ANNO DOMINI HIGH DEFINITION

From the time of announcement of their new release, which would start something new compared to their debut trilogy, Riverside were expected in front of an experimentum crucis. Would they confirm their previous tendencies and sound, which resulted to be relatively stale in their last output? Would they keep the same influences? Would they bend to market requests, as some other leading band appeared to have done?

ADHD is here to demonstrate that Riverside fully deserve the title of one of present day leading band of progressive metal. This album showcase a remarkable creative torsion by the band, a leap forward that while confirming all the good from the past aims at reinstatiating it in new directions - at demonstrating that the band's emotional, even sentimental, deep and reflective character is not rooted in a single pattern or circumstance, but can be carried along in whatever situation.

Extraordinarily tight and full of substance, ADHD deals with present days paranoia, schizofrenia, obsessions, loneliness, dishumanizing trends. The very beginning set the stage with a clean piano pattern alternating major and minor G chords. Hence a flow of reflections, both lyrical and musical, overcomes the listener. Obsessive passages, melodies repeated purposely to the limit of boredom, sudden changes in rythm and harmony. All elements already featured by Riverside, but now with a thougher metal edge which very well suits the narrative purpose. Indeed there is a sustained use of simple guitar patterns which may seem trivial or trited, but here they find the right place to the point of seemng irreplaceable. This is what I can consider a sort of reinvention of progmetal arrangements. Toward the end, the album becomes nicely mellower but always subtle and cohesive.

All musicians are at their peak form, and no one takes full scene putting the others in the background. There is an ample use of organs together with electrifying synth sounds. And above all, many ideas evenly spread all over the 5 pieces. And there is no filler: the album is relatively short, which I may consider as a sign of the band's consciousness of the strength of their proposal.

Riverside shows us how to make progressive metal lyrical and emotional even dealing with daily routines and problems. Highly recommended, expecially to those claiming the end of progmetal's content and form. One of 2009's best outputs without question.