Reviewed - 08/10/04

Inheritance
[Crash Music]

So, there are two things in extreme music that I usually don't like: guitar wankery and melodic death metal in general. Who'd have thunk that when Esqarial put the two together this well that I'd actually enjoy it? Esqarial might just be Poland's answer to At the Gates, Death, and Yngwie Malmsteen.

Though I'm not saying that Esqarial are quite on the proficiency level of Yngwie or the near godhood of ATG or Death, they do manage to hold their own and create something unique in the process that borrows stylistically from each. What you end up with is technically excessive guitarwork in the midst of the catchy grooves and melodies of melodic death, but tempered with an edge of technical, old-school thrash/death brutality. The vocals are a somewhat decipherable death growl and some clean singing is used occasionally to great effect. Most impressively, these guys write some great songs. Their artistic abilities actually match their technical abilities.

Esqarial are an excellent metal band in every way. Good songwriting, technical proficiency, catchy brutality, killer solos - what more could a metalhead ask for? Keep your eyes on Esqarial, their name might be incredibly strange, but it'll be on every metalhead's lips in the years to come.