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ESOTERIC POEM *

Asgard

Neo-Prog


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Asgard Esoteric Poem * album cover
3.16 | 39 ratings | 8 reviews | 15% 5 stars

Good, but non-essential

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Studio Album, released in 1992

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Esoteric Poem 1 (6:10)
2. Esoteric Poem 2 (6:25)
3. Esoteric Poem 3 (11:14)
4. Esoteric Poem (5:30)
5. Esoteric Poem (7:22)

Total Time: 36:41

Line-up / Musicians

- Francesco Grosso / voice
- Massimo Michieletto / guitar
- Marco Michieletto / drums
- Chris Bianchi d'Espinosa / bass, guitar, vocals
- Alberto Ambrosi / keyboards, flute, vocals

Releases information

Produced by Peter Wustmann for Music Is Intelligence
World Music Messenger Service WMMS 009

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
and to Grendelbox for the last updates
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ASGARD Esoteric Poem * ratings distribution


3.16
(39 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(15%)
15%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(38%)
38%
Good, but non-essential (26%)
26%
Collectors/fans only (18%)
18%
Poor. Only for completionists (3%)
3%

ASGARD Esoteric Poem * reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by loserboy
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars In '92 ASGARD released what I would consider to be the most captivating musical poems of all time... "Esoteric Poem" has been one of the most treasured gems in my music collection for a while and for good reason. "Esoteric Poem" moves just like a poem in nature and unveils its beauty line after line, offering a wide variety of mood and atmospheres. "Esoteric Poem" runs through as 1 complete 35 min song with many varied instrumental and lyrical passages. ASGARD were at their height of their creative carrer here and the album is given lots of space to explore... from fireside sounds to church hymns. Along the way we are treated to some real solid progressive rock full of classical guitar, keyboards and the operatic vocal accents of Kikko Grosso. ASGARD are one of my alltime favorite prog bands and this short little tune is a real keeper and should appeal to all good music lovers out there....
Review by Sean Trane
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog Folk
2 stars As I discovered Asgard through this album , I actually listened intensely to this stuff for a few weeks back then , but those times were crossing the Sahara from east to west(much longer). This album got me to believe that Fish and the boys were back and hiding in Italy incognito. This will appeal to Marillion fans and many neo-proghead although nowadays it seems quite irrelevant. Ok , give it another half star.
Review by progaeopteryx
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars Esoteric Poem is a disc-long, five part song timing in at over 36 minutes long. It's basically a long, rambling poem based upon Norse mythology concerning runes, warriors, despair, war, idols, and a host of other subjects. Maybe for fans of this kind of subject this might be interesting, but I was about to give it up in several spots on this work. If my pile of dirty clothes in the hamper spouted this stuff for 36 minutes, I'd seriously consider washing them until they stopped talking.

Musically, this disc is a different story. It's about above-average for a neo prog band, showing strong influences from Genesis and early Marillion. Indeed, Francesco Grosso does a decent imitation of Fish. Occasionally the music will reach a couple areas of boredom with long periods of ambient keys just holding notes and floating around for awhile. There are a few technical recording problems in places, but not serious enough to distract. Overall, the music is good, but nothing to make you want to celebrate with a bowl of Cheerios.

Overall, this could've been an interesting concept, but the poem is just way too overdone. I think it would've been more suitable to shorten the concept and leave room for more interesting songs on other subjects, or at least had more energy in the music. The other album I have from Asgard is Imago Mundi and I would recommend first-time buyers to start with that one as it is much better than Esoteric Poem. Three stars for a good, but not essential work.

Review by Marty McFly
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars I like good songs about nature. But it's mostly folk, which, although good style, is different from prog in many ways. I don't want to blame folk here, because I also listen it from time to time, but prog is more, well, progressive. So, to move on, when I heard The Dear Hunter and their nature themed songs, I was pleased. Now I hear something tagged as Neo-prog, but this records has a lot from prog folk inside. The spirit, this nature theme. But in overall it's neo I suppose.

