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ID.ENTITY

Riverside

Progressive Metal


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Riverside ID.Entity album cover
3.98 | 267 ratings | 23 reviews | 43% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 2023

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Friend or Foe? (7:29)
2. Landmine Blast (4:50)
3. Big Tech Brother (7:24)
4. Post-Truth (5:37)
5. The Place Where I Belong (13:16)
6. I'm Done with You (5:52)
7. Self-Aware (8:43)

Total Time 53:11

Bonus tracks from Deluxe edition:
8. Age of Anger (11:56)
9. Together Again (6:29)
10. Friend or Foe? (single edit) (6:00)
11. Self-Aware (single edit) (5:30)

Line-up / Musicians

- Mariusz Duda / vocals, bass
- Maciej Meller / guitar
- Michał Łapaj / keyboards, Hammond organ
- Piotr Kozieradzki / drums

Releases information

Cover: Jarek Kubicki
Label: InsideOut
Format: Vinyl, CD, Digital, Blu-ray
January 20, 2023

Thanks to mbzr48 for the addition
and to projeKct for the last updates
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RIVERSIDE ID.Entity ratings distribution


3.98
(267 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(43%)
43%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(36%)
36%
Good, but non-essential (15%)
15%
Collectors/fans only (4%)
4%
Poor. Only for completionists (1%)
1%

RIVERSIDE ID.Entity reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by BrufordFreak
COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Poland's favorite progressive rock band is back with their eighth studio album release (and first in five years).

1. "Friend or Foe?" (7:29) What's with the recent fascination with/return to the 1980s? It's as if these band members got together and decided that they wanted to do a remake (or tribute) to MIKE AND THE MECHANICS' "All I Need Is a Miracle" but then decided they wanted to put their own lyrics over the top of it. Such simplicity. What happened to Riverside? (12.5/15)

2. "Landmine Blast" (4:50) now extracting a motif from one of their old songs: the first vocal verse from their great epic "Second Life Syndrome" from the the album of the same name the band fuels a new song. (The master composers of classical music did it, so why not Riverside?) At least this song sounds like Riverside. The instrumental section in the fifth and sixth minutes is interesting. (8.75/10)

3. "Big Tech Brother" (7:24) starting with a hokey little public information announcement, the music then picks up as an almost-Jazz-Rock Fusion piece with fast-moving notes of bass and drums mirrored by banked synth horns (which are serving as the keyboard's mirror to the fast-moving drum, bass and guitar play). The music then becomes slowed down, exuding heavy power rock, and then much more cabaret rock-like (with a solo organ for the initial support) for the vocal sections with theatric stop-and-goes and plenty of bombastic bursts from full band and Mariusz' vocal. The soaring guitar solo in the sixth and seventh minute is buried in a very heavy, thick full-band power chord sequence, but then the instrumental passage turns back to the opening motif, only with a far more rock-like flow and palette to it. Nice composition and sound. Almost as edgy and inventive as the Riverside of the 2000s. (13.25/15)

4. "Post-Truth" (5:37) a nice song that uses standard formatting and an attitude that says "we can do this stuff in our sleep" to me. Again, rife with borrowed riffs and ideas. I do, however, love the piano outro. (8.75/10)

5. "The Place Where I Belong" (13:16) sounds like the place that David Gilmour and Roger Waters both ended up when Pink Floyd had run its course: elemental blues rock. Even the lyrics and vocal performance sound like Roger. Still, some nice performances from the individuals: solid drumming from Piotr Kozieradzki, nice Hammond work from Michał Łapaj, excellent vocals and bass (and acoustic guitar work) from Mariusz, nice power guitar and dobro from Maciej Meller. The middle section sounds so much like Roine Stolt and THE FLOWER KINGS. The tenth and eleventh minutes are by far and away my favorite parts of the whole album: absolutely stunning beauty in the finish of Mariusz' vocal performance and gorgeous acoustic guitar-led chord progression. Everything about those final four minutes are just ear candy! Thank you, thank you! A top three song. (27/30)

