Funeral doom, at least on paper, is a pretty simple concept. Take doom metal, which in and of itself is basically just slowed down traditional heavy metal, and slow it down even further. Yet, some of the most popular bands in the genre have strange and ultimately really engrossing takes on it. Esoteric is one of these bands, and the misanthropic, psychedelic, and even downright evil sound heard on The Pernicious Enigma is not your average funeral doom. At two hours long, there are undoubtedly places on this record where things get somewhat tedious and long-winded. Yet, the moments that aren't are simply astonishing. The opening tandem of "Creation (Through Destruction)" and "Dominion Of Slaves" is one of the most unsettling slabs of funeral doom out there, and "A Worthless Dream" practically drips with seething rage. It's certainly an enigmatic album, and it definitely has grower potential as well, so this rating may change in the future.
Bump |
