The Esoteric - With the Sureness of Sleepwalking (13 tracks) +Album Reviews

People are Stupid...

Tim | Clifton Heights PA | 08/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"upon reading MOST of the idiotic reviews about this band it makes me think that no one knows anything about this band

especially the f**kface that compared them to Unearth and Atreyu

i mean cmon now be real here there are no unearth or atryu influences in this album i will say that the production overall isnt that good but its good enough

this is how metalcore should sound(it has no whiny crying vocals about how there girlfriends betrayed them like most of the f**king trendcore bands out now)

the songs on this album remind me of the early metalcore sound

(the good metalcore)

(although everyone else that reviews this album would disagree since they have been either listening to hardcore/metal for a week or just think that they know everything About Everything)

"

Better than sliced bread

JoeSnake | 08/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First and foremost disregard the review below...it is poor and comparing The Esoteric to Unearth and Atreyu is just criminal! With that being said here is my two cents, put this towards the purchase ;). "With the Sureness of Sleepwalking" is the audio dirge to which your eardrums will be laid into graves. The songs tug, pull, and lure you into what will be an audio pummeling you truly deserve. They are technical, but the songs are written well and have great structure, yes that is correct a band that plays technical music that can write songs. Not a collection of clicks and whistles. The Guitar work in intricate, groovy, and will even briefly detach and become a spacey landscape. The rhythm section could pass for a demolition crew, as it destroys you with precision and sheer talent. The vocals are always venomous, glass breaking, and stone shattering screams. Nope no whining on this record..not even a little whining basically picture this..The Esoteric are a bomber, and "With the Sureness of Sleepwalking" is the audio equivalent of a Daisy Cutter. If you enjoy your heavy music with intelligence and creativity then pick this disc up and learn something."

Blew Me Away

Earnest | MiddleAmerica | 12/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was afraid The Esoteric had over-estimated their audience - it's gotta be difficult to "head-bang" in 13/8, after all - but the incredible invention and sophistication of their music is making fans of metal-lovers who are starting to realize just how innane the crap they've been listening to is! Through relentless touring and hard work, The Esoteric is raising the bar when it comes to Metalcore while gaining new fans everyday - this album will challenge you and reveal new secrets with every listen. The addition of Marshall Kilpatrick on drums has made a big difference in the overall sound of the band (the drums on this recording sound GREAT!), but it's still the song-writing and intricately interwoven guitars that will blow you away. With The Sureness of Sleepwalking is the most creative thing I've heard in a long time. I wanted to give it 6 stars. This CD is a must-have."

Just Not Up To Par

Chris Conlan (BreakingCustom.com) | Iowa | 05/11/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Review By Ray Harkins:

After years of obscurity and general mystery about this band, The Esoteric now unveil their debut full length on the unsuspecting heavy music scene. Lawrence, Kansas has definitely been a center of musical commotion over the past few years with bands like The Get Up Kids, Appleseed Cast, and Coalesce all making their name known with the help of a producer named Ed Rose. The Esoteric also being buddies with Mr. Rose, teamed up for what was looking to be one of the most devastating records released in the past few years as he was responsible for such mammoth recordings like Coalesce's Functioning On Impatience and Grade's Separate The Magnets.

For those familiar with their previous EP's, some may notice missing elements that really made The Esoteric stand apart from the rest of the pack. This record tends to focus on their technical aspect of the band and seem to leave the atmosphere and space in the foreground. Songs like "Ram-Faced Boy" that really have a forceful impact when elongated, just seem to lose its steam toward the end. The layout is superb, but some of the lyrics are a little difficult to read over the vibrant colors employed.

Although this release somewhat let this listener down, people that enjoy bands like Ion Dissonance, Today Is the Day, and Coalesce can surly appreciate this release through and through as this is heads above most of the other "technical" bands that are around today."

UglyMunchkinReview

The Ugly Munchkin | Tentacles of Mars | 04/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"May the self-righteous be ignorant forever. Comparing The Esoteric to The Dillinger Escape Plan, Botch, Poison the Well, Unearth or Atreyu is like comparing Sonny Clark to Miles Davis, John Coltrane or Bill Evans...Same family tree, but sounding nothing alike. Fans new to any genre usually start out with only a few references with which to compare other acts. Once anyone fully sinks their teeth into a specific area, the broad comparisons become more refined.

Anyone who has been following Metalcore for at least a few years has had ample time to discover Coalesce, one of the genre's biggest and most reputable names since the start. Quality control in the shape of ex-members from various bands doesn't always pan out, but in the case of this album, "With the Sureness of Sleepwalking," Cory White's influence helped turn this record into a fine gem. I'm not crediting White with all the work, though. The rest of the band has been at it for years, and are what I consider to be subject matter experts.

This record is flawless. It has staying power like so many other classics: Shai Hulud's "That Within Blood Ill Tempered," Himsa's "Courting Tragedy and Disaster," and Coalesce's "0-12: Revolution in Just Listening" to name a few (as a quality comparison, NOT music or sound). You could consider this to be a "minor" classic if it makes you feel better, but regardless, The Esoteric's "With the Sureness of Sleepwalking" deserves your respect.

"

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