6. "I'm Done with You" (5:52) built entirely around twin ascending melody lines, this clever song construct is, to my mind, a sign that the creative juices are not quite dead. My only complaint is in the fact that the main idea/motif is by far the most dominant idea used throughout the song, with vary little variations or visits to other ideas. Still, it is a good, fresh idea. Bravo! Another top three song. (9/10)

7. "Self-Aware" (8:43) opens with a sound, feel, and chord/melody line quite similar to that of The Beatles' song "Help!" (if Thin Lizzy playing were playing it). In the second minute, after the first chorus, the band shifts into staccato Reggae mode but then goes full early RUSH with a little guitar chord sequence before falling back into the new Reggae motif. Riffs of homage also go out to Golden Earring, Nazareth, some 80s pop band (like the Squeeze or Godley and Creme), Pink Floyd, The Cure, and others. (By "self-aware" are they meaning that they've all become aware of the sources of formation of their musical tastes and are herein paying tribute to some of those bands?) Clever and interesting but not the type of song I'd ever thought I'd hear coming from this band. Oh, well. I must stay true to my claim that I like artists who grow and evolve--who aren't afraid to try new things and change. Is this a great song? No. Is it good and solid? Yes. Very. Probably my final top three song. (17.5/20)

Total Time 53:11 It never seemed to me that the Riverside of the Naughties relied so much on pre-existing forms and structures like they have in the past 15 years--and this album shows nothing different. Are the guys too busy or too sidetracked by other projects (like life) to put as much into their music composition as they used to? These guys are so talented--and capable of such creativity--that I hold them to very high standards and expectations. I thought that Mariusz' outlet with his solo and Lunatic Soul projects would allow Riverside to continue to grow and evolve, but I think that it has worked oppositionally: the Riverside project may be looked at as the "easy" outlet and thus given far less time, energy and attention or the creative juices of the quartet have pretty much run their course and reached a point at which borrowing from the others--from the past--is the best (easiest) source for new ideas. Or my third idea is that the band has become more lyrics/message driven, that the music now serves more to carry and deliver the message--some of which are quite nostalgic and created from a perspective of age, not youth.

B+/four stars; an excellent addition to any prog lover's music collection.

P.S. the atmospheric instrumental bonus tracks are not included in my review but "Age of Anger" is good and the other one, "Together Again" is better--particularly for its nice Richard Wright keys and "twin" guitar. It would have been my final top three song. The latter, if finished, polished, and included in the main album, would have boosted the album's rating, the former kept it the same.

Review by rdtprog
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Heavy, RPI, Symph, JR/F Canterbury Teams
5 stars The recording process of this new album was done in a more relaxing mode. The band is letting it all out here, giving some fresh air to their sound. The first song "Friend or Foe?" is an excellent example with a synthpop style and the vocals of Mariusz Duda who sounds like a heavier version of A-Ha. It's a catchy song with a simple melody. The last song "Self-Aware" is also an accessible song that is more straightforward than the others songs. "Landmine Blast" has heavy guitar riffs, a huge bass sound, and beautiful keyboard lines. It's done in a different atmosphere from the first song of the album. Definitely darker with a cool guitar/bass break. "Big Tech Brother" is a fast pace track with some furious instrumental parts before the vocals bring the song to a calmer atmosphere. "Post-Truth" has again a different feel with some cool guitars and keyboard parts where the song goes on a crescendo that goes into a loud passage that breaks suddenly into a delicate piano ending. "The Place Where I Belong" is acoustic and spacey where the musicians are getting loose , there are some great guitar solos and excellent keyboard parts. As for the bonus tracks, the first track "Age of Anger" is maybe the greatest track of the album. It has a long ambient, spacey intro before the heaviness kick in showing the band delivering some more prog metal riffs. The guitars are simply amazing here. In conclusion, this is another solid effort from the band. I enjoy the variety of atmosphere, the production, and as usual the musicianship.
Review by A Crimson Mellotron
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars A really strong, melodic, beautiful and a bit dystopian new album by Riverside - the Polish prog rock masters return in 2023 with the eight installment in their studio catalogue, titled 'ID.Entity', this time taking some more time between this release and the previous one, which landed in 2018. One important change in terms of the band's line-up after the unfortunate passing of their ex-guitar player Piotr Grudzinski in 2016, as he has been officially replaced by Maciej Meller, previously only a touring member. Now with a proper lineup of four again, Riverside come back to present a collection of a little more uplifting than usual, quite versatile, and very lovely compositions, whose style ranges from their usual prog rock with tints of Porcupine Tree to a more classic rock-oriented numbers, all making up for a pleasant listening experience. Apparently Mariusz Duda is taking a critical look upon the contemporary world, with the songs hinting at themes like mass control, identity crisis, disillusion, disappointment with friendships and relationships, among other topics.

