This is pure black metal for black metal purists. Mayhem
don’t expect everyone to get this as demonstrated by the album title. ‘Esoteric’
means ‘intended for or likely to
be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or
interest.’ I had to Google that. Black metal expands one’s vocabulary!
Unfortunately, I’m not a
purist. As much as I like the old skool stuff, I like a bit of modern
experimentation too. Mayhem are stuck in the past. They’re not killing each
other, making necklaces out of each other's skull fragments and burning churches like they were in the nineties –
they’ve fortunately moved on from that – but musically they’re still relying on
the same old tricks. The riffs are heinous, the drums are ferocious, the vocals are
diversely demonic and sole remaining original member, Necrobutcher, still knows
how to make that bass growl. It’s all deliciously evil, but just lacks a bit of novelty. This will appeal to a lot of fans but not me.
★★★☆☆
TRACK TASTER:
TRACK TASTER: