"Esoteric Symbolism" is the band's 4th album, and it is not a album for the faint of heart. The length of the album is around 1 hour and 18 minutes divided into 13 songs that alters from 3 and a half minutes to 8 minutes. So no real mastodon pieces can be found here, but that matters very little when several of the songs are still very grand. It is pretty obvious that one of the band's inspirations are Dream Theater, since Teramaze have several similar features, and especially the singer Brett Rerekura sounds very much alike James LaBrie. Besides from Dream Theater, I can also find some DGM, Trivium and Symphony X in Teramaze's music.
It is the technicality that lifts the music in "Esoteric Symbolism". The drums and the guitars (delivered by Dean Kennedy and John Zambelis) tests the limits constantly on how far they can take the music. Just listen to the speedy solo part in "Parallels/Dual Reality", the intro in "Transhumanist" or the incredibly heavy and catchy "Punishment By Design", and you will hear some of the fantastic and interesting musicality that Teramaze is spoiling us with. But the band does also a good impression when it comes to the epic department. Songs like "The Divulgence Act" and "Dust of Martyrs" can easily create goose bumps with their epic, yet heavy, song structures.
The album ends with a trio of epic tunes entitled "VI Order Out of Chaos", "VII Darkest Days of Symphony" and "VIII In Vitro" (wonder what the band did with I to V?). These three are probably the meatiest songs on "Esoteric Symbolism" and they almost feel like three different parts of the same, humongous song. They fit nicely together and makes a stunning and epic ending for the album, but it might be too much for some to take in at once.
Ultimately, Teramaze is bringing a modern and refreshing album in "Esoteric Symbolism". The record is a heavy progressive album that feels original, and the music itself is well executed. In a time where Dream Theater is stumbling in every new album, it feels good that Teramaze delivers some great progressive metal.
Songs worthy of recognition: The Divulgence Act, Line of Symmetry, Punishment By Design, Dust of Martyrs, VII Darkest Days of Symphony
Rating: 9/10 Transhumanists
http://teramaze.com.au/
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