Escher's EP

There's not much to say about Escher. And yet, there is much that can be heard from Escher. Sure, you can spend time focusing on the fact that the album was mixed and mastered on a budget, using whatever they could get there hands on. Maybe that was the case, but I'm not here to critique just that side of the album.

So I downloaded the free EP that they put on this site, not knowing what to expect, as I often do with names that aren't bounced around on this site very much. It's like going into a candy store and everything is labeled, but you have no idea what any of the flavors taste like. It's both intriguing to find groups you had no idea would resonate so strongly with you and annoying when you get that strange, cultural candy with the scorpion in it that was wrapped in such dense plastic you couldn't see it until after you got it. Candy metaphors aside, Escher is pretty good. There is some form of concept regarding aliens, as seen in the very first track "The Inverse". Weird instrumental sounds layered over some heavier riffs with decent screams seems to be the constant sound in the album. The group establish their sound and move forward to the end of the EP, leaving the listener basically on the same level of interest from listening to the album.

Now, that previous sentence would be if you were to listen to this album passively. Those alien, space-y elements do tend to stick out, but delving deeper into the way each track is composed, and you find some originality thrown in. This cosmic metal licks and tricks open up to a wide array of possibilities. Jazz interludes, djent-y grooves, and breakdowns definitely make a presence on any of these 5 tracks. The riffs themselves don't tend to stick on one idea for awhile like some bands do (I personally hate it, unless the riff is just too good, even after being played over and over and over).

In my opinion, Escher, at this stage in the game, do have some potential. Concept ideas float around in the lyrics and are reflected in the instruments at times. A variety of textures and styles give each track diversity. The quality of the recordings makes me believe this group to be a better presence live, and when playing live I imagine they are earlier on the lineup. This is fine with me, as I wouldn't mind them to open up for other bands, as they can really send the message that "hey, we may be an opener, but we aren't the millions of hardcore/metalcore clones that clog cities at concerts". So get the EP if you want yourself a listen. Nothing exciting, but again, potential is there for them to progress and they do craft the beginnings of their own sound as a group.