When one thinks of “instrumental” music it is hard to think past classical pieces by composers or horrible renditions of “pop hits” heard over the speakers in a department store. However, in the modern era thanks to bands like Caspian, instrumental music has taken more of a modern approach and allowed some of the industry’s finest to cultivate avenues to express their art in more non-traditional ways than they are accustomed to.

Lybica is an instrumental band from south Florida that blends melodic guitars with a strong metallic crunch for good measure. Birthed in 2020 during the pandemic by Justin Foley (Killswitch Engage) upon the realization that he wouldn’t be spending much time with his normal crew for a while. Anxious to stay productive during the pandemic days Foley had been working on some demos that he decided to share with some local friends (Doug French and Joey Johnson both of Gravel Kings) in south Florida. “I’d written a bunch of stuff that didn’t quite fit into traditional song structures, and I’ve always been drawn to bands where the instruments provide hooks, rather than relying on a lyric. It seemed like a good time to start something new and see where it could go,” explains Foley. Lybica released their self-titled debut via Metal Blade Records on September 16th, 2022.

The album opens with the “Ascend” which serves as a bit of ease in to the album as a whole. The opening is light and melodic and the track doesn’t seem to really kick in until about the 3:25 mark. As an opener it creates a ambient, almost cinematic, soundscape of sorts. From there the album continues to build with each subsequent track. With it being an instrumental album it is easy to allow oneself to get lost in the musical intricacies without focusing on the track titles. As the final note of “Ascend” fades out the opening notes of “Resonance” begin creative a very cohesive transition between the tracks.

This same cohesiveness serves as a constant throughout the album as each transition from one track to the next builds upon the almost cinematic feel that the album possesses. “Resonance” does end on a very powerful note followed by a slight pause that leads to “Palatial” which gives a feeling of embarking on a journey of sorts. Then “Oktavist” plays as the perfect backdrop for encountering and overcoming some major challenge being faced. It would be interesting to see someone write a story using the album as their sole basis.

Rounding out the album is “Charyou” which serves as the “credit sequence” in the overall scheme of everything. It continues to draw from the melodic ambiance that has been commonplace throughout the album and concludes it with a sense of finality, at least for this chapter.

Lybica produces a phenomenal album that flows cohesively from start to finish. Knowing that it was started as a side project during the pandemic and with things being back in a normal routine for most bands I hope that Foley and company get the opportunity to build upon what they have created with their stunning debut album.

Lybica is available via all major streaming platforms and digital retailers. Physical copies can be purchased here.

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