WASTELAND

I love this album. The general atmosphere of "Wasteland", dark and desolating, but with some glimpses of light for moments. In my Top Albums of Riverside, this is my #2 because I love "Love, Fear and the Time Machine" (because of that brighter sound and feel), but this album I can say is their best balanced album.

From dark, metal with some odd rhythmic moments too (Acid Rain, The Struggle for Survival, Wasteland) to lighter and melodic songs but still powerful (like Vale of Tears) and exceptional and emotional ballads where Mariusz is a king (Guardian Angel or the beautiful ending with The Night Before, that piano melody is literally goosebumps moment)

And I can't end without mentioning River Down Below, such a great song, one of their best songs ever. So emotional, dark album, but it shows you that there is always hope and light.