OUT OF MYSELF

Quite posssibly the most notable newcomer to the worldwide prog scene on 2004, Polish band Riverside, a band that has got a buzz because of their new record deal; "Out of Myself" will be released in America on Sept. 21, 2004, on Ken Golden's label The Laser's Edge. Riverside is a band that has managed to produce and create dramatic, dark and moody atmospheres onto its musical journey. A way to explore and describe reflections, dreams, nightmares and feeling withouth names. Their music can be technically described as Neo-Symphonic Prog, with a dark edge on its structure, on the likes of dark prog bands like White Willow and VDGG, with psychedelic and prog metal elements a la Opeth or Pink Floyd. Onto the musical landscape of Riverside's sound, the sweet swept atmosphere of the mellotron and the voice of Mariusz Duda biuld an instinct of drama and depression, and as any psicological effects this could cause, or just as a psicological element, music with a very dense atmosphere requires a special amount of attention, and Riverside has a very interesting sense for details to be explored by the listener. The first track "The Same River" and the album ending "The Curtain Falls" have a capturing sense of space, that make an interesting contrast with the straightforward aspect of tracks like "Loose Heart". As a conclusion for this review, Riverside is a band that can (and will) breakthrough to a wider audience. It's highly promising.