OUT OF MYSELF

Out of Myself, Riverside's first album is a remarkable demonstration of the tremendous musical quality the recently- formed group was able to reach. Its excellence seemed to belong to a consolidated band and not to a rather new one.

The poles finely blend the progressive metal with the symphonic and neo-progressive currents. This brew results in an authentic atmosphere of melancholy and darkness: Piotr Grudziński's guitar, always immaculate even in the most complex of moments, admirably combines whit Jacek Melnicki's keyboard and the intense voice of the leader and bass player of the band, Mariusz Duda.

Out of Myself is a spotless piece of work. The following pieces are, at least for me, the best of the album: The same River, the opening song, a 12-minute legitimate progressive rock composition with an excellent final guitar-solo; both Reality Dream I and II (but primarily the latter), which are fine instrumental symphonies; finally, I Believe and In Two Minds, two outstanding and beautiful ballads.

Riverside's debut, then, was an immense hit. The newly-formed group entered the musical world with an album that would become an all-time classic in the progressive metal sub-genre. It is worth noting that Out of Myself is just the first part of a trilogy: after it follows Second Life Syndrome and Rapid Eye Movement.