Esoteric
Paragon Of Dissonance

Due to its renowned reputation, doom metal, and even more so the funeral "niche," is a genre that requires multiple listens to be fully grasped. It is a style that is difficult to appreciate, often presenting the listener with complex works, particularly in terms of form. The latest, gigantic CD by Esoteric, a cult doom band, is an album that does not escape the extreme funeral conventions, so arm yourself with patience and courage before savoring it.

Talking about Esoteric is always quite challenging: an extreme and at the same time singular band that triggers subjective emotions more than many others, making them adored by some and hated by others, who judge them excessively punishing, impenetrable, "self-destructive." To approach and comprehend every new release from the overseas ensemble is therefore something that has always been challenging, taking not a few mental and inner efforts from those who dare to dive into their engulfing seas. But the curiosity for this latest "Paragon of Dissonance" was such that even the "fear" of their lengthy compositions took a back seat, replaced by the desire to follow up on that unattainable album titled "The Maniacal Vale."

The sixth work by Greg Chandler and his associates is without a doubt a taxing and complex effort, as could only be expected. The conventions of funeral doom are fully respected, but compared to the previous chapters of their discography, in this case, Esoteric abandons itself to a more "melodic" and reflective atmosphere that does not fear to plunge into whirlpools of pitch impossible to bear. "Abandonment" is the baptism of this style where one realizes the crucial role played by the guitars, which halfway through the song open an unusual chink of light, then obscured by inexorable inner affliction. A combination of elements that creates a perfectly seamless rise and fall, probably one of the most beautiful songs ever composed by Esoteric. In contrast, "Loss of Will" stands out for a "rhythm" that is too static, while "Cipher" returns to outline dark and suffocating scenarios as only the British band can do.

Chandler's funeral remains indissoluble, and the melodic openings (already present in the past, by the way) are merely optimized from a compositional and formal point of view. That of "Paragon of Dissonance" remains a doom of difficult comprehension: this nonetheless allows Esoteric to express all their ability to diversify, their artistry with disarming ease: "Disconsolate" confirms this with a melancholic intro with a post-rock flavor that astounds with its unexpected tone. "Aberration" and "A Torrent of Ills" continue to show a band in top form, although a little less self-reflection wouldn't have hurt.

With "Paragon of Dissonance," Esoteric have reaffirmed a compositional quality at levels unattainable for most entities in extreme doom. Leaden, punishing but also capable of varying and being less "cerebral" than usual, Esoteric position themselves as Masters of their genre and rightly so.

Disc One
1. "Abandonment" (13:34)
2. "Loss Of Will" (7:05)
3. "Cipher" (9:15)
4. "Non Being" (15:30)

Disc Two
1. "Aberration" (15:44)
2. "Disconsolate" (15:33)
3. "A Torrent Of Ills" (13:38)