In 1983 Brylewski emerged as the leader of another major band. Trading punk rock dynamics for Jamaican groove, Izrael was one of the first groups in Poland to embrace reggae music and therefore became the starting point and main influence for many artists, bands and DJs still active today. In May 1983 Izrael went into the studio, but the fruits of these sessions appeared almost two years later as the Biada biada biada LP. After two more albums, Brylewski moved his recording sessions to a London studio, applying fresh techniques and new production standards. The resulting album, 1991 merged tradition with cutting-edge technology and appeared to be a timeless release, with a sound that remains fresh and inspiring to this day. The band toured extensively, but after they released one more album of older songs, it was finally put on hold in 1994. Brylewski revived Izrael in 2006 (initially as Magnetosfera), and released Dża ludzie, an album of new recordings, in 2008.
While he was still a member of Izrael, Brylewski started a new band, Armia with Tomasz Budzyński in 1985. Although it was rooted in hardcore punk, Armia incorporated elements of symphonic rock,heavy metal, classical music and even folk. After three studio albums (including the monumental Legenda) and a live recording of Exodus, Brylewski left the band in 1993.
Since 1990, Brylewski has been working with Paweł 'Kelner' Rozwadowski on a new project based on samples and electronic instruments. Tehno Terror, released in 1992 as Max&Kelner, combined an experimental approach with beats clearly inspired by club music. After a series of concerts this project was also put on hold, to return in 2007 for occasional live shows.
Since 1993 Brylewski has been a key figure in the Falarek Band, a group that whose music is based on merging post-rock sensibility with industrial music influences. The band quietly dissolved soon after releasing its only album in 1996. Brygada Kryzys was reactivated in 1991 with new members. After releasing the Cosmopolis album in 1992 and a series of concerts, it was suspended once again, to return with a completely new line-up in 2003.
From the late 90s, Brylewski participated in numerous short-lived projects that fused rock, jazz and experimental music - The Users, Poganie or Dyliżans. He has appeared as a guest musician for both live performances and studio recordings in collaboration with, among others, Immanuel, Deadlock and Marionety. As a solo artist, he released two albums of electronic music. Warsaw Beat (1998) was an uptempo affair inspired by club music, while its successor (2004) leaned towards slower, moody, dub- infused sound. As a producer, he established his own Gold Rock studio in 1991 and also worked as a sound engineer until it was closed in 1997.
Since 2002, Brylewski has been working with Konrad Januszek as 52um. This is mostly a studio project that involves numerous guest musicians. The duo released two albums 52um (2008) and Superego (2010). May 2006 saw a one-off reunion of Kryzys. Eventually, the band finally reformed in 2008 for a series of concerts. The new album, which includes some reinterpretations of some vintage Kryzys songs, appeared in May 2010 as Kryzys komunizmu.
Selected discography:
Kryzys:
- Kryzys, Blitzkrieg Records 1981;
- 78-81 (compilation), Gold Rock 1994;
- Kryzys komunizmu, Songood House 2010.
Brygada Kryzys:
- Brygada Kryzys (live), Fresh Records 1982;
- Brygada Kryzys, Tonpress 1982;
- Brygada Kryzys (re-edition), Izabelin Studio 1991;
- Cosmopolis, Kamiling Co, 1992;
- Live In Remont '93, Złota Skała 1996;
- Live, Pop Noise 1999.
Izrael:
- Biada, biada, biada, Pronit 1985;
- Nabij faje, Pronit 1986;
- Duchowa rewolucja vol. 1, Arston 1987;
- Duchowa rewolucja vol. 2, Silverton 1991;
- 1991, DNA 1991;
- 12RA3L in dub, Złota Skała 1997;
- Dża ludzie, Lemon Records 2008.
Armia:
- Armia, Pronit 1988;
- Legenda, Wifon 1991;
- Exodus, Izabelin Studio 1992;
- Czas i byt, SPV Poland 1993.
Falarek Band:
- Falarek, Gold Rock 1996.
Max i Kelner:
- Tehno Terror, Kamiling Co 1992.
Solo:
- Warsaw Beat, Code Records 1998;
- Warsaw Beat II, Tone Industria 2004.
Author: Maciej Sienkiewicz, June 2010, update: June 2018