RAPID EYE MOVEMENT

The debut album entitled Out Of Myself by the very popular new Polish progrock band Riverside sounded to me already captivating and exciting but the successor Second Life Syndrome turned me into a Riverside freak, how compelling and loaded with tension and great dynamics! So I was very curious to their new effort and decided to buy this Limited Edition 2-CD, it contains on CD-1 the 9 new albums songs and on CD-2 5 new songs, including 3 EP tracks (02 Panic Room as a remix).

CD-1: At least half of the new material is in the vein of Second Life Syndrome, especially in the exciting opener Beyond The Eyelids (progmetal guitar and drums, interesting keyboard variety like lush Hammond organ and sensitive electric guitar runs in the end), the dynamic Parasomnia (emotional vocals and captivating work on guitar and keyboards) and the long, very alternating and compelling final song Ultimate Trip (varied keyboards, wonderful guitars and a sumptuous final part with swirling Hammond organ). But I also hear songs in which the emphasis is more on creating atmospheres and less on exciting guitars, keyboards and breaks like the hypnotizing Schizophrenic Prayer (fragile work on guitar and piano, intense vocals and a guest percussionist, very moving), Through The Other Side (twanging guitar and almost whispering vocals) and the dreamy Embryonic (beautiful vocals and acoustic guitar with a sensitive guitar solo in the end). And some songs showcase a more accesible and less dark side of Riverside like the dynamic Rainbow Box (fiery guitar eruptions, cynical vocals, bombastic Hammond organ with raw guitar and sweeping drums) and Cybernetic Pillow (tight beat with propulsive guitar riffs, soaring keyboards, melancholical vocals and a final part with bombastic keyboards and fiery guitar). Riverside has slightly changed its musical direction but their sound remains very distinctive and captivating although I prefer their previous effort as more exciting and more compelling

CD-2: I only review the first en final track, for the other three: see my EP review. The opener Behind The Eyelids starts with soaring keyboards, then a slow rhythm with subtle work on guitar and electric piano, the sound becomes more lush with powerful Hammond organ and the final part delivers pleasant syntehsizer flights. The instrumental Rapid Eye Movement ( at about 13 minutes) is a great final composition: after a keyboard driven intro follows a strong build-up with a pulsating sequencer sound , fiery electric guitar runs, halfway culminating in a hypnotizing beat with an almost psychedelic atmosphere featuring SF sounds, sensitive guitar and piano runs, what an exciting musical experience in which Riverside is scouting new musical boundaries.

If you don't own the EP 02 Panic Room, it's worth to buy this Limited Edition 2-CD. In case you own that EP only two new songs remain on CD-2 but for me these are excellent and a reason to buy this 2-CD set!