Polish based Alex Pilkevych has released three previous albums - 2014's 'Explanatory Gap', 2015's 'Within The Brain Drainery' and 2018's 'Jar Of Joy' - and this new album 'That Way Lies Madness' featuring four tracks (with an extra two tracks on the physical CD and vinyl editions) once again shows his adept way with progressive metal and acoustic tunesmithery. Ably supported by drummer / percussionist Adam Jonzi of VOLA and the ethereal vocals of Chiasma's Katie Thompson, with the album mixed by Max Morton (who has also worked with Jinjer, IGNEA and Shokran), 'That Way Lies Madness' is a complex, esoteric record with many differing elements making up the final product.
Kicking off with the short acoustic 'Madness' - with the sounds of Wroclaw's Jana Pawla II tram station in the background - the album moves into the experimental 'Honesty' with its insistent electronic pulse, Katie Thompson's delicate vocals to the fore and a sublime fluid guitar solo on a tune that shows a softer side to Alex's music. 'Celery' is much more harder-edged with its gentle passages giving way to sections of bruising, heavy guitar work and growling vocals, an intense middle part and a slightly jazzy breakdown featuring the excellent skills of Adam Jonzi. Final song (on the digital release) 'Trauma' is heavily influenced by the likes of Karnivool and heads out for 'the outer reaches' with its jagged guitars and abstract drumming backing a song that darts from one emotion to another across its complex sonic backdrop.
Prog-metal fans will find much to enjoy in this release from this talented artist with its twisting tunes, emotive vocals and experimental edges. Challenging, thoughtful music is the 'name of the game' for Alex Pilkevych and 'That Way Lies Madness' shows the undoubted qualities and fine musicianship of this artist whose oeuvre is well worth exploring.
'That Way Lies Madness' is available on all the digital sites alongside CD editions and a limited clear vinyl edition which you can pick up from Alex's Bandcamp site - www.alexpilkevych.bandcamp.com
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