Lyrics are very poetic, music interestingly mysterious. Don't expect death metal guys, this is nature's celebration with everything softer Neo-prog can offer. Muted synthetizers, nothing as strong as on (for example) first Marillion record. Strange how this album came in my mind with second track. 3:25 to be precise.

And yet another feeling of today's 5-star mood came in my mind. There should be something which would be preventing me from giving the highest rating. Every time I'm gave 55555, I feel little bit ashamed (only a very little bit, almost unmeasureable) and feel also need to explain my decision (this, in contrary, is strong).

This album flows extremely easily. But the rest, tracks 3 and more ambient, quiet and not so rock at all. Well, four stars will be just fine for it. Exactly four by my opinion.

Review by progrules
PROG REVIEWER
2 stars The only other work I own by this band is their supposed magnum opus "Arkana" but even that album didn't really thrill me in many ways. Just the compositions impressed me slightly. In the end I rewarded it with 3 stars. With this obscure second album Esoteric Poem it's an even harder task for me to get ethusiastic.

This short album is performed in the same gloomy, dark style as the more famous follow-up but the interesting large compositions are lacking here. The only track that does it for me is the shortest part IV and then only the rocky second half of it. The rest is uninspiring and makes me do what I already wanted to do with Arkana but couldn't do there because it simply would have been unfair but with this poem I have no problem giving it two stars only. Just for fans ....

Review by apps79
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
2 stars Having already entered their most busy period,Asgard did a lot of gigs but still found time to write some new material.Their next work was intended to be an EP before the second full- length release of the band,but ended up to be a 37-min. epic composition divided in 5 tracks.This was called ''Esoteric poem'',released in 1992 again on the German label Music Is Intelligence.

The title says it all.This is for most of its part a very long poem and only at moments a Progressive Rock epic.The first part is a long lyrical introduction with only hypnotic background guitars supporting Grosso's voice,by the second part Asgard remind of the band,which recorded the excellent ''Gotterdammerung''.Sensitive guitar work, dreamy synthesizers, romantic harpsichord and Grosso as a Fish clone,delivering an excellent performance.For the third and longest part Asgard return to the opening style,poetic lyrics surrounded by low backgound keys and guitars and only a MARILLION-esque middle-part close to the likes of ''Misplaced childhood'' remind that this is music and not poetry.The same story with ''Esoteric Poem 4'',which starts off again as a poem (music is totally absent),but after the middle the band offers some nice Theatrical Prog with guitar solos,keyboards and vocals to the front and, at last, some rockin' edge.The last part flows into the lighter side of Symphonic Rock with again plenty of vocals,low-tempo guitars and delightful keyboards,lacking although in terms of energy and passion.

What is really succesful about this EP is definitely the choice of its title.A trully esoteric poem by the band,heading to fans of atmospheric music and with only a few sunbeams of the band's style on the masterful debut.''Esoteric poem'' is propably created straight out of the members' souls,heavily leaning towards the lyrical side of prog,still one can indicate Asgard's creativity and pure talent...2.5 stars.

Latest members reviews

3 stars OK....... I will try not to joke too much here although I feel a long witty rant is just coming up. But frankly; this Italian band sounds and feels like the Fish fronted Marillion. The vocals, the sound..... most things here = Fish & Marillion. To this mix, add the band that Marillion once based ... (read more)

Report this review (#487853) | Posted by toroddfuglesteg | Thursday, July 21, 2011 | Review Permanlink

4 stars This album is one of my favorite pieces of music of all time. A stunning work that just has everything: great lyrics, great playing, great melodies and themes. It flows very well from beginning to end. I am confused about the other reviewers comparing Grosso to Fish. They sound completely di ... (read more)

Report this review (#64244) | Posted by | Wednesday, January 11, 2006 | Review Permanlink

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