocalist. Periphery headlined, but The Contortionist blew me away! When they played Contact, I was hooked. And I'll certainly be there again in NYC to see Michael and the gang play through both albums. Couldn't ask for a better way to spend my birthday🤘🤘

[@icember977]

I saw them on that tour too. They had Textures with them & every set was amazing.

[@safetytfh]

Pretty sure I saw that same tour when they stopped in Minneapolis. I'd never heard of the band but they were amazing. only seen them again one other time but hoping to see the Language+Exoplant tour coming up

[@LouisR56]

Michael's vocals on this one are surreal

[@mesadrums375]

The fact that they essentially wrote exoplanet when they were 16 is amazing

[@ElijahMendiola]

Wtf ? I quit , 23 years of playing down the drain

[@reptarien]

Why did you have to make me feel bad about myself at 3 a.m.?

[@trapOrdoom]

Wait… what? The fuck? Jesus…

[@mesadrums375]

@@trapOrdoom the Apparition LP is exoplanet, but with their old Vocalist before Johnathan Carpenter. They basically remastered the whole album with a new vocalist

[@mesadrums375]

@@trapOrdoom Eyes: Closed is just flourish

[@Striball]

One of my favorite albums ever still after all these years, a truly legendary experience. So happy they're still playing these Exoplanet songs

[@jacobhollidge59]

When I want to blow people away with music I always show them Exoplanet. This video is absolutely filthy and I love it.

[@joshuachan56]

MY GOD the mixing and the guitar tapping is beyond perfection. Thank you so much for this, TC!

[@itsbrooklynbabyyy]

this album as literally changed my life. The writing is incredible and the melodies mesmerizing. And I have seen them twice and will *see them again soon ✨🥹

[@Hellion6325]

the outro breakdown actually gave me chills god dayum, imagine actually being there in person...

[@Hellion6325]

man, the keyboard holding that crazy dissonant sounding chord at the end is too good

[@oscarplaybass0013]

This mix of beautiful and brutal, so cool but so rare to find, glad to see it hope a return to those roots.

[@poiomxc]

Drums 🫣

[@trevorwhatever2050]

Damn this is incredible. Was lucky enough to see them with Periphery and Textures in Atlanta like over 10 years ago now. While there is still some great metal coming out these days, there just isnt quite anything like this that ive found anymore.

[@DomZone123]

1:31 this part omg

[@JackCarlino]

They had me from the moment I first heard this intro riff back in 2011. I instantly knew I was listening to something different. I was so right.

[@SamuRaY777]

I luv this Guys! Come to Brazil... we are waiting for you with open arms

[@oscarplaybass0013]

Yeah man

[@Dr3winth3Grim3s]

I got to see them when Michael was still new and they had a 5 song set I'll never forget. They started their show with Language 1 & language 2 Followed by Causality and Geocentric Confusuon. They ended their set with Flourish and the crowd lost it. Thanks for being amazing guys.

[@MichaelAbramo]

Don't forget to mention the extended ending to Flourish! And how Lessard did his signature falcon screech coming into it! Wow, what a performance.

[@evanwallace1744]

Exoplanet will forever have a special place in my heart

[@trapOrdoom]

THIS IS FUCKING SICK!!!

[@BillyPalmerMusic]

Would love to see a live album like this - incredible sound

[@andrewfutrell7494]

Beautiful music. This band has helped me through so much. Thanks to The Contortionist

[@clayfillbach6170]

Got my ticket for the Indianapolis date of the tour the other day. Words can’t describe how excited I am to see my two favorite albums by my favorite band performed in front of me. I’ll probably munch on some shrooms before the show and try to get a good spot up front to vibe out. Going to be a real treat to say the least.

[@Marc1618]

Michaels voice is ducking nastyyyy my expectations for redoing this when it was a different frontman have been exceeded

[@ehohackner]

damn, this is a dream come true.

[@Fire-Toolz]

language is definitely my fav but this is fucking amazing

[@MichaelAbramo]

Very cool how the instrumentation has been refined. Not the arrangement but rather the effects. The bass REALLY sticks out now and the tones for all the stringed instruments is very different. Lessard is killing it on the lows but we all know he has killer high screams, just wish he'd use them more!

[@surrealducks]

It seems to be played a fair bit slower as well.

[@empyreuma]

Please come back to Australia & tour with Ne Ob or Psycroptic or double headline with acoustic set - intermission followed by Exoplanet & Language in full! Pretty Please!!! $200 AUD a ticket would still be cheap & better than most live shows these days

[@smeffbensen8045]

what an experience

[@phife9]

An even better version of an already amazing song. This band is insane.

[@bjornedvardsson5510]

One of the best prog bands of our days

[@IxDarkxNinjaxI]

Legends

[@madnesshero333]

BASS !

[@ElijahMendiola]

Because of this tour I found rivers of Nile . That band is so good . Too bad I couldn’t go to any shows . Come to Corpus Christi texas dammit

[@SuhamaMusic]

SSS+ TIER

[@sebasveillette1]

So many Good memory on this Album

[@fidenciomadrigal2157]

Bring back the more aggressive contortionist this is a masterpiece

[@Neil329]

Brings back the good old memories of the Exoplanet days :) Used to listen this album all the time.