A catchy and somewhat 80s synth-prog-inspired opener, 'Friend of Foe' is quite a lovely way to kick off 'ID.Entity', starting off on a more uplifting note, presenting some tasty bass playing, lovely keyboards, and the usual warm vocals delivering some thoughtful lyrics. Even if the music seems a bit different than usual, I would not consider the lyrical content too distant from what is expected from the band, meaning that what Riverside is best known for, is still present here, the identity of the band could hardly be lost, despite the fact that this is one of the revolving themes of the record. 'Landmine Blast' is also very strong, tricky bass playing here, with Duda displaying his great songwriting capabilities once again. 'Big Tech Brother' is very interesting, once again reminiscent of some 80s synth-prog, I just cannot put my finger on exactly what it is, but the keyboards are very impressive on this one, so are the guitars. 'Post-Truth' is unfortunately a bit more forgettable and 'The Place Where I Belong' is not my favorite longer track by Riverside, but 'I'm Done With You' redeems both of them with its powerful, darker and anthemic nature. Finally, there is the playful and enjoyable 'Self-Aware'. The deluxe edition of this album features two bonus instrumental tracks as well as the single edits of 'Friend or Foe' and 'Self-Aware'.

'ID.Entity' is a very solid addition to the band's discography overall, it presents a different side of Riverside, and catches them trying to display a less darker musical presentation - the end result is a very well-constructed new album for them and a great entry point for their new lead guitarist.

Review by Negoba
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars A Very Uneven Endeavor with a Few Bright Spots

Riverside has been creating a unique take on progressive metal for over 20 years now based in part on Mariusz Duda's amazing voice and heavy use of Floyd-ian atmospherics. ID.Entity still has these elements, and some very solid riffage. But the band has also decided to slide in the pop / 80's direction to mixed effect. Though I don't usually review song by song, this album almost demands it as there is so much variation in approach and quality.

1. Friend or Foe - maybe it was Stranger Things. Pulling in early 80's keys is trendy and Riverside goes full in on the opening track and promo single. The song reminds a bit of the similarly intention retro 80's synthpop of the Weeknd's 2019 hit "Blinding Lights." Luckily, I think the move works here. It's a great melodic hard rock song. Hard to call it prog, besides the fact that it's (too) long.

2. Landmine Blast - my favorite song on the album. The band takes a great riff (yes a throwback to their own previous work) and trades it through different instruments and permutations almost like a classical piece. Some of the guitar solos also intentionally point back to early work (even though it's not the same player).

3. Big Tech Brother - after a clumsy, dumb spoken word intro, we get another very strong song. It opens with a great riff in odd time that almost has an R&B feel (a horn like keyboard patch is used and I can definitely hear a Tower of Power horn section taking it on). Duda uses a staccato delivery in the verses a la Haken to great effect. It has a strong aggressive rhythm, and plenty of layering. So far so good.

4. Post-Truth - here things start to slow. The lyrics, meant to be political criticism, start to sound obvious and whiney. The songs itself it pretty straight forward. Nothing wrong here but no surprises.

5. The Place Where I Belong - and we go off the rails. This epic length song has almost nothing progressive, or even interesting. The first half is quite boring. The second half is PF/PT moody and does carry some emotion, but there is absolutely no excuse for a song of this kind to be this long. There just isn't enough happening, too repetitive.

