The Pernicious Enigma is the second studio album by the British doom metal band Esoteric.

The Pernicious Enigma comprises two discs with a total running time of an hour and 55 minutes.

The album was recorded at Rich Bitch Studios during the month of July 1996 and was mixed in October the same year, starting on the 9th and ending on the 15th.

The album was mastered at Strype Audio Studios, Oslo, Norway by Tom Kvalsvoll.

Kevin Metcalfe also helped cut the lacquer used for the record manufacturing for the album at Soundmasters, London, United Kingdom.