A Pyrrhic Existence is the seventh studio album by the British funeral doom band Esoteric. Just like the two previous albums before it, A Pyrrhic Existence is a double album. It was released on November 8, 2019 through Season of Mist.
| A Pyrrhic Existence | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 8 November 2019 | |||
| Venue | Birmingham, United Kingdom[1] | |||
| Studio | Priory Recording Studios | |||
| Genre | Funeral doom | |||
| Length | 98:15 | |||
| Label | Season of Mist | |||
| Producer | Esoteric | |||
| Esoteric chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from A Pyrrhic Existence | ||||
A Pyrrhic Existence is Esoteric's final studio album featuring founding guitarist Gordon Bicknell, who left the band prior to its release.
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Blabbermouth |    [4] |
| Metal Injection | [5] |
| Metal Storm | Positive[6] |
| Rock Hard | [7] |
A Pyrrhic Existence was released to positive reviews. Blabbermouth called lead single "Descent" an instant highlight, stating that when Greg Chandler's vocals "burst through the fog at the three-and-a-half-minute mark, it's like the voice of some fearsome, hateful deity resounding through thick storm clouds to the Earth below".[4] Jerome Reuter of Metal Injection notably gave the album a perfect score commenting on how Esoteric have once again set the bar high by releasing a double album with no filler. He ended his review saying "A modern Greek tragedy told in six parts, it's nothing short of a theatrical masterpiece".[5]
Accolades
edit| Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stereogum | Best Metal Albums 2019 | 5
|
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Descent" | 27:39 |
| 2. | "Rotting in Dereliction" | 15:51 |
| 3. | "Antim Yatra" | 4:40 |
| Total length: | 48:10 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Consuming Lies" | 15:16 |
| 2. | "Culmination" | 19:03 |
| 3. | "Sick and Tired" | 15:46 |
| Total length: | 50:05 Total 98:15 | |
Personnel
editEsoteric
edit- Greg Chandler – vocals, guitars
- Gordon Bicknell – guitars
- Jim Nolan – guitars
- Mark Bodossian – bass
- Joe Fletcher – drums
Miscellaneous
edit- Lisa Schubert – cover art
References
edit- ^ Kennelty, Greg. "Funeral Doom Legends ESOTERIC Announces First New Album In Eight Years". Metal Injection. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ Sacher, Andrew. "Esoteric Share 27+ Minute New Single "Descent"". Invisible Oranges. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ Rosenthal, Jon. "Esoteric, Eternally "Rotting in Dereliction"". Invisible Oranges. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Esoteric - "A Pyrrhic Existence"". Blabbermouth. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ a b Reuter, Jerome. "Album Review: ESOTERIC A Pyrrhic Existence". Metal Injection. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ Apothecary. "Esoteric - A Pyrrhic Existence review". Metal Storm. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ Schiffmann, Andreas. "ESOTERIC - A Pyrrhic Existence". Rock Hard. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ Chainey, Ian. "The 10 Best Metal Albums Of 2019". Stereogum. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ "ESOTERIC Make New Album 'A Pyrrhic Existence' Available For Streaming In Its Entirety". Metal Forces. Retrieved 19 October 2020.