ANNO DOMINI HIGH DEFINITION

I have been away from reviewing albums for a LONG time, but ill come back for this one. I just listened to this (had it for a few months) intensely today, and i am blown away by it once again. This is modern epic metal at its very best. Its SO theatrical its like a Dream Theater epic without the cheese thrown on top.. i can say this because recently DT isn't anything like it used to be. Riverside is on the upper echelon. The NEW STANDARD people. If i had to relate the album to something, one of the first things that come to mind is a story unfolding, one of the constant movement of today with the keyboard making sounds like those of a modern computer or something you might hear in the 'Born Identity' movies, with the pace being like that of the latest one 'The Born Ultimatum'. If anyone has seen that movie you'll know what i mean, it hits the ground running and does not let up.

On the music front its Riverside re-inventing itself. And unlike 90% of the time with most bands, this reinvention actually WORKS. It still has those emotional guitar solo's we loved from Second Life Sydrome, but with the intensity cranked up a notch, the drums are EVEN more technical and just plain inventive then they were in past albums, definitely more on the forefront this drummer is going to make a name for himself one way or another. The keyboard is so sick! It ads so much atmosphere to the album interjecting buzzes and beeps and walls of sound that really feel as though your ADHD and constantly being thrust forward in this high tech world. And the vocals are, as always, greatly warm lower register singing with the 15% chance of growling as well for a nice contrast of emotion and pure animalistic power.

Honestly this album is so good it actually takes time to let it soak in because there is so much layered in these 44:44 minutes that it will cause your head to spin a good number of times before you can break it down and understand where its going. Also the lyrics MUST be read as well, a real treat, well thought out commentary and introspective assesment of the world, this generation. Not to say this album isn't catchy and easily accessible, just that what will be found at first is the licks, tempo, and rock. But whats hidden underneath that is layers upon layers of soundscapes washing over like the streaks of lights of the cover art, blurring the resolution in our Nex-Gen Hi-Rez Wonderland.

As much as i LOVE Second Life Syndrome. Regarded it as the best Riverside album, and one of my all time favorite albums. Along came ADHD. And this is actually even better.

5 Stars. Masterpiece.

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