Esoteric - "The Way"

The mixing of Reggae and Metal should be cataclysmic, but Esoteric seem to switch genres effortlessly. You won’t find any riffage that combines both genres at any one moment, but both genres come into play in different songs and even back in forth in the same song. The seamless transitions almost turns what they are doing into something hardly noticeable, but what is noticeable is their good energy and that the music they have recorded on The Way should translate well live.
Kenny Williams, the vocalist, has a charm in his flaunts and flaws. He is a character, combining emotions moving from violent attacks to lyrics promoting peace. However his faults can take your attention away from his music, but with a little work smoothing out the edges, his voice could carry the band. Becka Nubell adds a smooth vocal backdrop on “I Freedom,” which is one of the better songs on the album.
Esoteric seem to groove very well when they aren’t trying to prove themselves to the metal crowd. They should focus more on reggae groves juxtaposed with melodic metal. They transition well from reggae into metal, but many of the hardest riffs played end up as waiting points for the grooves approaching. But they do succeed at times; an almost funky, metal guitar vamp opens up “Unite,” forcing much head bobbing. Conclusion: if you are tired of all the same metal convoluting the airwaves, then get this album (or at least see them live); if you aren’t tired of all the same metal convoluting the airwaves then please feel free to kick yourself… hard.