Riverside - Essential - Riverside have fast become one of my favorite modern progressive rock bands. Their laid back Pink Floydian sound infused with a bit modern prog metal is the perfect combination that creates their unique sound. Every album that Riverside has put out has been strong and Rapid Eye Movement continues to build the band s legacy. Musically the album channels fellow modern prog rockers Porcupine Tree and the mellower side of Opeth. I would think that fans of both bands would find a lot to like here. The music is lush and transcendent with a hint of metallic crunch now and then. Vocalist Mariusz Duda continues to expand his range and puts in a fantastic performance here. The CD also includes several bonus tracks that are also very good. For fans of modern melodic progressive rock with a metal edge this album is essential.
Catching Your Ear! - Although I ve known about Riverside for a while now I just never ventured out to really take a listen. But finally, I did and I m thoroughly enjoying their current release and have since downloaded their other albums as well and each album delivers. The lead singer s (Mariusz Duda) voice might catch you a little bit off guard, but I believe he does wear on you and there is enough other music on this album to capture you. I think, they do a fine job in blending progressive with metal and some screamo type vocals at times to keep things current. The instrumentals are top notch and I found the bonus track Rapid Eye Movement which is a nice instrumental touch. While I might not be a true and die hard listener from the beginning of this band there is enough here to enjoy. But, like I said, for some the vocals might hold you off. You will just have to decide for yourself and I really don t think it deserves a one star review as one reviewer has given. But in music, everyone has their preferences, good or bad.
Riverside is Unique - Riverside seems to have no issues about crossing genres. That s why every album they produce is unique. They are influenced from everyone: Floyd, PT, DT, even Radiohead with whispered vocals. There are elements of metal, but I wouldn t call them metal. They fit progressive and yet there s elements of pop, alternative and indie rolled in. So they aren t out to please purists. But I like that. Every song has a distinctive feel that s unique. It makes the entire album unpredictable and gives me a reason to listen again and again. In that way, I d say this is a nice addition to Out of Myself (my other fav). Riverside is also independent of RIAA.
Out of the ordinary excellent - Well, being a dinosaur allready in the universe of symphonic rock, still I m taken by surprise once in a while. Being raised embedded by the first vital signs of Genesis (Peter Gabriel era) and RUSH- this obsession with dramatic, epic and emotional painted rock overtook me when I didn t even grew pubic hair and still is with me, alive and kicking. Time made a lap of more than 36 years since that isolated magic, heaven sent day of glory, the day I just went 13 and my red ears picked up a dramatic drone of synthesizer chords in the hazy distance. Covered with goosebumps head to toe I followed that trail of sound, and ended up in the High School s stictly prohibited (being a snotty little nerd) Older Guys And Chicks Society. Amazingly they let me in, and through banks of smoke and lounging older authorities I had an encounter with the deejay on duty. The track which made me coming apart was Seven stones, on Genesis Nursery Crime, just released then. In the Netherlands only 120 albums of it were sold that year! I was a die-hard hardcore fan from that moment on...Now what! Amazon came in my life a year ago, and introduced several bands of which I didn t have any conscience. Riverside is the most recent one.I went bezerk. Out of this world! Their sound is dark, loaded and mystic. They take this taste of symfonic rock to a new level. Absolutely stunning!Thank you, Amazon, for giving me so much new music that s made in sync with my soul. Thanx a million!
Morrissey + Metallica = Crap - If THIS is what prog has become, prog is finished.Riverside has created Lounge Metal.The singer is like Morrissey--all breathy, emotive vocals. Falsely emotive, with swooping ups and downs bearing no relation to tune or concept. Think Bill Murray at his Lounge-Lizardy-est.And the instrumentals, though proficient, are nothing but metal cliches: chugga-chugga guitars predominate.I am at loss who would like this.The Lounge Lizard vocals should scare off 13-year-old boys. Yet 13-year-old boys, as far as I can tell, are the only ones who like metal.