RAPID EYE MOVEMENT

This is one of those progressive albums in which most riffs, melodies, atmospheres sound similar to the previous albums or other bands (Porcupine Tree, Tool, Opeth). The album is the 3rd part of a trilogy of albums; together, they form a dark concept if you pay attention to the lyrics. The rhythm section does it job quite well, the lead guitar sounds great most of the time, the keyboards are restrained and tasteful and the singer has an excellent voice though is overused. The album is very competently done in parts, but I think they should try something else and start being refreshing. Too much of a good thing spoils it.

The opener Beyond the Eyelids might not sound very creative, but if you see it as a summary of everything that is Riverside, you may see it as one of their most accomplished compositions to date. The atmosphere is great, the instrumentation is cerebral and dynamic, and one particular riff strikes me as brilliant. Rainbow Box scared me though, with an open and somewhat loose arrangement that I dislike. Luckily the next three songs are very solid:

Panic Room is a more unique track with an industrial feel which has an acoustic melancholic coda which is very beautifully arranged. Schizophrenic Prayer has anguished vocal harmonies similar to the opening track in their previous album. Parasomnia goes back to the tight musicianship of the opening track, though this song sometimes sounds too similar to the title track of their previous album. Still an enjoyable track.

After Parasomnia, I tend to doze off, skip tracks, or just stop listening. I can't exactly point out what is wrong, but I find it a bit too 'been there done that', uneventful, and somewhat boring. They just sound like Porcupine Tree left overs. The most disappointing song must be the closing epic. I was expecting something epic and memorable as it closes the trilogy, but it's just more 'been there done that' but maybe even duller. Very disappointing ending indeed.

Overall, a competent album, but unless you are a fan, you should look elsewhere.

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