TOMASZ PIWECKI is a solo artist who I've come to know from two previous reviews of his material. We became friends on Facebook, and he always lets me know when he releases a new album. Just a few weeks ago, he released a new EP, titled "Time Line," for which I have the pleasure of writing a review. The album contains seven new tracks.

"Fractalize" opens the EP, with dark clean guitar tones. Drums roll in slowly at first, then the main riff drops. It's heavy and aggressive. Piano notes come in for a spell, and then that dark and heavy riff returns. It segues into "Corrosion," which opens with some light electronica and an air of mystery. The main riff crushes you, and Tomasz lays down some really nice leads. Some piano notes usher in an ambient passage, and one where you can really take in some atmosphere. The combinations here of electronica with guitar are fascinating.

"Sphere" features Stel Andre on lead guitars. The opening sequence is like awaking slowly from a good dream. He really builds a nice atmosphere here. The main riff chugs away under this bed of lead guitar work that is fantastic. The ambiance is very pretty here and I feel like I am being carried away through space in a wormhole. "Time Line" opens with some more of that electronica that is really well done on the album. The main riff comes in heavy and hard. Here you also get some Progressive elements with the meter, and it's clear that Tomasz has really come into his own with the songwriting.

"Cyber Skin" is another song that features ambiance. Tomasz uses his guitar to lay out beautiful landscapes rather than shredding mindlessly. It's that kind of touch that makes the difference between a good album and a great one. Like WIDEK or DISTANT DREAM, he really knows how to structure a song. The piano notes at the end carry the melody he built throughout. "Solaris" is another dreamy song that plays equally between hard and heavy guitar riffs and moments of subtle beauty. The lead guitar notes carry a melody almost too delicate to be real. "Otherwise" closes the album, with a more punishing tone and he finally lets loose on the lead guitar, showcasing some real skill and dexterity on the axe.

I've really enjoyed the other albums I've reviewed by Tomasz Piwecki, but he really stepped up his game here on this album, building elegant and graceful passages along with the heavy ones to show the stark contrast between the two. He's grown as a songwriter as well, telling instrumental tales of solar travel or being taken to an alternate planet where your existence is gone unseen by the inhabitants. Sit back and take this wonderful journey and let it take you wherever it will.