Review Summary: The UK’s answer to Tool?
Rising form the lonely suburbs of Surrey in the UK, eccentric prog rock outfit Esoterica are determined to make their own unique mark on the genre. Many would argue that this mark has already been firmly established and with a John Fryer (Nine Inch Nails, HIM, Depeche Mode) produced debut under their belt, few within the strong following that they’ve acquired would disagree. Following a succession of tours and festivals which has seen them share stages with the likes of HIM, Marilyn Manson and Korn, the band now return with their follow up to 2008’s
The Fool and are here to show anyone who wasn’t interested before just exactly what all the hype is about.
This strenuous touring schedule has served the band well and has ultimately led to the development from their Goth roots to fashion a unique sound, one exclusive enough to demand the attention of fans and critics alike. Now encompassing elements of classic rock and prog-metal, Esoterica hit harder than before and seem assured to attract new fans to their already impressive posse. Not only do they combine these fundamentals to make something entirely strange and new, they do so in impressive style. Sounding relevant and catchy throughout, here we find an intriguing, highly accessible band creating impressive atmospheric music in their own style.
Kicking things off in explosive style with “Scream”, a razor sharp riff introduces us to the type of guitar work Esoterica have to offer, progressing from where they left off in 2005. Tobias Keast then marks his arrival on the album, verses which are driven along by crisp drumming, staccato effects and a fuzzy guitar riff. Stylish backing vocals between verses and a clean sounding breakdown towards the end make this a great album opener. “Tomorrow I Won’t Remember”, the album’s second single after “Silence”, is only slightly mellower but progresses in intensity. With a catchy chorus line and a psychedelic interlude, this is an album highlight and will certainly go down a storm live as well. Which brings me to the title track;
The Riddle. This is a song most listeners will either love or hate and your opinion on it may define your experience with this album. Extremely mellow, atmospheric and withdrawn compared to most of the album. I find this to be a beautiful masterpiece with yet another powerful interlude, this time reminiscent of “The Hollow” by A Perfect Circle, however, many people have been swayed by it’s mellowness in a negative manner and found it to be the polar opposite; boring.
So much do Esoterica have to offer by way of diversity, massive song structure and quite brilliant production, that a track by track review may have done
The Riddle more justice. However, I decided against this as I could ramble on about the layered and intricate nature of each track until the cows come home. Album closer “Watch This Drive” makes the best of the otherwise useless ramblings of George W. Bush in crushing fashion, closing the album in style with speed and heaviness.
Esoterica have produced an excellently crafted record full of intricacies that will appeal to a wide spectrum of music fans. Atmospheric production, an impressive if somewhat delicate vocal performance, steady drum patterns and an overall imposing guitar work all round make this album so appealing. While there are several disposable songs on here, the exact tracks will vary from listener to listener depending on which elements are most appealing to the individual. There is no doubt the band will tour this album as extensively as they did their first, and one can only imagine their fan base will expand vastly and rapidly due to the diverse nature and quality of the music they create. An excellent record from a band who’ve clearly worked hard for the success they’ve obtained.
