You ever find a band that you feel like you correlate with immediately? For yours truly, that's what the Esoteric have done. Subverter is by no means redefining of anything, but it's proof positive that if you know how to write a song that has the whole package, you're going to be reaching a hell of a lot of people, and that's what Esoteric have done.

When you read that Esoteric have the whole package, that's exactly what they have. Everything on this album, down to the lyrical concepts, is just brilliant, especially in songs like "Destroy, She Said" and "Science Is Sexy." Riffs are memorable, and the splashes of melody here and there do nothing to water down the momentum, but instead propel the band into this region of furious angst that should encompass metalcore / hardcore bands today.

But more fucking importantly: You know that whole Gothenburg sound? Gone. Botch worship? Not here. Of course, would any less be expected from a band containing former members of Coalesce?

One of the most impressive things about Subverter is that the music actually varies. "Destroy, She Said" starts the album out on a furious note that's completely indicative of The Esoteric's ability to write something to get a vein pulsing. Then, you have songs that seep into post-hardcore melody like "Shipyards of Foreign Cities," which also happens to be one of the premier songs from the album, conjuring forth Fugazi-like rhythms and Red Sparowes-esque atmospheres that even takes a turn for the vicious later on.

"We Will Not Be Convinced" races full-throttle with disdain for apathetic music as the lyrics are shouted: "The scene is dead and so are you. If this is where it's at, then we're through."

And clearly, that's not just some statement to make the poetic flow work. Subverter is a work full of boundary-crossing music that breaks up the notion of stale hardcore from bands like Hatebreed and their ilk. Easily one of the must-haves of the year, and comes with the highest recommendation. Make this your band. (10/10)