10,000 Years Esox Lucifer Review
10,000 Years
Esox Lucifer
Ripple Music
2026
Swedish Stoner Metal outfit 10,000 Years is gearing up to unleash its fourth release, “Esox Lucifer”, courtesy of California's ever-reliable Ripple Music.
This is my first run-in with the band, but their sound wasn't unfamiliar for long. If you're into High On Fire, Wounded Giant, or Torche, you'll feel right at home. That said, don't mistake familiarity for imitation. 10,000 Years have their own identity, and one of their biggest strengths is knowing when to let the riffs breathe.
A lot of Stoner Metal falls into one of two traps. Either it's buried beneath a wall of noise where every riff blurs together, or it's so obsessed with being so heavy that it forgets memorable songwriting exists. “Esox Lucifer” avoids both pitfalls.
The band builds these songs around strong, melodic riffs first and lets everything else grow naturally from there. That's what grabbed me almost immediately. The guitar work has a surprising sense of melody, and some of the chord choices even carry a subtle pop sensibility, something you don't hear very often in this corner of the Metal world. Don't misunderstand me, though. This isn't Pop Metal by any stretch. It's still heavy as hell; it just knows that a great riff sticks with you longer than endless distortion ever will.
Does that make the album soft? Not even close. There's plenty of weight behind these songs, but 10,000 Years understands that heaviness and melody aren't enemies, they're partners. The gruff, gritty vocals provide just enough bite to balance the catchier guitar work, and the contrast works remarkably well. Strip those vocals away and you'd have an entirely different record, but as it stands, they give “Esox Lucifer” its own personality.
Another thing working in the album's favor is its runtime. Clocking in at roughly thirty-five minutes, it says everything it needs to say without overstaying its welcome. There's no unnecessary wandering, no bloated instrumental detours, and no moments where you're checking the track timer waiting for the next song. That's refreshing.
For fans already invested in Stoner Metal, “Esox Lucifer” is an easy recommendation. But I also think it has enough melody and accessibility to win over listeners who normally keep this genre at arm's length. Sometimes all it takes is one killer riff to open the door. 10,000 Years has plenty of them.
Standouts – “Fleur de Sledgehammer”, “Alien Tactics” and title track “Esox Lucifer”