SECOND LIFE SYNDROME

This is just a wonderful album. After their already top-quality debut, Riverside have been able to create a new opus which is even more melancholic, suggestive and emotional than the previous one. Guitar work shines with a marvellous lead tone and some occasional cool intrincated riffs. You can say this is like a more metallic Pink Floyd mixed with the atmosphere of Opeth, or also Anathema. Some Pain of Salvation influences can be heard as well, especially on the vocals, however Mariusz Duda has a softer and sweeter timbre, with the exception of some occasional agressive vocals that add a cool contrast to Riverside's music.

There's no a single weak track here, every song is awesome, and you can hear a lot of variety: from long progressive compositions like "Volte-Face", "Dance With The Shadow" or the title track to shorter and more simple, yet absolutely emotional pieces such as "Conceiving You" or "I Turned You Down".

"Second Life Syndrome" is one of the most gorgeous albums I've heard in the latest years from the progressive scene, and may be appreciated by both prog metal and prog rock listeners, as well as by anyone who likes atmospheric, dark and melancholic music. A perfect album in its genre.