6. I'm Done with You - another relatively straightfoward rock song with bad lyrics. The main riff and intertwining parts are pretty driving and form a good groove, but the verses are boring and the chorus is bad. The "Fire Away!" section is pretty cool. The instrumental breaks toward the end are good. But like the album as a whole, really uneven.

7. Self Aware - starts with a riff straight out of the 80's that Ghost has already used with more menace and I consider them a tongue-in-cheek parody / novelty act. Not as tightly constructed as Friend or Foe, but seems to have a similar intention or inspiration. Harmless.

Perhaps that word is the best description of the album. Harmless. The first time I listened to this album I actively disliked it, probably because the last 3 tracks are the weakest. But on repeat listens, I can appreciate it. It has it spots. But overall - harmless. Not compelling. Mostly solid. A little better than meh. Not sure I would ever put this on just for enjoyment (I listen to alot just to see what's new in the world) when there is so much better music out there (even from Riverside). I may steal track 2 for a 2023 prog playlist. That's about it.

Good but really non-essential

Review by Dapper~Blueberries
PROG REVIEWER
2 stars One of the first big releases this year, and one I have been looking forward too, is the latest Riverside album of ID.ENTITY. Riverside, to me, is one of Poland's finest prog bands out there, besides the curious cases of SBB and CzesŁaw Niemen. Mixed with the top tier contemporary sounds of Porcupine Tree with a more drive for metal, this band has been a recent favorite of mine. However, I feel like they have started to trickle down to safety rather than progression after the release of Wasteland, which, in my eyes, felt like an album they didn't give their all in. It seems like that safety has reached a second, and concerning point with their latest record.

On my first listen, I thought it was fairly mediocre, second listen I thought it was really good, but not after a third listen I find that it shifted back to mediocrity.

I do not like to dwell on the negatives, so let's start with what I actually like about this record.

For one, I think some songs on here are actually very superb and some of the best Riverside material we've got in a bit. The very 80s Neo Prog feeling Friend Or Foe, the super jazzy Big Tech Brother, and the very brilliantly executed I'm Done With You, are some of the best Riverside songs to come out of their current line-up. I feel like these tracks alone can make up a very great EP that could rival albums like Anno Domini High Definition, or my personal favorite of Love Fear And The Time Machine. I especially love I'm Done With You, with a very amazing combination of the usual prog metal affair, with a curious dosing of more Haken flavored keyboards, topped with star shining vocals that could rival some of the best vocalists in prog metal to begin with, creating for a modern day Riverside masterpiece.

Another aspect I like about this album is the general concept around modern times and politics. Each track centers around elements of corruption, big businesses, technology, racial issues, gender norms, and so on and so forth. It creates a very progressive outlook that I think is quite needed in prog metal, more than just the odd political song here or there.

However, that brings me to the issues I have with the album, and that is while I like the concept, I feel like the execution is very cringy at best. Tracks like Landmine Blast, Post-Truth, and especially The Place Where I Belong just have that awkward lyricism that I give odd looks to. The Place Where I Belong especially has this weird awkwardness with the lines of "What's my gender, What's the color of my skin" which just doesn't sit well with me. I know the band definitely means well, but when it comes to topics like racial issues and gender dysphoria, I feel like they could've been handled way better.

Aside from choice lyrics, relatively speaking this feels like a very generic Riverside album. What I liked about Riverside was their willingness to change their mold a bit, not to the point where their fans could not recognize them, but to ensure a healthy and steady evolution to newer sounds that test the waters. I think those tests reach a gold standard with Time Machine, but afterwards it seems like they missed an opportunity to mine diamonds and gold with Wastelands. I was fairly excited for ID.ENTITY as it could mean a new Riverside sound, but aside from a few songs, this feels like the Riverside I am used to, and I do not like that. It feels like they aren't trying to change, but rather be conservative within their sounds, and this is a PROGRESSIVE metal band we are talking about. For them to not make progress in their sound in some shape or form, even if it is subtle, is quite sad to me.

