Being Editor-In-Chief for Metal Temple affords me a lot of opportunities. What I enjoy most, besides the tireless editing I do each week for free, is discovering new bands, and writing album reviews. One such opportunity came to me this week via a private message on Facebook. Tomasz Piwecki simply asked me if I would have a chance to listen to his new album "Dreamweaver" on Bandcamp. I had a few moments free, so I checked it out. It was one of the best musical discoveries I have found recently. So, I am doing what I love to do most, and writing a review for "Dreamweaver," which contains nine tracks.

"Tree of Life" is absolutely gorgeous. It reflects a songwriter, musician, and guitarist who has a sophisticated sense of melody and timing. The melody is simple but very catchy, and while you will hear clearly that Tomasz has some serious lead guitar skills, he does not let these dexterous maneuvers overshadow the beauty of the main sound. That meaty bass guitar also has a fantastic tone. "Cult" is a bit more mysterious, with a heavier sound and some chunky guitar work. He hits the accents hard with his chords, Djenting at times, with sound timing that reminds me of the fabled trio RUSH. Lush keyboards work well with his fretwork from the lead guitar passages. "Nautilus Part Two" opens with keys and piano, leading to a smooth and slow guitar riff. It turns a bit nasty but you are soon also drawn to the lead work. It closes at it opened, with rich keyboard textures.

"Aphelium" translated to English means "Aphelion," which is a space term for the "the point farthest from the sun in an orbiting celestial body." The song is aptly titled as a lot of the background ambiance and keyboard work is reflective of the beauty of the universe. The main riff is stalwart but works well against the alluring melodies. "Hourlass" circles around in an almost reprieve of the structure of first song, where Tomasz creates memorable hooks and smoking lead guitar that elevates above the weighted riff, thick with rhythm. "Hypernova" is a space term for a "very energetic supernova resulting from an extreme collapse of a star that forms a rotating black hole emitting twin energetic jets." The energy and weight of this song is very reflective of the title. The main riff is quite hypnotic, and Tomasz works in some more introspective elements here at times as well.

"Lilith" is "a figure in Jewish mythology, developed earliest in the Babylonian Talmud. Lilith is often envisioned as a dangerous demon of the night, who is sexually wanton, and who steals babies in the darkness." Dangerous is the sound here, but also magnanimous. The lead guitar work climbs into the spires underneath the heavy low main riff, and keyboard notes ring out above as well. His chord progressions are both cultured and easy assimilated. "Perception of Reality" closes the album, on a ride that I did not want to end. Keyboards lay out a suspenseful opening, and that meaty bass line returns. Sublime melodies soon take over, along with a thick guitar riff.

Guitar based instrumental Metal has been around for a long time, spearheaded by legends such as Yngwie Malmsteem and Joe Satriani. For the former, it was a lot about Classical scales and sweep arpeggios. For the latter, who often gets unfairly criticized for "shredding over emotion," it was about fun and enjoyable melodies, and man could he make a song come to life and a guitar sing. For Tomasz and on "Dreamweaver," he really breathes new life into the genre, with some Progressive elements and forward-thinking compositions. His focus is on more on then song itself, with energetic songwriting, and intelligent arrangements, along with wondrous melodies, which he can garner equally from all the various instruments that you hear on the album. In the end, it is just so much fun to listen to. Don't less this pass you by!