Etherius Enthral With Debut Progressive Metal Album

Garden State progressive metalers Etherius accomplish an impressive feat on its stellar debut full-length album, "Chaos.Order.Renewal." The disc is progressive metal for the masses: a collection that that showcases virtuoso musicianship without sacrificing hooks, melody and tuneful songs sure to please musicians and non-musicians alike. Most striking: they do it all instrumentally, without a singer.

Led by guitarist/Perth Amboy resident Jay Tarantino, Etherius takes the listener on a memorable journey by throwing various elements of contrasting dynamics throughout "Chaos.Order.Renewal." The music emulates the song titles on the Egyptian-themed collection. For instance, on the outstanding "The Rivers of Sand and Blood," the music flows and roars with all the power of a mighty, cascading river encompassing all in its wake.

The water then recedes into the next track, "The Omnipotent," which starts with a piano and acoustic guitar before crushing guitar and a driving rhythm section kick in. The best example of shifting dynamics is the transition from "Unity In Darkness," an atmospheric piece featuring guitarist Angelo Vivaldi (Tarantino was the rhythm guitarist for the virtuoso before starting Etherius) followed by "The Eye of Ra," the album's most aggressive piece. The collection then bookends by ending with "Bringer of Light," another ethereal piece and perfect album closer.

The songs are compact and economical; there are no 10-minute epics here. The idea is to engage the listener and the band succeeds. Again, this is especially impressive as an instrumental band. Singer? Etherius doesn't need one.

Tarantino, fellow guitarist Jay Perkins, drummer/Bergen County (Closter) resident Zaki Ali and bassist Chris Targia deserve heaps of praise for realizing their striking vision on "Chaos.Order.Renewal."

We recently spoke with Jay Tarantino.

"Chaos.Order.Renewal." sees Etherius making a great progression from your EP, "Thread of Life" (though it's no slouch of a set by any means and more than worth checking out). There's more light and shade. To what do you attribute the band's growth?

The heavier music on this album is heavier than "Thread of Light" but there's also more acoustic, melancholy moments too. The biggest thing is this is a collaborative effort. "Thread of Life" was a situation where I had the music already written and showed it to the other guys, who helped with some of the arrangements. With this album everyone brought in music that they'd already written. I think that's why there's a difference in sound.

How does the album title and the Egyptian-themed song titles apply to the music and the band's philosophy for the disc?

It's loosely inspired by ancient Egypt. It's a subject I've read a lot about. Some of the music has a bit of a Middle Eastern vibe, especially when we added some of the keyboards and background elements. I think the title sums up the music pretty well. There are sections where it's totally heavy and kind of chaotic and then we bring back the order where the music is a little more structured. The last song ("Bringer of Light") is just acoustic guitar and lead guitar, there's nothing heavy about it. That represents the renewal. It's a new sound. It concludes the album in a perfect way.

There are chaotic parts but the songs as a whole never go off the rails.

The most important thing is that the song has to have a hook. You can't get caught up in trying to show off your chops a little bit too much, especially with instrumental music. I want people who aren't musicians to like our music too. We definitely flex our chops but we don't overdo it and go out into left field. We always bring it back to the song. I think we do a good job straddling the line. You have to check your ego at the door.

What made you decide not to have a singer?

We've definitely had people say, you guys could be so much bigger if you had a singer. But we don't worry about that. I've always wanted to do instrumental music from the time I started playing guitar when I was 13, 14-years old. I heard Satriani and Vai and was just fascinated by it. It wasn't just the virtuoso playing, it was how they were able to tell a story without having a vocal and appeal to non-musicians as well as guitar players. Every song has a hook to it.

What are the challenges of writing compelling songs that appeal to a range of listeners without a singer and lyrics?

When I'm writing I think, how can I be the quote unquote vocalist. It has definitely made me focus more on the song as opposed to the playing. You can have a super cool riff but it only works if it adds to the music. You can't just pack songs with riffs because they sound cool if they don't fit the song. You've got to serve the song.

You've played guitar for Angel Vivaldi, who co-produced the album and guests on "Unity in Darkness." What have you learned from that experience?

I've learned that no matter how talented you are you have to be willing to put the work in for every aspect. He's one of the hardest working people that I've ever met. There's a reason he's having the success that he is as a DIY artist. He makes sure that every detail is gone through. The little details are what really make things happen, whether it's business, writing a song or making a video. You can't gloss over anything.

What are you most proud about "Chaos.Order.Renewal."

The thing I am most proud of about this new album is that we were able to bring more acoustic tones into the music and mix them with the heavy elements in a way that brings more emotion to the songs. It creates a "light and shade" and makes the heavy, aggressive sections that much more powerful. We were able to cut the fat, so to speak, and show off our chops without it coming across as over the top.