Etherius: Phenomenal Technical Prog/Thrash Metal

Instrumental progressive/thrash metal can be put into one of three categories: “Phenomenal!” “Meh” or “Zzzzzz.” New Jersey’s Etherius decidedly lands in the former.

The band crushes on its debut EP, “Thread of Light,” with songs that showcase exceptional musicianship along with strong melodies that keep the listener engaged and enthralled. There’s plenty of guitar shredding and complex bass and drum prowess, but it stays within a dynamic, melodic framework and is never sterile. No vocals necessary here.

The disc’s first song, also the title track, announces Etherius’ arrival with a piano/classical guitar intro that quickly gives way to razor sharp thrash anchored by a memorable riff and guitar harmony that become the track’s main theme. The technical drum and bass work complement the guitars and the master class quality solos.

Second track “Soothsayer” starts off with a power metal feel and more stellar guitar work. The lead guitar forms the bedrock of this track. It’s aggressrive and played at warp speed yet remains tasteful. “March and Defy” gives listeners a short breather with a mid-tempo section, “The Inevitable End” intersperses prog-thrash and the mournful “Lament” finishes off the disc in fine fashion.

“Thread of Life” is exceptional in that there’s so much going on within the music that it’s worth repeated listens but is also easily accessible on first go around. It leaves you begging for more. The good news there is that the band is already working on its first full-length album.

Etherius consists of guitarists Jay Tarantino and John Kiernan, bassist Chris Targia, and drummer/Closter resident Zaki Ali The band performs at the Mercury Lounge in Manhattan on Sunday, Sept. 2.

We recently spoke with Tarantino and Ali.

How did Etherius form?

Tarantino: My original plan was to release a solo album. I came home from tour in October of 2016 and started writing the music for "Thread of Life." In January of 2017 I was in the process of finding a drummer when I bumped into Zaki at the NAMM show out in California. Zaki and I have known each other for years when our bands came up together in the New Jersey metal scene.

He came out to a gig I was playing and the idea of working on a project together was discussed. When I came back home from that trip I sent him the demos I made and he immediately started working out ideas for his drum parts. We started pre-production and I reached out to Chris to play bass because he and I played together for a number of years in a previous band and I knew his playing would fit the music perfectly. John came into the band because I knew him from previous gigs we had played together. I knew he had the chops to play this music and when we started jamming, he had a lot of great riffs that he brought to us for future songs.

What's behind the name Etherius?

Tarantino: We went through hundreds of names. We wanted a name that was epic, majestic sounding, something that fits our music perfectly. Originally we decided on calling the band Etheria. But we later found out that there was already a band with that name, so we changed it to Etherius. Which we all agreed sounds cooler.

The three fates from Greek mythology are reflected in the album’s cover art. How do the songs reflect the album title and the concept of the three fates?

Tarantino: When you think about it the story of the three fates is a very dark one. The sisters are portrayed as cold and unsympathetic and I think some of the music has a dark, aggressive vibe to it that fits that narrative. There are other softer, more melodic passages that portray a sense of reflection. According to the story, the fates decide when your life will end. People tend to lament, or reflect on what they accomplished, or what they regret not doing when they know the end is near.

How does the music relate to the concept of the three fates and how does the music in each song reflect the song titles?

Tarantino: Believe it or not the concept didn't come to fruition until after the songs were written and recorded. But going back to the previous question, the music in some spots has a dark, aggressive vibe and in others it is more melodic. Much like the story, the music takes you on an emotional rollercoaster.

What attracts you to highly technical progressive/thrash metal?

Tarantino: I was always intrigued by the amount of discipline and dedication it takes to be able to play technical music. In a way it's almost like an athlete training for the Olympics. But it can be real easy to get too caught up in trying to show off how fast you can play. You have to find the right balance between technique and taste.

Ali: I really enjoy the technical aspect of the music. Before I played drums I was a guitar player. I’ve been playing guitar for 15 years now. I actually watched a couple of clinics by [the Australian drummer] Virgil Donati and he was talking about feeling odd rhythms and I applied some of that to guitar and built up this rhythmic feel on guitar. Having a guitar background helps with a lot, especially playing with Jay, because a lot of the stuff that I'm playing on drums works off of the melodies of the guitars and complements what he’s doing. I like working with a guitar player who can really push the boundaries.

Playing instrumental music can be a tough haul in terms of gaining a large fanbase. Has Etherius ever considered enlisting a singer?

Tarantino: We wouldn't rule it out. Maybe not for an entire album, but a one off song with vocals is something we have discussed.

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