So, here we are in late 2010, two years after Sumeriancore first gnashed its’ gnarly teeth into the world’s Internet metal undercurrent and one year after it exploded up above it. We’re now firmly in the 2nd generation of the burgeoning sub-genre, meaning that today’s up and coming Sumeriancore bands have the first generation’s music to draw upon as direct influence instead of just combining the influences that spawned it in the first place. And of course, with any growing musical movement comes a ton of new bands. For 2nd gen Sumeriancore (let’s call it 2GSC for the sake of coining a completely ridiculous and unnecessary acronym), which bands will rise above and which will blend into the pack?

Of all the 2GCS bands coming into the spotlight of late, Indiana’s The Contortionist certainly have a shot at sticking around. Their sound incorporates the Meshuggah-style down-tuned riffing that’s a trademark of the genre but doesn’t take the melody over the top the way a band like Periphery does. They’ve also got plenty of lead chops but don’t take those over the top either, like, say Animals as Leaders do. Theirs is a brand that shows some restraint, ala The Binary Code, but their songs, shorter, catchier and seemingly willing to indulge in certain genre cliches (heyo tritone breakdown!), seem to go for the jugular.

Take a gander at their new track “Advent” below, and also at “Flourish” posted on their MySpace page. Both songs come from Exoplanet, out next Tuesday, August 31st, on Good Fight Entertainment. Pre-order it here. Let us know what you think.

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