SECOND LIFE SYNDROME

I´m one of the few on this page who likes "Rapid Eye Movement" better than this one. I don´t think it falls far behind though. I´ll complain as I did in my review of "Rapid Eye Movement" over the metal tendencies Riverside show in their music. I think their music is very beautiful, but the metal riffs and Duda´s momentarily gruff vocal parts are not my cup of tea. And it´s not because I don´t like metal, I listen to both Grind, Black and Death Metal. I just find their metal riffs kind of generic. Luckily it´s not that often they play like this, most of their music is nice progressive rock. When they play this genre they really shine.

There are some really beautiful songs on "Second Life Syndrome". Songs like Conceiving You and Second Life Syndrome show that Riverside is second to none. There are moments in some of the other songs though that I could live without, but I have already mentioned them above.

The inspiration from Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Marillion and Tool are very clear, but never disturbing. I think Riverside mixes their sources very well, and make a great personal style out of them. Isn´t that what it is all about ? Finding inspiration and then creating a personal style ? Well I have no problem with the occasional "recognizable riff".

I think the production and musicians are great, and it is only small things that do, I like "Rapid Eye Movement" a little better. I´ll give this one 4 stars though, just as I gave "Rapid Eye Movement". I think it falls short of a masterpiece like it´s successor, but it comes close.