Riverside Album: “Second Life Syndrome”

RIVERSIDE - Second Life Syndrome

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Fusing the styles of Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd, A Perfect Circle and even touches of the legendary King Crimson, Poland's Riverside is an unstoppable progressive tour de force. Though offering nothing entirely `new' to the genre... They have created an album in exceptional beauty and with ample feeling. It is powerful, emotive and moving... I love whenever a bands music is actually `felt' and not just simply `heard'.

I could go into extended lengths about how amazing this CD is... But one listen to any track on this disc and it will sell itself...

Oddly enough my primary diet consists of Metal music but as a Prog lover and fan of Porcupine Tree I was told to check this out, and boy am I glad I did. Once again, I now have to update my Best of 2005...

Favorite Tracks: Second Life Syndrome, Reality Dream III, Conceiving You and I Turned You Down

-4.75 Stars

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I bought this album totally based on the reviews, without hearing a single second of music, and it is probably my best new discovery this year so far. This album is overflowing with lush melody, imaginative songwriting, intense emotional lyrics and heartfelt singing. There are many mellow moments, but it has plenty of heavy rocking moments as well. There is lots of keyboard usage, and refreshing, colorful guitar melodies.

The singer, Mariusz Duda, is the best I've heard since Daniel Gildenlow, maybe even better. His timbre is smooth, his range is incredible, parallel to the music, it varies from soft and delicate, to wailing and powerful, hitting high and low notes, and even a few screams which captures that true emotion being released.

This is truly some of the most _Progressive_ music I've heard. The different ideas and movements seem very natural as they flow into each other, forming crescendos and crashing down again, yet the next part of the song is always an exciting mystery, even after listening to it several times. The songs don't linger around forever with the same feel and then suddenly change, different parts last just the right amount of time before moving on to something new.

The title track is my favorite song here. It spans over 15 minutes, and every chord progression, every note, every second of singing is musicianship at its finest. At one slower part, between breaths there is a little twinkle of keyboard notes that snuggles in just perfectly. It is only one second of this song, but the little things give this album that substance so it never feels empty or drawn out.

"Conceiving you" is probably my second favorite song here. It starts with a contemplative piano loop which soon blossoms into a full band. The guitar solo shortly after is one of the most absolutely heartfelt melodies I have ever heard, and near the end of the song it climaxes and everything comes together, while the singer cries, "Still Conceiving you... all along..." Even though this track is short it always leaves me in astonishment.

Who says we can't make comparisons? I think fans of newer Anathema, Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd and Pain of Salvation will eat this album up like a huge cherry cheesecake smothered in chocolate sauce. You can hear the true emotion like Anathema, the long, shifting song structures like Floyd, the heaviness incorporated in like newer Porcupine Tree, and the brilliant lyrical content and lush blend of instruments like Pain of Salvation. The band isn't necessarily directly influenced by them, and certainly not "ripping them off," but like I said, fans of the previous bands will defiantly go crazy over this band; I know I love those 4 bands, and I love this.

This band has an extremely bright future ahead of them and I don't see how any intelligent music fan could possibly say this is bad. I don't think the band will ever retreat to any limitations or labels and will always do what's truly in their heart. It's my best new discovery this year and I'm very glad I "blindly" purchased it. I'll be getting their first album very soon. Rock on, guys.

Wonderful band out of Poland. I do have a few minor detractions to this album (as well as their last one); 1) I think with a little bit better mix and master these guys could really break very well into North America. 2) I could easily do without the opening 35-40 sec. of whispering. If the album had started right away with the beautiful a-capella that is the opening track "After", easily could've developed a much more receptive mood from the listener IMO. Highly recommended.

I had to re-write this review after listening intently for several spins. IMHO, there are albums when you listen to them the experience is just amazing. This is one of those albums.There is not a wasted note in this music. I've read countless reviews about "Riverside" and it seems they are always compared to PT,Anathema or Opeth. Let me say this: all musicians have influences albeit life experiences and other music etc.etc. The vocalist Mariuz Duda was asked in a review what his influences are and he simply repied "our emotions." Don't get into the "comparing" game, as some music listeners constantly do. Listen to this album with an "open" mind and remember this is "Riverside" expressing their own musical ideas and concepts. I assure you it will be a very rewarding experience.You must have an affinity for atmospheric prog-metal. Album of the year? Peace.

This blew me away. It's totally original, it's filled with real / true emotion, and is highly inspirational. Outside of the deep lyrical content, the guitar solos / arrangements are what really moved me. Whether you want to lable Riverside as a Metal band, or a Progressive band, one thing is certain, they compose their music from the heart. You can literally feel the music here, and because of it's pureness, it pulls you in....

I can't recommend "Second Life Syndrome" highly enough. Simply stated, Riverside is awesome, and "SLS" is a masterpiece that should not be overlooked. Buy it with confidence.....