An album that I looked forward to managed to be one of the more lackluster. It has some good tracks, but the album's lows outway what I actually like, to where I fear that the band will stay the same. I want a new Riverside, not a Riverside that is the exact same from yesterday. I don't expect them to have King Crimson levels of change and variation, but I want something more. A change in atmosphere, maybe an emphasis on acoustics, maybe a more heavier sound, something to drive me ahead to new waters. This album doesn't do that for me, rather it sinks me down in the river.

Review by The Crow
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars Oddly enough, "Wasteland" was released in 2018! So it was time for Riverside to follow up on that transitional album.

And thankfully, that transition has crystallized into this brilliant "ID.Entity". The album has been produced by Mariusz Duda himself, singer, leader and bassist of the band, reaching what is perhaps the most successful production of his entire discography in terms of sound (the bass sound and melodies are just incredible!) In Europe the album has been released by Inside Out Records, who have been working with the band since its inception.

For this revival and confirmation of the new Riverside with the guitarist Maciek Meller already as a full member, the band has chosen to offer a mix between their most classic style (Landmine Blast could have been in "Second Life Syndrome", High Tech Brother reminds to "Anno Domini High Definition"...) mixed with new sonic adventures that presents a great influence of eighties pop and techno music even with influences from bands like Rush and The Police (Friend or Foe and Self-Aware), as well as more purely progressive grounds (The Place Where I Belong) and even surprisingly aggressive tunes (I'm Don With You)

The result is a very varied album, tremendously fun to listen to repeatedly in its entirety, and which brings us back a Riverside which is in top form. In fact, for me this "ID.Entity" is without a doubt their best album since "Shrine of New Generation Slaves", and a serious candidate for best prog-rock album of 2023.

Congratulations guys! That's how things are done.

Best Tracks: all the songs are very good, it is very difficult to stick with one in particular. Even the two bonus tracks on the special edition, Age of Anger and Together Again, are of a very high quality.

Review by Hector Enrique
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars If there is something that we have to highlight in the entire Riverside discography, beyond how good musicians they are, it is the ability to generate very well-achieved musical proposals, well wrapped up by impeccable production work. All this, from the hand of its leader, the singer and bassist Mariusz Duda, who clearly sets the group's agenda.

And "ID. Entity" is no exception. Riverside experiments with sounds that go beyond the limits of progressive, as with "Friend or Foe?", a clear reference to the new wave and industrial wave of the 80s, or the jazzy and excessive "The Place Where I Belong", which gives us , in the midst of its extensive development, a little over two sublime minutes, where Duda's voice is perfectly accompanied by Maciej Meller's acoustic guitars and Michał Łapaj's keyboard. There's room for his distinctive progressive streak, too, with "The Big Brother," tinged with electronic elements and dark pinkfloydian sanatorium guitar, arguably the album's best. To conclude, the scratchy "I'm Done with You" and "Self- Aware", reminiscent of the synthesized structures of the 80s Rush.

All in all, and knowing that Riverside releases are always good news, the feeling remains that with "ID. Entity" the Poles have left some punch on the road, a bit of that spicy color that made them combust and be part of the proud front line of prog metal. Being that the central theme of the album inquires about the future of human existence, we find them less aggressive and more reflective, surely motivated by what we call evolution.

3.5 stars

Review by kev rowland
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Reviewer
3 stars It has been five years since the last album, 2018's 'Wasteland', which was recorded as a trio with some guests, following on from the death of guitarist Piotr Grudziński. They are now back as a full quartet with Mariusz Duda (vocals, basses, electric and acoustic guitars), Piotr Kozieradzki (drums), and Michał Łapaj (keyboards and synthesizers, Rhodes piano and Hammond organ) being officially joined by touring guitarist (and guest on the last album) Maciej Meller (electric guitars). There is no doubt that Duda has a fine voice, but the issue with this album is the lack of soul and power and the way the production has sanitised any roughness or power out of existence. My initial thoughts on hearing this was just how much they reminded me of Marillion, not in the musical style but the way the singer had now ripped the passion out of the band and all the focus was now on him.

