The Chilean metal scene is an underrated gem. I’m constantly discovering bands that put a unique spin on genres such as Black Metal, Death Metal, and yes, even Thrash Metal. Solipnosis is one such band, and their take on Blackened Speed/Thrash might be the most out there version I’ve heard yet. Released on the Sri Lankan label Virupi, Síntesis Silenciosa is an EP meant to bridge the gap between their debut Clarividencia, introspección, retrospección and their as of yet unknown sophomore album. This was also my introduction to the band thanks to a friend who happens to be a connoisseur of weird South American metal of all varieties. Musically, the obvious comparisons to fellow Thrash acts such as Demoniac and Vórtize can be made, but comparisons to old school South American Black Metal act Mystifier and tripped out American Black Metal act Spirit Possession are also quite prevalent.
Starting with one of three Spanish guitar-driven ambient interludes, this EP manages to make the tired trope of the intro/interlude/outro work quite well, building a sense of rich atmosphere and mysticism with a combination of beautiful finger-picked guitar and flute. From there, first proper track “Descender en alas de quimera” does an excellent job at setting up the momentum for the rest of the album. Then, all hell breaks loose. “Capaz de una obra mayor” absolutely bursts through the stratosphere with dizzying fretwork and snarling, feral vocals that are the main style sole member Centavri utilizes. However, he’s not limited to just one style of vocals, as shown in “Separación del qué y el quién”, where the halfway portion of the song goes into a straight-up Depressive Black Metal section and the vocals turn from feral snarls into anguished howls before the guitar work switches back and forth from the rather calm pace of a take on old school Black Metal to the mainly used Blackened Thrash on the rest of the album. After an interlude, the two final proper tracks on the album are equally jaw-dropping before a beautiful Spanish guitar outro. Complaints are few here, but if I had to mete out a point against, “Descender en alas de quimera” would work as part of the follow-up track, rather than one to build momentum. I’ve had a lot of fun across my spins of this record, and now that Solipnosis is on my radar, I find myself wanting more, and am eagerly anticipating their follow-up record and the untapped ridiculous potential this act stands on the precipice of.
