A churning, explosive movement appears to be swelling when it comes to modern, groove-oriented metal. Probably due to the exploration of varied influences, there seems to be a sound that’s garnering attention not just stateside, but in all parts of the world. Take Chile’s Blaxem – a quartet ascending the ranks independently through a series of singles plus their debut album Who Cares before signing to Eclipse Records for this follow-up EP Ethereal. These five songs explode in a cathartic manner, taking into account aspects of djent, metalcore, and groove nuances to create a modern metal montage that’s quite addictive, especially for those who have been following the works of Bleed From Within, Machine Head, and Spiritbox.
Beyond his obvious larynx-laced screams or rhythmic delivery, guitarist/vocalist Daniel Hidalgo possesses a surprising clean, emotive side that comes to the forefront on the semi-ballad “Images of Tomorrow” – the crunchy riffs underneath prop the reflective atmosphere up many levels, as well as the neoclassical-oriented lead break Guillermo Malatesta unleashes through his careful picking. Stunted riffs signal opener “Grey Summit” and its obvious current leaning tendencies, the staccato-oriented bounciness an ideal platform for the listeners to galvanize themselves into pogo jumping, stage diving, or wall of death action. Heavier riffs that almost hit thrash-lines volley next to calmer verses on personal favorite “Miscellaneous” – the call and response vocals mesh seamlessly against the jackhammer downpicking and double kick action, while the midsection instrumental throws in everything from clean, almost acoustic parts next to solid modern melodic metal mechanics. Additional orchestral keyboard accents as well as ethereal, narrative voices build anticipation for the subsequent explosive riffs that take the title track into ideal positions, never overbearing the natural sonic output on hand.
Five songs in just over twenty minutes and change, you can tell these musicians not only have the knowledge and experience to execute diverse songs in convincing fashion – but there’s plenty more left in the tank to explore on subsequent efforts. Blaxem have already supported I Am Morbid, Arcurus, and Ensiferum to name a few in South America – with Ethereal, conquering bigger venues and festival stages will be inevitable.