Metal Reviews

Anyone into this band? These guys play pretty nice progressive metal from Poland. I recently got their second album Second Life Syndrome and i'm really starting to dig it, I thought i'd post somekind of a mini-review.

The album is quire varied, often it's laid back and atmospheric but other times it's omnious and crushingly heavy. It's not really the prog metal that is intricate, fast and crazy with soaring vocals but more to the laid back and sincere side of things. The band's sound could perhaps be described as somewhat of a mesh of Marillion and Pink Floyd kind of prog with Heavy (Death) Metal. A modern comparison i guess would be the sound that Fates Warning has developed in later years, though this band has more varied influences i'd say and are not quite as industrial, and they are perhaps a bit darker aswell. There are some very beautiful parts on this disc though so it's not focusing entierly on dark themes. It seems to be more about finding redemption in a very dark and bizarre world.

The vocals are clean for the most part and they sound pretty smooth and 'comfortable' to listen to, voices like those of Ray Alder or that guy from Shadow Gallery comes to mind. There are some growls here too but they're mostly used as a compliment really, as some of the more dark and intense parts require them.

Some great musicianship here aswell it seems (at least to my layman's ears), and the bass is more audible than usual which really adds a nice touch to the music...

Anyway, really good album with really nice songs. The instrumental track on the album might be the best instrumental i've heard in years, it shifts back and forth between being heavy and laid back but it keeps this flow running throughout it, really great stuff. If you like prog metal that are more to the Opeth, Fates Warning or OSI side of things as opposed to the Dream Theater and Symphony X school, check them out.

I have brought this band up a few times on these boards. For some reason nobody really gives a shit. I, personally, think they are amazing. The title track off of the second album is ridiculous. So is the track Artificial Smile (probably their most rockin track) They have made two very high quality albums and deserve more attention. Im glad to see somebody else listening.

I didn't like these guys at all when I first heard them. I'm not sure why. They did nothing for me and I felt they were overrated. But I eventually have them another shot and for whatever reason it was like listening to a totally different band. I really dug it the second time around! Now I think they're awesome.

I love how they're progressive but they sort of lean in that avant garde, alt-rock direction like Porcupine Tree (another band I've also come to appreciate after not being impressed) and Dredg (who just flat out kick ass!). This is why I never give up on albums I dislike at first. Anyway, Riverside is definitely a great band.

I listened to some of their stuff at a friend's, and they seem pretty cool. Can't say much though, just based on first impressions.

And it might just be me, but people seem to be having a field day with the term Avant-Garde to describe anything that deviates a bit from strict genre parameters. >.>

Am I wrong?

Solid band, I never really got into their debut but Second Life Syndrome is more aggressive, and since I like music that shows teh bawls I like it a bunch. Apparently they have a new album coming out in September so it should be interesting to see how that sounds, I hope heavier. x]

I also really like the Polish instrumental prog metal band Indukti, Riverside's vocalist guests on two of the tracks on their album SUSAR (I think making a thread about them here was how I found out about Riverside in the first place ). www.myspace.com/indukti

It is impossible for you to reply in a thread without putting a link to another band, huh?

I will say, however, S.U.S.A.R. is a really good album.

nope ^___^

Yeah Porcupine Tree i guess is pretty good comparison. That 's a band I'm not too familiar with though, i've only heard a few songs. They seem awesome though, i should check them out.

I remember you saying you didnt like them when you first heard them. I kind of figured, that you specifically would like them if you gave them another chance. They didnt click with me for the first couple of months that I had their first album either. Then the song Loose Heart really grabbed me. I even turned the end of that song into a ringer on my cell. I get weird looks sometimes.

I think they are great, and getting better with each listen, if u like prog you should try em out.

Tried a couple of albums, never could get into their stuff.
Boring.

Awesome band, already saw them live twice. Looking forward to the new album.