OUT OF MYSELF

Well, I don't know how many brilliant debut albums I reviewed lately; definitely enough to notice a certain tendency: 2004 was the year of the debuts, at least seemingly. And now I will review another great debut album, for me the highlight of all debuts I rated.

I have to admit that I never cared for / didn't know any band from our neighbouring country poland. Due to Danbo (thx again chum!) I discovered "Out of Myself" and was totally enthused right away. And referring to the ratings I'm not alone. The four guys from Poland created an amazing piece of music, a mixture of different styles and influences with a very own touch. It sounds new and fresh, Riverside are far from being a clone of anybody, even though you can spot some touches of Opeth's Damnation, Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd or Forgotten Suns. But it's just a point of reference. Regarding all their facets, Riverside is quite incommensurable. Their music can be described as a compound of psychodelic, so called retroprog and some prog metal ingredients which immingle to a very nice mixture in this case. The atmosphere is kind of dark and full of suspense throughout the whole album.

After somebody adjusts a radio (you can hear "Hotel California" by the Eagles for short), a dark droning bass and melodic guitar take over. A long psychodelic, almost hypnotic intro commences, mellifluously, until finally vocals accrue. After 12 minutes it's official: "The same river" is an amazing opener. The title song affirms it, "Out of Myself" isn't a very blitheful album. Elegiac guitar, Gilmore- like solos and dark keyboard layers create the perfect atmosphere. "I Believe" is an atrabilious acoustic piece and can be descibed as the calm before the storm, because the following instrumental "Reality Dream Part I" shows why I mentioned prog metal trimmings. Keyboard and bass solos in the beginning, awesome, melodic guitar solos in the middle section and the end. I have to mention the great bass, Mariusz Duda did a great job here. "Loose Heart" is a dreamy, quite psychodelic song with a devilish emotional ending, some would describe it as "cookie monster vocals" and contemn it, all I have to say is: simply amazing! It fits so good. "Reality Dream Part II" features great bass again. In the beginning it's one long guitar solo but the instrumental commences just like Part I ended. Watch out, some really terrific guitar solos will cross your way here. "In two minds" begins mellow and acoustic and stays it apart from short solos on electric guitar. "The courtain falls" is a highlight and one of my favorite songs lately. Very amtospherical, superb bass and even better vocals, Mariusz Duda in top form. It's remarkable how this song builds up a feeling of eagerness, an enthralling song. "OK", featuring trombone, marks the punch line of a great debut.

So just like all others I really recommend "Out of Myself". It's an exceptional debut by a very talented band. They raised the bar to vertiginous heights, I'm really excited about the second album because it's very difficult to maintain such a high level. Check out Riveside if you don't believe in contemporary Prog, because it will prove that black is white.

Share this RIVERSIDE review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to diddy
• Report this review (#32337)
• Buy RIVERSIDE music online with PA partners
• Show all RIVERSIDE MP3/Stream
• Go to RIVERSIDE page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Out of Myself page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for RIVERSIDE related discussions