"The Esoteric display a level of technical precision that's comparable to their current-day counterparts Burnt By The Sun and The Dillinger Escape Plan. Although there is a hint of Coalesce influence (White has noted that he grew up listening and watching Coalesce), the band mixes various styles ranging from serene, atmospheric, almost eerie guitars to grinding blast-beats. For instance, "Our Best Elvis Yet" begins with clean guitar strumming, but then bursts into rapid-fire drumming and complex guitar lines. The track then begins to twist and turn in between crunch, a bit of offbeat rhythmic riffing and drumming, math metal, and some Coalesce-style guitar grooves. Most of the songs on this EP display these elements or variations, such as palm-muted riffing, guitar picking and intricate guitar leads.
For all the band's aggressiveness, it is not limited to the constant grind and barrage of riffs and double kick. Several tracks include melodic guitars ("Strategy of Luck," "Worth The Wait," and "Flight of the Botfly"), while one song ("Eye Child") has an almost sludgy stoner passage within. And while The Esoteric mixes things up, the group makes it sound so easy, as transitions between song segments do not feel forced. It's almost as if you can anticipate the shifts.
In terms of musicianship, it's top-notch. Honestly, I don't think there is a miscue by the guitars and vocals, or a misplaced drum fill. Everything is incredibly tight considering how rapid the song tempos can be. The guitars are mechanical-like in their riffing and grinding, the drumming is complex and constantly moving, and when everything is put together, it's perfect.
Bottom Line: Any fan of technical metalcore with a grind edge has to pick up this CD. The music isn't generic at all, the musicianship is quality, and the songwriting and arrangements are excellent."
8 out of 10
John Lambgoat
Lambgoat.com
5/9/2002