A Polish friend gave me the debut album not long after it was released (can that really be 20 years ago now?), and while I never put them into the same brackets as bands like SBB or Collage there is no doubt the prog masses fell in love with them and to many are the ultimate Polish prog act. That this is very clever and well performed is never in doubt, but I have found the more I play it the less I actually enjoy it as I am feeling somewhat smothered whereas I should be feeling invigorated and excited at having the first new Riverside album for five years. It may well be top of the PA charts for Polish releases in 2023 but is actually the only one to get enough reviews to be included and does not have as many points as last year's album by Collage. It currently sits at #28 in the overall charts for 2023, but sad to say that is in my mind mostly due to fans being so pleased to hear a new album that they have marked it very high indeed. Don't get me wrong, this is a pleasant release which many will find satisfying, it is just that for a band 20+ years and eight albums into their career they should be producing music which is far more exciting and dangerous than this middle of the road affair.

Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars 3.5 stars. RIVERSIDE hit us with studio album number eight in 2023 after their longest break between albums and I'm sure the emotional toll of creating 2018's "Wasteland" was a part of this. Where do we go from here? This is a concept album about technology and how it affects us all in negative ways. I have said many times that I'm just not into concept albums and the lyrics here don't "cut it" overall for me. Why am I tired of this?

Right from the first spin I have been on the fence about this record. I remember how connected I felt with this band when I first got into Prog in the mid 00's. That FLOYD-like space contrasted with the heaviness and aggression, but then add a vocalist and guitarist who would become among my favourites so yes maybe I hold them to a higher standard but these guys have always delivered the goods. Until now. This is the first record of theirs I have not given 4 or more stars to.

There's so much good music here but I just find the album to be inconsistent. And for me this is a big drop-off from "Wasteland" their previous record. So a lot of my feelings have to do with comparing this to what they've done in the past and I feel it's left wanting. I do have a top three though and that begins with the opening track that got me excited the first time I heard it. I like the keys and heaviness early on then some electronics with bass and beats. Catchy as the guitar arrives and synths followed by vocals after 2 minutes. There's more passion on the chorus and some riffing later.

"Big Tech Brother" doesn't get off to the best start with those spoken words but then a fast bass line arrives as it builds. Steven Wilson comes to mind here as he did on the previous track "Landmine Blast". Awesome sound after 2 minutes with those powerful synths. I like when the heaviness returns at 5 minutes. "I'm Done With You" is my final top three and starts out great with the electronics and riffs. It settles with vocals and the only time we get some brief aggressive vocals is on this song. I like the heaviness of this one. I'm not into the closer "Self-Aware" like most seem to be but find it inconsistent like some of these other tracks. Great start to it though. I actually thought of THE TANGENT at one point later on. The longest one "The Place Where I Belong" also sits in that category but some amazing stuff on it. A fairly moving second half at times on that one.

So yeah sad to not be fully into this one even though it has it's highlights.

Latest members reviews

4 stars I'm a huge fan of Riverside, but with this album, the first time I listened to it I wasn't convinced at all. But after a few times listening to the album, I understood it better. Conceptually and lyrically, a great proposal and critic about society. Musically, it's like a mix of all their albums; ... (read more)

Report this review (#2905977) | Posted by progrockeveryday | Monday, April 10, 2023 | Review Permanlink

4 stars Riverside is one of the bigger names in the progressive music world. They're a progressive metal act based out of Poland that came to prominence in the early 2000s. Their first decade or so of existence was great, with 2009's Anno Domini High Definition being one of the best records of that decade. ... (read more)

Report this review (#2904603) | Posted by TheEliteExtremophile | Tuesday, April 4, 2023 | Review Permanlink

4 stars ID.Entity is the eighth album from this renowned Polish progressive rock/metal band; their first in five years as well as the first release featuring guitarist Maciej Meller (replacing longtime original guitarist Piotr Grudziński after his sudden death in 2016). Their last LP, 2018's Wastel ... (read more)

Report this review (#2904312) | Posted by Hokeyboy | Monday, April 3, 2023 | Review Permanlink

