Contention, I would argue, has spent the last few years at or near the top of the heap of the return to 90's styled Straight Edge Metalcore. I am being specific because there is no mistaking Contention's influences nor their message. This is a STRAIGHT EDGE band that is far more indebted to Morning Again that anything that uses a melodic vocal line.
The short EP begins with a nice, menacing lead part before giving you the full Contention treatment.
There is no mistaking Contention for being edge but their lyrics paint a picture that makes "Firestorm" look like a Rockwell painting in its quaintness. The world is ending, and it will be especially bad for you if you're not edge. The willingness to be truly menacing in a way that traditional straightedge cant bear to get into as it bears more likeness to metal in its lyricism. When you get to the breakdown and 2 step parts in "Blank Stare" there is no mistaking how truly dark and antagonistic Contention are willing to get.
The it this worth it proposition for this record goes into must get territory once you get to the final track. Leaning into what they do best (heaviness, darkness and straight edge) they chose the best band to cover The Swarm AKA Knee Deep in The Dead. Covering "XOn Your KneesX" is a no-brainer to me but, Contention do it proud and blaze through it with all the rage that Chris Colohan (Swarm, Cursed, Sect, Left For Dead and probably another band by the time I'm done writing this)presumably felt when writing it years ago. Honestly, their choice in covers should tell you whether you will be into Contention or not. Needless to say this ticks so many pre-existing boxes for me and the energy and rage alone should convince any dissenting opinions.
