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Esoteric - The Maniacal Vale



8.6 | 264 votes |
Release date: 16 June 2008
Style: Funeral doom metal, Psychedelic doom metal

Owners:

297 have it
33 want it
2 trade it


Disc I
01. Circle
02. Beneath This Face
03. Quickening
04. Caucus Of Mind

Disc II
01. Silence
02. The Order Of Destiny
03. Ignotum Per Ignotius

The Best Extreme Doom Metal Album Of 2008
Top 20 albums of 2008: 11

Additional info
Written and produced by Esoteric.
Engineered, mixed and mastered by Greg Chandler/Esoteric at Priority Recording Studios.
Vinyl master cut by Kevin Metcalfe at Soundmasters.
Artwork by Kati Astraeir.
Layout by Mauro Berchi.

Staff review by
jupitreas
Rating:
N/A
Who needs a soul anyway?

For the last 16 years or so and with every consecutive release, Esoteric get just a little bit closer to finally condemning us all to hell, and I personally respect any band with a disposition this sunny. The Maniacal Vale is not only another step in this tortured evolution - it is the band's ultimate masterpiece and an experience so overwhelming that it will completely blow the mind and shatter the senses. Yes, for all intents and purposes, this is a perfect album and one that will be remembered for a long time as a phenomenal achievement in every way.

Read more ››
published 11.07.2008 | Comments (40)

01.05.2010
The Maniacal Vale is, in my humble opinion, the single most devastating release ever.

It lures the listener in with "Circle", which has possibly the most emotive opening ever written. Within moments, the mood has shifted completely and you find yourself spiraling downwards a column of fire. There is no escape, there is no return. A hundred minutes later your soul has completely perished and your now lifeless body will crave salvation. Alas, those that have visited the abyss are condemned to dwell in hellfire forever.

It is hellfire.

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Comments page 4 / 4

Comments: 95   Visited by: 779 users
05.12.2020 - 11:15
EccePrimordium

Three times I tried to listen to this album and all three of them I had to stop as "Circle" finished. Its one of the most gargantuan songs I've ever listened to. Maybe I'll man up and try for the whole album again soon.
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27.09.2021 - 17:00
Stormm

Written by Metren on 22.02.2018 at 19:31

Well, this was an experience of pure awesomeness. Never thought I'd say this about any album other than Lurker Of Chalice, but I feel like complementing this album in-depth is a bit pointless, like complementing the universe. Yes, the universe is "amazing", but it is also amazingly indifferent to how amazing you think it is. So I'll just say this album defeated me. I didn't even feel its length tbh, at some point I was just thinking: if this goes on forever, let it, I'm fine with that.

I do think one thing should be mentioned that I didn't notice mentioned in this thread, which is that the production is just perfect. This album couldn't sound any better if it tried.

Thanks VIG for the recommendation, I owe you one.


This and Paragon Of Dissonance are both albums with great production and I highly adore this fact. And I see it as a kind of satisfaction for Esoteric. Because of fact that they were struggling with production quality in 90's.
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28.03.2023 - 23:14
F3ynman2000
Nocturnal Bro
This is probably a very impressive album for funeral doom fans, but I sadly find myself not having the patience to sit through it
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20.02.2024 - 03:59
Rating: 9
Roman Doez
Hallucigenia
Written by F3ynman2000 on 28.03.2023 at 23:14

This is probably a very impressive album for funeral doom fans, but I sadly find myself not having the patience to sit through it

If you still haven't given Esoteric another shot, try out Metamorphogenesis, it's only 45 minutes long
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07.03.2024 - 23:52
Rating: 9
Bjamm

This album is insanely heavy!
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