Album Review/ Alt Rock : Alex Wellkers’ ‘Reach the Stars’

Alex Wellkers is an alt rock artist with a cinematic style. The artist has just released their sophomore album, ‘Reach the stars’, an immersive neo-classical - rock orchestra that explores the theme in many frames. The instrumentals have a radiating heat, an atmosphere of performance and drama that surround the vocals. The thirteen song album is so uniquely alternative, carrying the pulse of his own vision and style. You see more bolder and braver accents and stylistic themes compared to his debut album. So much more exploration and expression. 

The album opens with ‘We Knew It All’. With its soft neoclassical intro, it branches out into a deeper and denser forest of rock. The vocals bridge the gap, drawing us in deep with its authentic stride and burgeoning sound. Flowing from classic rock to harder quotients, we see blues growing darker and complex. We see similar progressions in tracks like ‘Bring Me The Keys’ and ‘See Me There’. The first three tracks, a trio, prove to be great openers for the album. 

In ‘Desert Island’, there is a change in the instrumental texture and tonalities. It has longer rhythm arrangements, a crescending rise that is forged with electric guitar, acoustics, and an aching resonance in the backdrop. It has that endlessness, loneliness, and expanse of the theme. A frame that leaps out, formed entirely with feelings and human experience. 

‘There is Cars’ has a childlike curiosity to it. The atmosphere is lighter, joyful and wondrous. The vocals so beautifully blend moments of innocent simplicity with progressive complexity, expanding the theme across ages and time. And like that, the artist explores the many conditions of the human experience with contemplative and layered lenses. All filled in with an imaginative atmosphere, or a scenic landscape, or a powerful rhythm. 

In ‘Alles nicht so schlimm’, we see a feel-good pop rock build. With an instrumental carnival that is joyful and energetic. ‘Tu es ici’ has an anthemic form, so lofty and grand with skies of violins and a floor of rugged riffs and grooves. ‘She Will Say’ is a punk, hard rock blues song with emphatic beats, playful melodies, and nodding vocals. 

‘The Key’ is a rolling hard rock song with that perfect riff purge. ‘Mystic Saint’ keeps the vibe going but with a touch of psychedelics. ‘What Are You Searching For’ is the third song of this style. Browbeating beats, torrential riffs, and atmospheric guitars. The vocals have that hard hitting intensity that energizes the soul. Finally, ‘Au Revoir’, a perfect blend of neo-classicals and rock to create a theatre of goodbye and the melancholy that ensues. 

The album presents a rock richness with an alternative flavor that will take you back to artists like Linkin Park, Guns n Roses, and the like. That vision is so nuanced and the execution is so powerful and beautiful. It’s simply a spectacular scene. You cannot get enough. Each time you listen, the songs seem to align with a whole new interpretation and emotions. Listen Now! 

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The album is available for streaming on popular sites like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music! 

You can listen to ‘reach the stars’ by Alex Wellkers here -