Signing to the Prosthetic label after several years of D.I.Y. releases and split EPs,
the Esoteric made such a leap forward in terms of distribution and attention on
With the Sureness of Sleepwalking that it in some ways can be considered their proper debut album. Unfortunately, this record does not show the Lawrence, KS-based post-hardcore band at its best. In almost all ways, this is an utterly by-the-numbers metalcore album filled with gravelly, sore-throat vocals and incoherently mopey lyrics by singer Steve Cruz and tired unison guitar and bass riffing and sloppy double-time drumming by the rest of the band. Not actively terrible so much as merely forgettable,
With the Sureness of Sleepwalking can be recommended only to the most undiscriminating metalcore fan. The Esoteric would make a big stylistic leap forward with their next album,
Subverter, although that follow-up was unfortunately inspired by the band tragedy of losing their combination rehearsal space and communal home to a house fire, ironically on the same day they received the masters for this album. ~ Stewart Mason