Blaxem forge ahead with their new EP.
After an album that opened the doors to the live scene in their native Chile, Dann Hidalgo (guitar/vocals), Guille Malatesta (lead guitar), Chelo Romanini (bass/vocals) and Robert Unger (drums) unveil Ethereal via Eclipse Records.
The band directly attacks with a catchy groove on Grey Summit, a heavy first composition cut out for live performance, where Dann‘s howls are sometimes supported by Chelo‘s ones, allowing for near-constant aggression in addition to jerky riffs and double kick. Although the mix is as polished as ever, a slightly more Old School approach can be felt on Miscellaneous, recalling early 2000s Metalcore in addition to the clean vocals, but the band adds a heady little dissonant layer just as on Ethereal, the self-titled track that follows directly after. The chaotic progression between layers of modern violence is punctuated by a diversity of vocals, before finally reaching the gentleness of Images of Tomorrow, the EP’s melancholy highlight. The saturated riffs support the clear vocals, before the guitar solo comes to the fore, then the heaviness returns with Radiant Abyss, as do the screams, this time accompanied by backing vocals, samples and harmonics that make the mix majestic enough to close this chapter on a different note.
Although its roots lie in the most modern styles, Blaxem doesn’t hesitate to dip into other registers to nuance Ethereal, an EP that will undoubtedly appeal to fans of groovy sounds with a heavy mix.
75/100