Sergey Rybytskyy: In Labyrinths of the Soul (2012)

Ukrainian composer and instrumentalist SERGEY RYBYTSKYY is a guy with a lot of creative impulses it would appear. "In the Labyrinths of the Soul" is his second full length production of 2012, and it is a disc that holds a generally high quality too. Both in terms of material and performance. And as with his debut album, it is available through well established indie CD reseller CD Baby.

An overall description of his compositions is that they are neo-classical. Quite a few are purebred classical pieces performed on modern instruments, the trio of minuets all fitting that description very well indeed. Guitars, keyboards and careful use percussion are the dominating features of these creations, the tangents given just as much room as the strings to provide the haunting, melancholic moods of these constructions. Later on Nocturne is a good example of a creation exploring similar waters, but with guitar soloing a more prominent feature and the overall mod and atmosphere a darker one, emphasizing haunting over melancholic if you like. Or vice versa, depending on personal perspective.

The rest of the material generally falls under the neo classical metal description. Battle is perhaps the first of the more distinct pieces of this kind, this number a dark and energetic item that sounds like a refugee from Yngwie Malmsteen's studio. Later on title rack In the Labyrinths of the Soul explore this territory and related ones at length, and while this later item arguably is the most sophisticated on this album it's also the least interesting to my ears, the extended use of shredding in the first half of this piece a bit too overdone to manage to pique my interest beyond the stage of being pleasant. Otherwise Rybytskyy is skilled at constructing layered themes with many tightly interwoven motifs that maintains interest to a high degree, and is generally skilled enough to know just how long a theme or an idea can be explored.

Still, if you enjoy neo classical music in general and don't mind the occasional strays from rock to metal in this particular department Rybytskyy is an artist you most likely will enjoy. A tad to digitized in sound for some perhaps, but all in all a strong album of it's kind, featuring good quality compositions and performances throughout.

My rating: 78/100
Track list:
1. Minuet B-Moll
2. Mad Waltz
3. Memories
4. Minuet Es-Moll
5. Battle
6. Nocturne
7. Aftertaste
8. Minuet Des-Dur
9. Illusions
10. In Labyrinths of the Soul