Esoteric (band)
Encyclopedia
Esoteric is a British
extreme
doom metal
band from Birmingham
founded in 1992 that incorporates highly acute, distorted vocals and samples over slow paced riffs and atmospheric
melodies.
- a demo tape containing 82 minutes of material with a total of eight tracks. Shortly thereafter they received an offer from Aesthetic Death to record a full-length CD of new material.
In June 1994, Esoteric entered Rich Bitch studios in Birmingham
, UK
to record six tracks to be released as a double CD, titled Epistemological Despondency
. Soon after the recording of this album, Stuart (guitar
) and Darren (drums
) left the band, leaving Greg Chandler (vocals
), Bryan Beck (bass
), Simon Phillips and Gordon Bicknell (guitar
s). In September of that year, Steve Peters joined Esoteric to complete the guitar section. However, a suitable drummer was yet to be found.
Having only played a handful of gigs in the UK
, Esoteric travelled to Germany
to play a series of shows. Halfway through the tour, they were forced to turn back after an injury to Steve's leg made it impossible to continue. In June 1995, the band was back on the road with a small tour of the UK
. This tour was also cut short after only two shows when their equipment was destroyed by fire. Once the equipment was replaced, Esoteric began to prepare for the recording of their second release on Aesthetic Death Records.
In 1996, Esoteric entered the studio once more to record The Pernicious Enigma
- their second double-CD, consisting of 9 tracks. Towards the end of 1997, one day before they were due to depart for a short tour of Germany
, Simon (guitar
) left the band without warning. Fortunately, Greg (vocals
) was able to fill in at short notice. This has since become a permanent arrangement.
Progress was becoming slow without a full line-up and with increasing work commitments, and the three tracks that were in development over a period of two years were recorded in order to make way for new material; without a permanent drummer
, Esoteric was forced to use session drum-work, provided courtesy of Keith York
. Eibon Records
(Italy
) offered to release these tracks which were recorded, engineered and produced without the aid of professional mixing and/or mastering technicians, and in 1999, Metamorphogenesis
, was released.
In May 2002, just one week before Esoteric were due to start recording their fourth album, Bryan (Bass
) left the band leaving the three remaining members to record the album. This was done in intervals over a period of time spanning across the rest of the year and into 2003, using session work (as with their previous album) involving Keith York
on drums
and Trevor Lines on Bass
. After negotiation with various labels, Esoteric signed with the French label Season of Mist
. The album titled Subconscious Dissolution into the Continuum
was released on June 28, 2004.
Esoteric completed their line-up in mid-2003, including Andy Semmens (drums
) and Mark Bodossian (bass
). In addition, Olivier Goyet joined the band to perform on the keyboards
which allowed them to better orchestrate their material in a live environment, where the use of an extra instrument has become necessary to emulate the complexity of the studio recordings. Following this was a number of shows and tours throughout Europe in 2004 and 2005.
In 2005, Semmens left the band, Steve Peters left in 2007, and Olivier Goyet in mid-2009. Kris Clayton (ex-Imindain) joined as session live guitarist in 2007. This arrangement remained in place until 2009 when Ilia Rodriguez took over live duties. Jim Nolan, a permanent third guitarist was found at the end of 2009. Joe Fletcher joined on drums at the beginning of 2007. The 5th album titled The Maniacal Vale
and recorded at Priory Recording Studios
was released to critical acclaim in June 2008. Since then Esoteric have performed live throughout Europe. Gordon Bicknell left the band at the beginning of 2011. The title of Esoteric's new album "Paragon of Dissonance" was announced on Wednesday August 10 by their label site Season of Mist with Greg Chandler describing the album as a "varied and diverse mix of emotions and soundscapes."
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
extreme
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
doom metal
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
band from Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
founded in 1992 that incorporates highly acute, distorted vocals and samples over slow paced riffs and atmospheric
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g...
melodies.
Biography
Esoteric was formed in 1992, and in 1993, released Esoteric Emotions - The Death of IgnoranceEsoteric Emotions - The Death of Ignorance
Esoteric Emotions - The Death of Ignorance is an unreleased demo tape by the British doom metal band Esoteric. It was remastered in 2000 as an unofficial release on CDR.-Side A:# "Esoteric" – 9:06# "In Solitude" – 7:10...
- a demo tape containing 82 minutes of material with a total of eight tracks. Shortly thereafter they received an offer from Aesthetic Death to record a full-length CD of new material.
In June 1994, Esoteric entered Rich Bitch studios in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to record six tracks to be released as a double CD, titled Epistemological Despondency
Epistemological Despondency
Epistomological Despondency is the first studio album by British doom metal band Esoteric. The album was released in 1994 as a double CD through Aesthetic Death Records...
