With Nine Inch Nails fading into oblivion and Marilyn Manson continuously distancing himself from his earlier work, the gothed-up industrial scene that was once pushing the boundaries of rock music has seemingly disappeared. Mesh caps and studded belts may have replaced the eyeliner and black nail varnish but not everyone has succumbed to the rise of post-hardcore. Warlingham five-piece Esoterica aren't about to cash in on the emo bandwagon, instead bringing back the dark, industrial vibe of their influences and twisting it around into something a hell of a lot more interesting.
Think Maynard James Keenan fronting a melodic Fear Factory. Tool's intelligence with Deftones' excitement. Add to the mix choruses that sound absolutely huge and you find a band with all the elements required to hit the big time. Slick and polished but impressively edgy, Esoterica's finely honed sound comes as a huge surprise. For a debut release from a young band you'd half expect a hit and miss selection of roughly recorded tracks but instead the EP delivers six daring, confident doses of dark melody.
The EP's real strength is that it feels so effortless. Opener 'Exposed' flows beautifully and naturally with frontman Tobias' vocals subtly complimenting the subdued guitar work. The result is powerful, emotive creative expression shown off in understated, downbeat fashion. 'Life Is Lonely' again shows just how much potential Esoterica have with another dark, flowing track with the sort of chorus you can imagine legions of loyal fans belting back, should the band get big enough.
Whatever your musical preference, one listen to Esoterica will leave you impressed and captivated. Proficient musicians with the ability to write good rock songs without resorting to the tried and tested blueprint deserves respect. Fresh and exciting the quintet have the potential to go all the way. Expect them to turn a few heads in the future.
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