[@andrewfutrell3609]

This band has helped me a lot throughout my life... Good music 🎶 thanks you guys

[@DennisFeinsteinCEO]

Exoplanet 💜💜💜

[@craponAsPTULA]

Dude I'm so fucking stoked for this tour, this album was so important to me when I was in middle school, I'm going to fucking lose it in the pit.

[@Ryo7_7]

This is one of my favorite bands hands down. 🤘🏾

[@taylordoyle1626]

Going tonight!

[@alexandredesabrais1299]

This tour is going to be amazing ! :D

[@rks29]

The slower tempo really fits the dreamy side of The Contortionist we know today! Dig It!

[@CoyCrawfordII]

Fuck yes back to the heavy roots!!!🤘🎸🤘

[@codymcgibbon1828]

Exoplanet is one of the best albums I’ve ever listened to and it will forever be. It’s a shame it doesn’t get the respect it deserves.

[@bf_stv]

Wow this is so flawless 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@ChaboyAnthony]

Best fuckin band

[@OurFreeReflections]

that was so fucking sick

[@mistersinister93]

Much luv from germany ❤️

[@TheBrownMan2112]

Goddamn, I love you guys 💙

[@kirillbarr]

Great

[@tonyg12324]

Just saw them play this live. Really impressed with Michael's vocal performance.

[@edgardomauriciomolinasanch1094]

guys come to Chile

[@shimi3065]

Live Version > Album

[@christianrogers6914]

Yeahhhh buddy

[@TheFlatPancakeTheory]

Sickkk af as always boys.

[@salazarsays7530]

Can’t wait for October

[@TheFloiboi]

The live mix on this is absolutely stunning, y'all killed it 👍

[@justusthedeep]

Live album/dvd pleeeeeease!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@adamlogan9500]

This is the contortionist I know and love

[@gavdrans]

gosh the mix on this is incredible, and michael's voice is PERFECT for the older material. hoping to catch them in Greensboro later this year :)

[@jakesklodowski9321]

So sick

[@lukehanna7181]

Can't wait to heav this blasted in my face in Chicago

[@brando2017]

Oh boy

[@eseese_dart]

Exoplanet ❤🔥

[@arvindalexander1884]

Come to India

[@m31a70]

Amazing

[@4WOF]

This video is pure joy and FILTH. Love you guys

[@brandonTHEshiados]

Holy fuck I love this. Can't wait to see them play this live.

[@mindseyemusicreview]

This is almost 10/10 perfect I just wish they would have pulled off those intricate blasts @2:43 the rest is amazing

[@MrJcrook88]

love every album by these guys

[@user-kn6dq8uw2p]

Love to see it boys ❤️ Exo is top 5.

[@ManuCuevas]

Si.

[@a.block.of.tofu.]

Reimagined tour was so good. Was VIP at Chicago and will never forget.

[@alvaroestebanjerezmorales9784]

Que buen sonido chicos 🖤🔥

[@jamesdavis5821]

Love this band so much.

[@Protester23]

💣💣💣

[@crestfallen821]

Damn I really crave for some new Contortionist tunes

[@Lightknight1991]

It makes my heart sooo happy to see these boys reprise their roles as the masterminds/musicians behind this one of a kind masterpiece album. Exoplanet and intrinsic are still two of my all time favorite albums to date and have been since both of them first came out. Exoplanet blew open my mind to what I didn’t even conceive was possible in music until I heard this magic. This album carried me through some of the heaviest storms of my life. Thank you guys so much for your creativity and your vision and for continuing to bless us with it to this day. Exoplanet and intrinsic always simultaneously gives me goosebumps, a raging boner, brutal aggression for the mosh pit, and spiritual insights deep within myself. You guys are magicians. Much love and I’ll see you in October in GA 👊💜

[@juliansalazar7097]

BRIDGE TO ANALYST. Always gets me hyped as fuck

[@benjaminmajorUT]

Such a damn good song

[@Padrigg89]

Wow that growls are sick!

[@dannehult]

So Amazing.. Pls bring this tour to Sweden/EU!!

[@derekd7666]

My body is ready

[@rounax666]

impeccable.

[@WoeIsLee]

I still have my shirt signed by every member thats ever been in the band. And I never have paid for vip in my life.

[@offensivebiasmusic]

Y'all are awesome, now and forever.

[@jemplayer]

I love the one dude in the pit wearing a Grateful Dead shirt 😂

[@johnconte9625]

lfg we're getting a live album i can feel it in muh pluums

[@ryanrowland5909]

OMG THEYRE COMING TO MY TOWN IN SEPTEMBER IM FUCKING THEREERERERERERERE

[@ThaTruth223]

Mike really smoked this performace, beyond sharp

[@jbjb9593]

I will forever love you guys! 🤘🏽🤘🏽

[@rossanorivadossi1890]

You are amazing!!! I hope to see you in Italy again… you have changed my life!