. Soon after the recording of this album, Stuart (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) and Darren (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
) left the band, leaving Greg Chandler (vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
), Bryan Beck (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), Simon Phillips and Gordon Bicknell (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s). In September of that year, Steve Peters joined Esoteric to complete the guitar section. However, a suitable drummer was yet to be found.
Having only played a handful of gigs in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Esoteric travelled to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to play a series of shows. Halfway through the tour, they were forced to turn back after an injury to Steve's leg made it impossible to continue. In June 1995, the band was back on the road with a small tour of the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. This tour was also cut short after only two shows when their equipment was destroyed by fire. Once the equipment was replaced, Esoteric began to prepare for the recording of their second release on Aesthetic Death Records.
In 1996, Esoteric entered the studio once more to record The Pernicious Enigma
The Pernicious Enigma
The Pernicious Enigma is the second studio album by the British doom metal band Esoteric. It was released in 1997 through Aesthetic Death Records...
- their second double-CD, consisting of 9 tracks. Towards the end of 1997, one day before they were due to depart for a short tour of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Simon (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) left the band without warning. Fortunately, Greg (vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
) was able to fill in at short notice. This has since become a permanent arrangement.
Progress was becoming slow without a full line-up and with increasing work commitments, and the three tracks that were in development over a period of two years were recorded in order to make way for new material; without a permanent drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
, Esoteric was forced to use session drum-work, provided courtesy of Keith York
Keith York
Keith York is a professional session drummer who has toured and sessioned throughout the world and worked with a range of bands, including Pitchshifter, The Lightning Seeds, Bivouac, Ladytron, and Esoteric, Bentley Rhythm Ace , Broadcast and Love Amongst Ruin...
. Eibon Records
Eibon Records
Eibon Records is an independent record label from Milan, Italy, founded in 1996. It is owned by Mauro Berchi and primarily focuses on very fringe underground music, noise/ambient and doom metal . It is also home to Berchi's own dark ambient group, Canaan...
(Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
) offered to release these tracks which were recorded, engineered and produced without the aid of professional mixing and/or mastering technicians, and in 1999, Metamorphogenesis
Metamorphogenesis
Metamorphogenesis is the third studio album by the British doom metal band Esoteric. It was released in August 1999 through Eibon records.-Track listing:# "Dissident" – 17:17# "The Secret of the Secret" – 15:11# "Psychotropic Transgression" – 11:47...
, was released.
In May 2002, just one week before Esoteric were due to start recording their fourth album, Bryan (Bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) left the band leaving the three remaining members to record the album. This was done in intervals over a period of time spanning across the rest of the year and into 2003, using session work (as with their previous album) involving Keith York
Keith York
Keith York is a professional session drummer who has toured and sessioned throughout the world and worked with a range of bands, including Pitchshifter, The Lightning Seeds, Bivouac, Ladytron, and Esoteric, Bentley Rhythm Ace , Broadcast and Love Amongst Ruin...
on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and Trevor Lines on Bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
. After negotiation with various labels, Esoteric signed with the French label Season of Mist
Season of Mist
Season of Mist is a record label and record distributor with subsidiaries in France and the United States. The record label was founded in 1996 by Michael S. Berberian in Marseille, France. From the start releasing black metal, pagan metal and death metal records, the label moved on to releasing...
. The album titled Subconscious Dissolution into the Continuum
Subconscious Dissolution into the Continuum
Subconscious Dissolution Into the Continuum is fourth studio album by the British doom metal band Esoteric. It was released on June 28, 2004 through Season of Mist records. Engineered, mixed and mastered by Esoteric at Priory Recording Studios...
was released on June 28, 2004.
Esoteric completed their line-up in mid-2003, including Andy Semmens (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
) and Mark Bodossian (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
). In addition, Olivier Goyet joined the band to perform on the keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
which allowed them to better orchestrate their material in a live environment, where the use of an extra instrument has become necessary to emulate the complexity of the studio recordings. Following this was a number of shows and tours throughout Europe in 2004 and 2005.
