ALBUM REVIEW: Esoteric Hobbies – Pterodactyl Problems

Having formed in 2012, Canadian four-piece PTERODACTYL PROBLEMS immediately garnered much critical acclaim for a well-crafted sound that was predominantly heavy alternative rock, but also effectively reflected the sheer diversity of the musical backgrounds of each of the band members. Now, after a five-year break, and amid much anticipation, the multi-talented Toronto quartet has put together their debut album, entitled Esoteric Hobbies, and it is certainly an offering that does not disappoint.

Lyrically centred around growing up, and the mental difficulties, as well as the more joyous experiences, faced during what is probably the most crucial phase of a person’s life, the release opens with two tracks, Paresthesia, and Protest, that see the collective draw the listener in with mighty guitar riffs, pounding drum beats, and anthemic choruses, all of which are delivered with the utmost intensity, which along with a soaring vocal delivery abundant with rage, seems tailor-made for live spectaculars. The following two numbers, Alone In The Cold, and Crazy, move along at an even faster pace, resulting in a vibe that is less classic heavy metal, and more early pop-punk. Despite its title, Heavy is actually where things cool down significantly, with a more generally relaxed sound based around clean guitar work and harmonic vocals.

Constellations follows this by initially slowing the pace even further, beginning with some gentle acoustic guitar strums, which then give way to soft melodies and hushed vocal tones, however, about a quarter of the way through, the band seem to start teasing the listener by taking the music up a few notches, therefore leading them to think that the conclusion will be done in the vein of the first four songs, but just as that appears to be the case, things slow down, and the sound returns to how it was at the beginning of the track. Lush Lives sees the four-piece dragging the listener back, kicking and screaming, into fast-paced, heavy, anthemic fare, with a particular highlight being a superb crushing guitar solo, whereas Heroes Killers is a real toe-tapper, laden with groove and layered vocals.

Breathe is a more relaxed, acoustic-led affair, albeit with hard-hitting riffs that gradually build up, along with intermittent heavy bursts of electric guitar, whilst Exhale, an instrumental lasting all of 37 seconds, serves as an effective introduction to the final part of the album, which has a generally chilled-out vibe, with the music becoming more emotive and progressive, and layered vocals that convey the rather poignant and thought-provoking lyrical content. However, elements of heaviness do still remain, although on a more subtle basis, and this is most notable with Pictures, which brings proceedings to a powerful close, getting more intense and aggressive until about halfway through, the outfit suddenly shift gears back to a sound more akin to what was heard in the opening part of the album.

Overall, Esoteric Hobbies is a release that truly captures the broad musical scope of PTERODACTYL PROBLEMS, which simply would not have worked had it been placed in the hands of a less talented collective, and it will no doubt be of much appeal to those with eclectic musical tastes.

Rating: 8/10

Escoteric Hobbies is out now via self-release. 

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