Esoteric - The Pernicious Enigma

Have been playing this a lot lately and even though I know it is AWESOME I never realized how brilliant it really is.
the spoken words in the intro to Allegiance is chilling

Written by InnerSelf on 07.10.2011 at 23:04

Have been playing this a lot lately and even though I know it is AWESOME I never realized how brilliant it really is.
the spoken words in the intro to Allegiance is chilling

In case you didn't know, it's from a movie and you're actually listen to Al Pacino. The movie is called "Scent of a Woman". Really good film btw, not really dark as the music that took the sample (although the scene where those words were spoken is really dense) but yeah... it's a great movie (with one of the finest ending monologues I've heard in a movie). Pacino got his first Oscar ever for best actor (well deserved let me tell you... still can't believe it took seven previous nominations before he got an Oscar).

Written by X-Ray Rod on 21.03.2012 at 22:38

In case you didn't know, it's from a movie and you're actually listen to Al Pacino. The movie is called "Scent of a Woman". Really good film btw, not really dark as the music that took the sample (although the scene where those words were spoken is really dense) but yeah... it's a great movie (with one of the finest ending monologues I've heard in a movie). Pacino got his first Oscar ever for best actor (well deserved let me tell you... still can't believe it took seven previous nominations before he got an Oscar).

Didn't know it was Pacino until I saw Chobo_jokeR list. I know the name of the movie and I love Pacino but I don't know why I never bothered watching it. thanks for the info

Written by InnerSelf on 22.03.2012 at 00:36

Didn't know it was Pacino until I saw Chobo_jokeR list. I know the name of the movie and I love Pacino but I don't know why I never bothered watching it. thanks for the info

I really enjoy that movie too. It's not the usual Pacino movie (gangster / cop), but it is excellent.

I'm actually listening to Pernicious Enigma now and wanted to see what people had said recently about the album. I totally agree with you Innerself...always knew this album was good, but it is actually quite brilliant considering it was only their second album.

2 hours of intensity.

Hard for me to choose between this album and The Maniacal Vale as my favorite Esoteric/funeral doom release.

Best album ever.

I think I've just grown a pair of supermassive black holes in my ears.

I bought this on bandcamp and it sounds brilliant.

Woohoo, got the latest CD remix/remaster. One of those few albums where the remix sounds better than the original. Only one more Esoteric album to go to complete my collection

Written by Zap on 11.09.2018 at 17:27
Woohoo, got the latest CD remix/remaster. One of those few albums where the remix sounds better than the original. Only one more Esoteric album to go to complete my collection

Got it yesterday. It's such a sexy package hehe. Now my Esoteric (CD) collection is complete.

Written by X-Ray Rod on 11.09.2018 at 22:07

Got it yesterday. It's such a sexy package hehe. Now my Esoteric (CD) collection is complete.

How and/or why does a package that comes from the UK arrive earlier in Sweden than Belgium?

Written by Zap on 11.09.2018 at 17:27

Woohoo, got the latest CD remix/remaster. One of those few albums where the remix sounds better than the original. Only one more Esoteric album to go to complete my collection

Now we get the Skepticism remix.

Written by Maco on 13.09.2018 at 05:45

Now we get the Skepticism remix.

Nah, I listened to the remixed song that was released a while ago, and while it definitely wasn't bad, I prefer the original.

Insanely amazing band. They make me fall out of love with other music.

Had never listened to this one before today (and much insistence from Radu, Mr. Doctor, and InnerSelf, might I add!). Managed to set aside the 2 hours for the full listen and damn, what an experience. Really high quality stuff: slowly building, ritualistic, and eerie. A bit different than I remember the later Esoteric material sounding though, production seems a little heavier on the treble, and also Chandler's vocals sound a lot more black metal-ish here than I remember, with more shrieking than usual.

Stellar release and quite ahead of the game for 1997.