In 2005, Semmens left the band, Steve Peters left in 2007, and Olivier Goyet in mid-2009. Kris Clayton (ex-Imindain) joined as session live guitarist in 2007. This arrangement remained in place until 2009 when Ilia Rodriguez took over live duties. Jim Nolan, a permanent third guitarist was found at the end of 2009. Joe Fletcher joined on drums at the beginning of 2007. The 5th album titled The Maniacal Vale
The Maniacal Vale
The Maniacal Vale is the fifth studio album by the British funeral doom metal band Esoteric. It was released on June 26, 2008 through Season of Mist records. Engineered, mixed and mastered by Esoteric at Priory Recording Studios...
and recorded at Priory Recording Studios
Priory Recording Studios
Priory Recording Studios in Canwell, Sutton Coldfield run by Greg Chandler, professional sound engineer/producer and guitarist/composer/singer of Esoteric...
was released to critical acclaim in June 2008. Since then Esoteric have performed live throughout Europe. Gordon Bicknell left the band at the beginning of 2011. The title of Esoteric's new album "Paragon of Dissonance" was announced on Wednesday August 10 by their label site Season of Mist with Greg Chandler describing the album as a "varied and diverse mix of emotions and soundscapes."
Discography
- Esoteric Emotions - The Death of IgnoranceEsoteric Emotions - The Death of IgnoranceEsoteric Emotions - The Death of Ignorance is an unreleased demo tape by the British doom metal band Esoteric. It was remastered in 2000 as an unofficial release on CDR.-Side A:# "Esoteric" – 9:06# "In Solitude" – 7:10...
(self-released, 1993) - Epistemological DespondencyEpistemological DespondencyEpistomological Despondency is the first studio album by British doom metal band Esoteric. The album was released in 1994 as a double CD through Aesthetic Death Records...
(Aesthetic Death, 1994) - The Pernicious EnigmaThe Pernicious EnigmaThe Pernicious Enigma is the second studio album by the British doom metal band Esoteric. It was released in 1997 through Aesthetic Death Records...
(Aesthetic Death, 1997) - MetamorphogenesisMetamorphogenesisMetamorphogenesis is the third studio album by the British doom metal band Esoteric. It was released in August 1999 through Eibon records.-Track listing:# "Dissident" – 17:17# "The Secret of the Secret" – 15:11# "Psychotropic Transgression" – 11:47...
(Eibon RecordsEibon RecordsEibon Records is an independent record label from Milan, Italy, founded in 1996. It is owned by Mauro Berchi and primarily focuses on very fringe underground music, noise/ambient and doom metal . It is also home to Berchi's own dark ambient group, Canaan...
, 1999) - Subconscious Dissolution into the ContinuumSubconscious Dissolution into the ContinuumSubconscious Dissolution Into the Continuum is fourth studio album by the British doom metal band Esoteric. It was released on June 28, 2004 through Season of Mist records. Engineered, mixed and mastered by Esoteric at Priory Recording Studios...
(Season of MistSeason of MistSeason of Mist is a record label and record distributor with subsidiaries in France and the United States. The record label was founded in 1996 by Michael S. Berberian in Marseille, France. From the start releasing black metal, pagan metal and death metal records, the label moved on to releasing...
, 2004) - The Maniacal ValeThe Maniacal ValeThe Maniacal Vale is the fifth studio album by the British funeral doom metal band Esoteric. It was released on June 26, 2008 through Season of Mist records. Engineered, mixed and mastered by Esoteric at Priory Recording Studios...
(Season of Mist, 2008) - Paragon of Dissonance (Season of Mist, 2011)
Current members
- Greg Chandler - VocalsDeath growlA death growl, also known as death metal vocals, guttural vocals, death grunts, and harsh vocals among other names, is a vocalisation style usually employed by vocalists of the death metal and black metal music genre, but also used in a variety of heavy metal and hardcore punk subgenres.Death...
, GuitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(1992-) - Mark Bodossian - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2003-) - Joe Fletcher - DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2007-) - Jim Nolan - Guitar (2009-)
Former members
- Darren - Drums (1992–1994)
- Stuart - Guitar (1992–1994)
- Simon Phillips - Guitar (1992–1997)
- Bryan Beck - Bass (1992–2002)
- Andy Semmens - Drums (2003–2005)
- Steve Peters - Guitar (1994–2007)
- Olivier Goyet - KeyboardsElectronic keyboardAn electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
(2003–2009) - Kris Clayton - Guitar (2007–2009)
- Gordon Bicknell - Guitar (1992–2011)
Session
- Anthony - Drums (Recording)
- Keith YorkKeith YorkKeith York is a professional session drummer who has toured and sessioned throughout the world and worked with a range of bands, including Pitchshifter, The Lightning Seeds, Bivouac, Ladytron, and Esoteric, Bentley Rhythm Ace , Broadcast and Love Amongst Ruin...
- Drums (Recording) - Trevor Lines - Bass (Recording)
- Ilia Rodriguez - Guitar (Live)