Esoteric

Esoteric is a funeral doom metal band from Birmingham, United Kingdom, active from 1992. The group forms in July 1992 and is known for long-form, heavily extended compositions, with lyrics and music intended as reflections of the members’ thoughts, philosophies, emotions and experiences.

Early releases and development

In 1993, the band releases the demo tape Esoteric Emotions - The Death of Ignorance, an 82-minute recording spread across eight tracks. This leads to an offer from Aesthetic Death to record a full-length release. In June 1994, the band records six tracks at Rich Bitch studios in Birmingham, and this material appears as the double CD Epistemological Despondency.

After that recording, Stuart and Darren leave the band, leaving Greg on vocals, Bryan on bass, Simon and Gordon on guitars. Steve later joins to complete the guitar line-up, while the band still lacks a permanent drummer. In 1996, Esoteric records The Pernicious Enigma, a second double-CD release of nine tracks lasting 115 minutes. The following year, Simon Philips leaves, and Greg moves from vocals to guitar to keep the instrumentation in place.

Albums and line-up changes

In 1999, the band releases Metamorphogenesis, a three-track release with a running time of nearly 45 minutes. Session drums on the recording are provided by Keith York. In May 2002, Bryan leaves shortly before the band begins work on its fourth album. Greg, Steve and Gordon record the album over the rest of 2002 and into 2003, with Keith York on drums and Trevor Lines on bass. This period also allows the band to refine the recording and production.

Esoteric signs to Season of Mist and releases Subconscious Dissolution into the Continuum in 2004. The album contains four songs and lasts 51 minutes. The addition of three musicians on keyboards, bass and drums in 2003 allows the band to return to live performance. Mark Bodossian and Olivier Goyet remain in the group, while Andy Semmens leaves after the European shows in 2005.

Later years

Joe Fletcher joins on drums in February 2007. Steve Peters leaves later that year and is replaced by Kris Clayton. The band continues to perform in the UK and across Europe. Its fifth album, The Maniacal Vale, is released on Season of Mist in 2008.

Members

Members associated with the group include Stuart Blenkinsop, Darren Earl, Gordon Bicknell, Simon Phillips, Bryan Beck, Greg Chandler, Steve Peters, Olivier Goyet, Andy Semmens, Mark Bodossian, Kris Clayton, Joe Fletcher, Jim Nolan, Jan Krause, Simon Walcroft and Mathew Barnes.