4 stars OK, I've never been a fan of progressive metal, but Riverside has always been interesting due to their mix of strong melodies and emotional depth that is quite appealing despite the sometimes overly heavy spots (and Mariusz Duda's great vocals are always a highlight). Riverside is lead by Mariusz Du ... (read more)

Report this review (#2902646) | Posted by BBKron | Wednesday, March 29, 2023 | Review Permanlink

3 stars Long gone are the days of the giants of 00s. From the generic new release of Porcupine Tree to the rapid downfall of Haken, it looks like we don't have anymore those bands whose albums devastatingly land like bombs on the grounds of the prog community, collecting thousands of votes with the aver ... (read more)

Report this review (#2879965) | Posted by Homotopy | Thursday, February 2, 2023 | Review Permanlink

3 stars I confess that I am no great fan of prog metal, but, with Riverside, that doesn't tend to matter overmuch, because their music routinely stretches far beyond the confines of any particular sub-genre. And I have enjoyed various tracks from each of their albums from Out of Myself to Wasteland. (Lookin ... (read more)

Report this review (#2879908) | Posted by tbstars1 | Thursday, February 2, 2023 | Review Permanlink

5 stars One of the most eagerly awaited premieres of 2023. Entitled ID.Entity... and whose title is a kind of play on words between entity and identity or the identification of a person... a way of reflecting on the alignment, control or domination that large corporations exercise over people or over the pl ... (read more)

Report this review (#2879474) | Posted by DiversionConVinilos | Tuesday, January 31, 2023 | Review Permanlink

3 stars I guess this is where I part ways with Riverside. I have been a very big fan of Riverside and own all their albums. I have been looking forward to the release of this album but, I must say, I am disappointed. What got me hooked on to Riverside was primarily their melodies. Somehow this time aro ... (read more)

Report this review (#2878476) | Posted by spleenache | Thursday, January 26, 2023 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Another great effort from the Polish guys! The new guitarrist brings a lot of fresh new ideas to the mix, with very dynamic solos and new distortions and textures. It's especially notable when you compare with the (still) excellent Wasteland, but is the Riverside album that is the most sonically clo ... (read more)

Report this review (#2878301) | Posted by Deadwing | Wednesday, January 25, 2023 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Riverside once again put out a masterpiece and proves there are one of the best prog band working today. I was a bit worried when I heard the band talk about it on social media, saying it was very different. I was afraid we would get another "Future Bites". There sure is a couple of 80s/pop oriented ... (read more)

Report this review (#2877982) | Posted by Wilgod3p | Tuesday, January 24, 2023 | Review Permanlink

5 stars What was that?Ok. I gave this album a focused, first listen. No distractions. I have not been so impressed with a first listen like this in a very long time. I'm blown away.You know, lots of bands take you to lots of places, crossing genres and themes. The best do it smoothly. Seamless transitio ... (read more)

Report this review (#2876973) | Posted by Michael919 | Friday, January 20, 2023 | Review Permanlink

3 stars Polish prog metallers Riverside are back with their new full-length album ID.Entity released worldwide via InsideOut on January, 20. The new LP is the first with Maciej Meller as a permanent member on guitar, after the tragic death of the band's original guitar player Piotr Grudziński in 2016. ... (read more)

Report this review (#2876849) | Posted by lukretio | Friday, January 20, 2023 | Review Permanlink

5 stars The pinnacle of modern prog. The mixture of absolute virtuosity, musicality and deep philosophy could only end up at this. With this record Riverside proved that they are not the usual heavy prog metal act, all through a varying, versatile gamma of beautiful sounds. Keyboards change from a techn ... (read more)

Report this review (#2876601) | Posted by patrishiou | Thursday, January 19, 2023 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Major Band Riverside Enters Progressive 4th Decade; after debuts in 2001 they create expanded and dynamic original music. An 8th album on the madness of the world, big companies in search of quick profit at the risk of destroying our planet. 'Friend or Foe?' 80's vibe for new wave and pop roc ... (read more)

Report this review (#2858819) | Posted by alainPP | Sunday, December 18, 2022 | Review Permanlink

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