Riverside 2013

Best album I have heard this year. It grows after a few listens and is a good balance of softer symphonic & metal (for me anyway). A more refined sound, and starting to sound similar to Porcupine Tree, not in a bad way.

Recommended listening for anyone into modern prog/metal.

At the very least I love Deprived and Escalator Shrine.

Actually doing my second listen through of SONGS right now.  Didn't like it the first time, but I'm liking it a lot better now.  Kind of the best of Rush, Pink Floyd and Opeth's softer parts.

This one is a grower.  I was actually rather horrified the first time I played it through, it was quite different, but after the third or fourth go it just started to kick major ass.  I love it wholeheartedly.  It's a bit too new for me to slot it into some position in their discography just yet though. 

The bonus disc is just frikking awesome, I'd buy a whole album of that stuff if they'd make it.  But then I think Lunatic Soul (especially Impressions) is some of the best music I have ever heard in my (not short) life.

I flew from Canada to England to see them in London, and will be seeing them at RoSFest and in Syracuse.  :)  LOVE this band.

Everything I've heard by this band so far, at least for me, requires multiple listens to start appreciating the true artistic depth of each song, and their newest was no exception. I can safely say, though, that this album does not disappoint, and I was more than happy to give it a 5 star review. It's heavily underrated in my opinion, and I love every minute of it. Depth of Self-Delusion, We Got Used to Us, Deprived, and Escalator Shrine are works of sheer, unadulterated beauty, with the other tracks not far behind. Escalator Shrine is also in the running for my top 10 songs. That's a lot of stuff from yesteryear to compete against, but with each listen, it competes with style. It's astonishing how much better this album becomes every time.

geekfreak wrote: What I`m about to email don`t as. I have been NOW WHERE NEAR ONE OF. Album`s by RIVERSIDE. So where to start. Thank You`s.

overall, I'd still probably start with Second Life Syndrome, as it seems to be a very balanced representation of the band's style and output.

Riverside is one of the bands right now and Shrine of New Generation Slaves is one of the best albums this year.

Tom Ozric wrote: As good as I have found 'Shrine...' to be over multiple spins during the last 6 months...., I am currently on track 2 of ADHD and have to say that a lot of the energy has dissipated on the new album. 'Shrine' is very good overall, but only 'Escalator Shrine' really measures up to previous material IMHO.

I have to agree, though I'd add "Deprived" as almost as good.  So I guess that's still almost half the album, but somewhat disappointing anyway.  Nonetheless I don't regret having it in my collection.  Wonder what they'll do next.  Hope it isn't another three years off.

infocat wrote: Tom Ozric wrote: As good as I have found 'Shrine...' to be over multiple spins during the last 6 months...., I am currently on track 2 of ADHD and have to say that a lot of the energy has dissipated on the new album. 'Shrine' is very good overall, but only 'Escalator Shrine' really measures up to previous material IMHO. I have to agree, though I'd add "Deprived" as almost as good.  So I guess that's still almost half the album, but somewhat disappointing anyway.  Nonetheless I don't regret having it in my collection.  Wonder what they'll do next.  Hope it isn't another three years off.

There's a lot of love for Shrine...but personally I found it a little boring, of course there are parts of it I like but honestly nothing on it really compares to ADHD. I still prefer it on a lot of prog metal albums I heard this year but I expected much more from these guys.

Mariusz has changed his usual bass brand/maker to something new and the magical tone he had is just not entirely there. A small piece maybe within a whole jig-saw, but one I just can't ignore. Maybe it's the production....??