Written by Auntie Sahar on 23.09.2019 at 03:28

Had never listened to this one before today (and much insistence from Radu, Mr. Doctor, and InnerSelf, might I add!). Managed to set aside the 2 hours for the full listen and damn, what an experience. Really high quality stuff: slowly building, ritualistic, and eerie. A bit different than I remember the later Esoteric material sounding though, production seems a little heavier on the treble, and also Chandler's vocals sound a lot more black metal-ish here than I remember, with more shrieking than usual.

Stellar release and quite ahead of the game for 1997.

It's definitely one of the top 3 Esoteric releases for me (this, Maniacal Vale, and Paragon) and arguably the darkest Esorteric album. I should try to make my way through their discography again before the new album comes out.

Written by Alex F on 24.09.2019 at 03:49

I should try to make my way through their discography again before the new album comes out.

I've never gone all through their discog but aye, I'm thinking of doing the same!

Written by Auntie Sahar on 24.09.2019 at 05:10

I've never gone all through their discog but aye, I'm thinking of doing the same!

I have, and I advise you to do the same at your earliest convenience!

Pff, I made my way through their discography as soon as they announced the new album.

Going through their entire discography is like going through every episode of Game of Thrones only without the shit ending.

Written by Troy Killjoy on 24.09.2019 at 18:34

Going through their entire discography is like going through every episode of Game of Thrones only without the shit ending.

Ugh you compared this wonderful band with that shitty show!!!!

This is the (sadly unpopular opinon to many it seems) unparlleled 90's Maniacal Vale although honestly this album so far has engrossed me the most. A walking mass of shuddering bleak, jaded dynamic psychedelia that carries ocasional outbursts of safe euphoria only to be sucked back into it's tar pit.

After listening again at the beginning of the year since inception to Esoteric, it's nice to see recognition appear revisiting back on here from everyone taking the right decision in giving it second chance. This effort deserves a higher ranking it's not even funny.

Yeah it is often overlooked, unfortunately. But I think the people that do know it think very highly of it and see it as an early career highlight.
I would love it if they played some more songs from this one live.

Written by Zap on 11.09.2018 at 17:27

Woohoo, got the latest CD remix/remaster. One of those few albums where the remix sounds better than the original. Only one more Esoteric album to go to complete my collection

This album with Metamorphogenesis were almost unlistenable for me in original form. I bought versions remastered by band itself and I was shocked how clear and awesome is it now.

Written by Stormm on 27.09.2021 at 17:19

This album with Metamorphogenesis were almost unlistenable for me in original form.

I can't say the same but I do understand. It's almost a shame that some of those melodies in the original Metamorphogenesis are so buried in the effects-heavy mix. I do think that that was what they were going for, but I'm happy there is a more clear-sounding mix available for those albums as well.

Written by Zap on 28.09.2021 at 12:40

Written by Stormm on 27.09.2021 at 17:19

This album with Metamorphogenesis were almost unlistenable for me in original form.

I can't say the same but I do understand. It's almost a shame that some of those melodies in the original Metamorphogenesis are so buried in the effects-heavy mix. I do think that that was what they were going for, but I'm happy there is a more clear-sounding mix available for those albums as well.

Actually, if I remember corectly, Greg Chandler once said, that final sound of those albums wasn't what they wanted. And that's the reason which led him to remasters. It was golden decision indeed. Listening to that lead guitar in Dissident and especialy in The Secret of the Secret is most ethereal experience now!

Written by Stormm on 05.03.2022 at 16:50

Actually, if I remember corectly, Greg Chandler once said, that final sound of those albums wasn't what they wanted. And that's the reason which led him to remasters. It was golden decision indeed. Listening to that lead guitar in Dissident and especialy in The Secret of the Secret is most ethereal experience now!

Seems I was wrong then, thanks for the info! I'll have to revisit both versions of Metamorphogenesis at some point.

Felt good to hear Stygian Narcosis played live last weekend.

Rarely have I listened to something so mesmerizing