Do you have two hours to spend in front of a loud stereo?

If yes, then start downloading this beast. Buy it if you like it, fuck this review. Just listen to the album. That is the point. If you have not heard any Esoteric, start here. Be warned that The Pernicious Enigma is extremely super long and it's best to enjoy this in one or two sessions. Have some free time to spare before beginning your endeavors with this masterpiece.

The Production:
Clear without being sterile and natural without being raw. Bassy, as doom should be. This is all that one needs to know really. You should try the following exercises to improve the already profound enjoyment of this album.

1. Smoke a little weed or drink a few beers (or both).
2. Stand in front of a decent sound system and crank the sub until your balls jiggle.

Doom and drone fans should be used to this behavior.

The Sound:
This thing will turn you into ash under it's psychotic maelstrom of darkness. What's scarier than black metal? This is. I think the navy blue vicar would be able to help me here.

HOLOCAUST GUITAR TONE OF PURE ARMAGEDDON.
NOXIOUS EARTHQUAKE RIFF CRUMBLES CITY INTO DUST.

Heh heh. If only he were around. Really, I could sum up the musical terrain presented thusly -- "the end is incredibly fucking nigh." Nothing is quite as overwhelmingly dreadful, gloomy, and just plain DOOMY as The Pernicious Enigma.

Boggling as it is, this music is incredibly beautiful as well. How can this be? It's true, a lot of this album is made of crushingly heavy heaviness. The mood itself is as such during the entire play. However, there are many relatively mellow parts in long, arcing transitions filled with psychedelic guitars so haunting that they will destroy your soul and uplift it at the same time. Blow. You. Away.

Plus the vocals sound as if coming from some omniscient demon who is leading you on a punishing journey through a crypt-filled, nightmarish wasteland rife with visions of death, decay, and despair. Does that sound fucking evil or what?

Composition:
Two hours of mind altering brilliance. This makes you forget what music is supposed to be because music is now this. Most everything is down tempo but they don't stick to a single one throughout. Esoteric mixes things up very well on this release. Varied, so therefore interesting and incredibly entertaining.

I never felt as if any part dragged on too long and it always gives me a strong desire to listen to it all over again. The replay value is fantastic since this record is so vast. No, it's more than that. It is immense. Giganto-normous. Epic tits.

In closing:
Fans of any style of doom should check this out, as well as those who may have not heard this particular album by this amazing band. Everyone should at least give this an honest listen even if my review did not wet your panties. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Just don't shelf it after the first listen and forget about it. Give it some time to work it's magic on you. Truly great music is rarely comprehensible on the first listen. At the very least, be prepared to give this multiple plays. It's so huge that it's impossible to digest easily.

Oh and whatever the hell a "pernicious enigma" is, it must be awesome because that's what this album is. When it's finished you'll be going "WTF JUST HAPPENED HERE?" Actually, you'll be thinking that the entire time!

The only funeral doom worth a fuss from what I've heard.

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