Alex Cohen – Contrarian – In Gehenna – Exclusive Drum Play-through

Drummer Alex Cohen and Progressive Death Metal Masters Contrarian will release Sage of Shekhinah, the band’s 5th album, on March 17 on CD, vinyl, and digital formats via Willowtip Records. The album’s first single, “In Gehenna,” has been premiered courtesy of Heavy Blog is Heavy.

True to their namesake, Contrarian continues to defy the odds and steer the head of progressive/technical death metal towards a more organic approach. The band counteracts genre norms on Sage of Shekhinah with nuanced composition and subtle production.

Alex Cohen is perhaps one of NYC’s most prolific session drummers, having worked alongside artists ranging from Mac Miller to Malignancy.  He also writes drum lessons and interviews for Drumhead and Sick Drummer Magazines. Alex holds a degree in Jazz Performance from NYU and runs Solitude Studios, a high-end recording facility located in Carversville, PA.

In the past few years, Alex Cohen has emerged as one of the planet’s most advanced, progressive drummers. His first book ‘Ultimate Progressive Drumming,’ published via Hudson Music, was hailed as a landmark piece of drumming literature by drummers ranging from Derek Roddy to Charley Drayton. Most recently, he was featured on the cover of Drumhead Magazine next to Pete Drummond, Yoni Madar, Dylan Elise, and Ramon Montagner as ‘one of the drummers who is raising the bar’ in modern times.

Alex’s Gear:

Sakae Celestial Series (Jonathan Mover Custom Build)

8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 13″ toms

20″ kick

14″ Bubinga snare

14″ Pearl limited-edition anniversary Bell Brass Snare

Trick Black Widow Pedals

Paiste Cymbals:

16, 17, 18, 19, 20″ Signature Full Crashes

16, 18″ Signature Thin Chinas

 18, 20″ 2002 China’s

20″ 2002 Novo China

8″ Signature Splash on Rude 10″ Splash

8 and 10″ 602 Splashes

Full scale of 2002 Cup Chimes

Signature Mega Cup Chime

2002 Large Bell

Danny Carey Monad Ride

Reflector Bell Ride

13, 14″ Signature Sound Edge Hi-hats

12″ Rhythmatist Hats

13″ DJ Hats

14″ Dark Crisp Hats

14″ PST Stack

8″ 2002 Accent Cymbal

Pre-order Sage of Shekhinah:

Willowtip: https://bit.ly/sage-willowtip

Bandcamp: https://bit.ly/sage-bandcamp

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Track Listing:

1. Sage of Shekhinah

2. In Gehenna

3. Ibn al Rawandi

4. The Guide for the Perplexed

5. Zabur of Satfiyah al Shamal

6. Apollonius of Tyana

7. A Madman From Island Patmos

Album Credits:

Guest Bouzouki appearance by Michael Paouris on “Sage of Shekhinah”

Guest Bass appearance by Jack Eaton on “Apollonius of Tyana”

Guitars recorded by Doug White at Watchmen Studios, Lockport, NY

Special thanks to Bill Bodily for engineering bass recordings.

Drums recorded at Solitude Studios, PA

All songs written by Jim Tasikas

All arrangements by Contrarian

Produced by Jim Tasikas

Mixed by Neil Kernon for Auslander

Mastered by Alan Douches

Jim Tasikas and Brian Mason exclusively play ESP guitars.

Alex Cohen exclusively plays Paiste Cymbals.

Line-up:

Jim Tasikas – Guitars, Keyboards, Bouzouki

Brian Mason – Lead Guitars

Ed Paulsen – Bass

Alex Cohen – Drums

JaKob SiN – Vocals

Band Links:

linktr.ee/ContrarianOfficial

facebook.com/contrarianmetal

instagram.com/contrarianofficial

twitter.com/contrarianband

willowtip.com

facebook.com/willowtip

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