SHRINE OF NEW GENERATION SLAVES

Shrine of New Generation Slaves, Riverside's fifth album, is an exploration of the human condition and its submission to the relentless demands of modern life. Less aggressive in relation to the masterful Anno Domini High Definition, those led by Mariusz Duda use their melancholic streak to develop a mature and thoughtful work.

The album begins with the pitiful New Generation Slave, a long intro that leads to the excellent ballad The Depth of Self-Delusion, where the acoustic guitars and the halftime of the percussions stand out clearly. Conventional rocker Celebrity Touch gives it a more dynamic touch, then falls into the arms of melancholy with the beautiful and deeply sad ballad We Got Used To Us. The versatility of the Poles comes hand in hand with the electronics and eighties Feel Like Falling.

The calm returns with the serene and very jazzy Deprevid, which I consider to have left over the last 3 minutes. The super progressive Escalator Shrine, where the influences of the most cosmic Pink Floyd are present in much of its almost 13 minutes, is the best of the album, along with We Got Used To Us. The short and naked Coda is the ideal final appendix, where Duda's deep voice is accompanied by heartfelt acoustic guitar.

Although the Shrine of New Generation Slaves is a step below the Anno Domini High Definition, it is still a work of the highest quality, as is the great form of the band, which confirms them as one of the Progressive rock flagship groups of the 2000s.