Javier Reyes

Javier Reyes
Name	Javier Reyes
Background	non_vocal_instrumentalist
Instrument	Guitar, Bass guitar
Genre	Progressive metal, djent, instrumental rock
Occupation	Musician, songwriter, producer
Associated acts	Animals as Leaders, Mestis, Haunted Shores

Javier Reyes is an American guitarist, composer, and producer best known as a founding member and rhythm guitarist for the acclaimed instrumental progressive metal band Animals as Leaders. Alongside his work in that group, he leads the solo project Mestis and is a member of the duo Haunted Shores with Animals as Leaders bandmate Tosin Abasi. Reyes is recognized for his intricate, polyrhythmic guitar work, often utilizing extended-range eight-string and nine-string guitars, and for blending heavy, technical metal with melodic and Latin-influenced compositions.

Early life and education

Born in Washington, D.C., Reyes was raised in a musical household with strong Latin American cultural roots, which would later profoundly influence his artistic output. He initially pursued studies in audio engineering at the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences in Tempe, Arizona, seeking a technical foundation for a career in music production. During this period, he immersed himself in the local music scene, drawing inspiration from a wide array of genres including flamenco, jazz fusion, and various forms of heavy metal. His early technical education provided him with the skills to later produce and engineer much of his own solo work, establishing a self-sufficient creative process from the outset of his career.

Career

Reyes's professional breakthrough came with the formation of Animals as Leaders in 2007, initially a solo project by guitarist Tosin Abasi. Reyes was soon recruited as a permanent member, contributing to the band's seminal second album, Weightless, where his rhythmic precision and compositional input helped define the group's complex sound. He concurrently launched his solo endeavor, Mestis, as an outlet for his more melodic and Latin-infused instrumental music, releasing the debut EP Basal Ganglia in 2012. Further solidifying his presence in the modern progressive scene, he collaborated with Abasi in the duo Haunted Shores, which released the Viscera EP in 2015. Reyes continues to be a core creative force in Animals as Leaders, performing on and co-writing all subsequent albums including The Joy of Motion, The Madness of Many, and Parrhesia, while also releasing full-length albums under the Mestis moniker such as Polarity and Eikasia.

Musical style and influences

Reyes's guitar style is characterized by a masterful command of polyrhythms and syncopation, often providing the dense harmonic and rhythmic bedrock for Animals as Leaders' compositions. He frequently employs extended-range guitars, notably Strandberg eight-string guitars and a custom Ibanez nine-string guitar, to access a broader tonal palette. His playing and writing with Mestis reveals a distinct fusion of advanced progressive metal and djent techniques with the melodic sensibilities and rhythmic patterns of Latin music, flamenco, and jazz. Key influences on his musical identity include the technical proficiency of players like Allan Holdsworth and John McLaughlin, the rhythmic innovation of Meshuggah, and the traditional sounds of Spanish guitar music, which he synthesizes into a unique and recognizable voice within the instrumental rock world.

Discography

With Animals as Leaders: * Weightless (2011) * The Joy of Motion (2014) * The Madness of Many (2016) * Parrhesia (2022)

As Mestis: * Basal Ganglia (EP, 2012) * Polarity (2015) * Eikasia (2018)

With Haunted Shores: * Viscera (EP, 2015)

Personal life

Reyes maintains a relatively private personal life, focusing public attention on his musical projects and collaborations. He is an advocate for music education and the technical development of guitarists, frequently participating in clinics and workshops, such as those hosted by Berklee College of Music and various music festivals. Residing in the United States, he remains actively involved in the global progressive metal community, often collaborating with artists like Plini, Intervals, and Sithu Aye. Outside of music, he has expressed interests in audio production technology, visual arts, and the culinary traditions of his heritage.

Category:American guitarists Category:Progressive metal guitarists Category:Animals as Leaders members