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Riverside - Memories In My Head CD (album) cover

MEMORIES IN MY HEAD

Riverside

 

Progressive Metal

4.13 | 339 ratings

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Rune2000
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars Talking about a departure from a winning concept!

Just when I had Riverside figured out and sorted under modern prog masters they decided to shift their course once more toward the atmospheric style that almost turned psychedelic on Rapid Eye Movement. Luckily, I'm one of the few who actually happened to enjoy that slight change of direction that the band has taken on their third studio outing. So why am I not entirely convinced by their 2011 EP Memories In My Head?

First off, I just didn't find any of these compositions memorable enough to stand out among the vast majority of groovy atmospheric compositions that Riverside have released over the years. None of them is annoying in any way but they just don't make for any real standout moments. Yes, Goodbye Sweet Innocence has the whole Hackett-sounding vibe of guitar in a few notable places going for it. Living In The Past is the most melodic of the three with some nice solo guitar spots and prominent melodies, sounding almost like a crossover between Camel and Pink Floyd. Forgotten Land is, in my opinion, the most ambitious piece of the bunch. Still, even this is not nearly as close to the level that was set by Anno Domini High Definition.

My biggest problem with this EP is the lack of any real purpose to it. Riverside aren't exploring any new territories with this new material and it almost feels like the band decided to take a short departure in between their forth and fifth studio releases. That, per se, isn't a bad things since there is clearly a lot of passion in these performances but it still doesn't justify an excellent release rating for me.

**** star songs: Living In The Past (11:59) Forgotten Land (9:57)

*** star songs: Goodbye Sweet Innocence (10:40)

Rune2000 | 3/5 |

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