Review of Esoterik’s New EP, Archetypes by DJ Jason
The first time that I encountered Esoterik was when they played at Respectable Street nightclub in West Palm Beach. They played a live show and since I used to guest DJ frequently for their old Friday Alternative nights MASS and Go! Classic Fridays, I was there to see it. It was Friday, February 10th of 2018. I remember thinking that they were unusually good and far better than the bands that typically played at MASS. I even purchased a CD which is something that I almost never do, since bands generally give me promos before I have an opportunity to buy them. Anyway, I made a mental note to keep track of Esoterik since I felt that they had great potential. The music then wasn’t really something that I could play in my sets since it was fairly synth pop oriented and not really dark enough to be called goth. Nevertheless, the writing was very strong with hooks and catchy elements that are absent from most young bands’ efforts. On hearing this new 2024 EP, Archetypes, I was really impressed and pleased that my intuition with Esoterik was correct. The music has matured wonderfully. Their new musical palette has been greatly expanded to include a broader range of sounds and has a much darker and more powerful feel to it without losing any of the catchiness that made them stand out in 2018. The vocal performance is outstanding with a nice variety of delivery resulting in captivating melodies and stunningly unique textures. Something else really nice for me as a DJ is that the dance tracks, Hero and Trickster, on this EP were immediately popular without the crowd having heard the band or songs before. I also feel that this EP is in lockstep with a positive trend in alternative & goth music clubs that is moving away from hipster based sounds. Nothing about this cutting edge new goth release is boring or overdone like the millions of Boy Harsher clones or very stale She Wants Revenge copycats (in spite of one of the band members wearing a suspicious beard). So, this is both a good breath of fresh air and an indication of improvement for culture. One of the top releases of 2024!
~DJ Jason
Here is the Official Press Release from the band’s publicist:
“ESOTERIK Drops The Highly-Anticipated New EP, Archetypes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 6th, 2024 – Dark Pop duo, ESOTERIK recently unveiled their highly anticipated EP, Archetypes.
Archetypes explores timeless themes that have shaped societies for centuries. The band delves into the power of language and storytelling, celebrating legends that transcend time and culture. These stories, rich in symbolism and ritual, carry the wisdom of generations and continue to captivate audiences with their enduring lessons and sensational nature.
This release, preceded by a series of captivating singles and videos, has been met with acclaim from both critics and fans. The EP showcases a refinement in both composition and production, with each single earning a spot on the Deutsche Alternative Charts. Notably, the track “Trickster” broke into the top 10, highlighting the band’s growing influence.”
Archetypes is available on all major digital platforms
