ANNO DOMINI HIGH DEFINITION

By this point, Riverside has found itself resting comfortably in the realm of Progressive Metal, shedding much of the atmospheric sound that was so pervasive in their first few albums. It is no surprise, as this is the direction they had been gradually moving to from the start, and has always been a part of their music. Nevertheless, such a dramatic change in sound and style could only be achieved by a band like this, and they truly nail it.

Perhaps another thing one notices is the relative brevity of the album, which is closer in length to classic prog albums than the previous hour-long Riverside records. This is a minor thing, but I usually find shorter albums to be more cohesive in general.

Unfortunately, unlike former albums, this one isn't as musically diverse, if only for the overall heavy sound that invades most of it. Luckily, there are only five songs, which makes this much easier to digest. This also means that it is a pretty consistent listen from beginning to end, though it doesn't seem to have the same quality tracks as previous songs like 'Second Life Syndrome' or 'Dance With Shadows.'

Song-wise, this is a bit harder to dissect, if only, again, for the album having few sections which aren't in your face heavy and intense. But it is also for this same reason the album is as good as it is. The highlights, however, would probably be the last three tracks, which clearly have the same dramatic song structure and intensity of earlier works. Suffice it to say this album is a fun listen from beginning to end.

While I still believe Riverside were at their best when balancing heavy with atmospheric, Anno Domini definitely has a lot to offer, and is certainly a solid progressive metal album.

7/10