Swedish progressive death metallers SKYFIRE have posted the first in a two-part series of webisodes in which members Martin Hanner (bass, keyboards), Johan Reinholdz (guitar), Andreas Edlund (guitar, keyboards), and Joakim Karlsson (vocals) sit down to discuss the group's upcoming album, "Esoteric".

"Esoteric" is scheduled for release September 14 in the U.K, September 18 in the rest of Europe, and October 13 in North America via Pivotal Rockordings.

A digital-only EP, entitled "Fractal", came out in July. It contains material written between 2004's "Spectral" and the "Esoteric" album. The EP is available through all major digital retailers.

SKYFIRE will embark on a tour of the U.K. in November with FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE.

Hanner recently revealed the concept behind the stunning artwork for "Esoteric" (see below), which was designed by Pär Olofsson (THE FACELESS, PSYCROPTIC, SPAWN OF POSSESSION) with layout handled by CULT OF LUNA's Erik Olofsson.

"The cover is basically a guy who is being initiated by a cult," he said. "You can choose to interpret the guy in pain as he is being burned alive by the cultists just so he can join, or you can interpret the guy as having achieved the power he sought, and he is screaming out of bliss and not pain. It relates to the title because a lot of us would think that what he is doing is kind of ridiculous — why would anyone want to join a cult? But people do strange things and they have their own subjective, esoteric sense of understanding that to the rest of us, is strange or crazy. I think we ALL in some shape or form have esoteric practices that a lot of other people don't 'get,' whether it's believing in something or even listening to metal music."

"Esoteric" track listing:

01. Deathlike Overture (intro)
02. Esoteric
03. Rise and Decay
04. Let the Old World Burn
05. Darkness Descending
06. Seclusion
07. Misery's Supremacy
08. Under a Pitch Black Sky
09. Linger In Doubt
10. The Legacy of the Defeated
11. Within Reach (bonus)

SKYFIRE is:

Joakim Karlsson (Vocals)
Martin Hanner (Bass, Keyboards)
Andreas Edlund (Guitars, Keyboards)
Johan Reinholdz (Guitars)
Joakim Jonsson (Drums)

For more information, visit the band's MySpace page.