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Riverside - Rapid Eye Movement review



Reviewer:
9.0

384 users:
8.47
Band: Riverside
Album: Rapid Eye Movement
Style: Progressive metal
Release date: September 24, 2007
Guest review by: BloodTears


Disc I
Part One: Fearless
01. Beyond The Eyelids
02. Rainbow Box
03. 02 Panic Room
04. Schizophrenic Prayer
05. Parasomnia

Part Two: Fearland
06. Through The Other Side
07. Embryonic
08. Cybernetic Pillow
09. Ultimate Trip

Disc II [bonus]
01. Behind The Eyelids
02. Lucid Dream IV
03. 02 Panic Room [remix version]
04. Back To The River
05. Rapid Eye Movement

We waited two years for the new Riverside's album but I can tell you it was worth the waiting! These Polish kings did it again! They remain an underrated band even though their tour with Dream Theater brought them new fans and certainly showed them to a wider audience. They are more experienced now but still have the risk factor in their music. They showed it in this album that they are still going through new grounds in their music.
They don't hide that progressive rock was a big influence for them and Marillion was their favourite band. I think you could tell that especially in their first masterpiece "Out Of Myself". Some of the lyrics and long repetition of the guitar melody proves it.

Having said that, "Rapid Eye Movement" surely shows that they matured. Not only their performance as a group is solid but the involvement of the band members' is growing. Just notice the keyboards passages being more and more a part of the central melodies instead of just the atmospheric parts as we've seen before. Michal Lapaj was very much involved in the writing process. Certainly more involved than before. And Duda's lyrics are as good as they have ever been, the emotions in that voice are still impressive.

This is one well thought out album, for a concept album. It explores human fear and the effects of pills. The first part is called "Fearless" and the second part is "Fearland". The first part starts with "Beyond The Eyelids", a well constructed monster of almost 8 minutes to open the album and show what they are all about: brilliant changes of paces and rhythms in the songs, emotional voice to portray the feelings behind the lyrics and a perfect introduction to the thematic of the album. "Rainbow Box" has a Porcupine Tree ring to it, the lyrical content is clearly reminiscent of them. It's a very energetic song filled with the irony that is so human. "Panic Room" that was their first single of the album is one of the best songs here being the perfect example of how mature Riverside are. The song is divided into two parts, two beautiful parts. Next up we have "Schizophrenic Prayer with the guest appearence of Artur Szolc playing percussion. It has typical Riverside passages with the bass assuming a key position in the song. It's a Riverside characteristic by now, the way the bass works the songs. "Parasomnia" might be the biggest surprise in this album, they really took a big risk here. The first verse is very different from what they tend to do and it might pull some people off. But the song grows into a sonic perfection and the end is the peak in my opinion.

The second part of the album is more relaxed and mellow in a way, we have shorter songs before the big finale. The songs "Through The Other Side" and "Embryonic" share similar aspects, they are all beautifully written and arranged and they deal with the little things in life staring it in the face. Love. "Cybernetic Pillow" brings another new theme for Riverside - lucid dreaming - and it's an interesting approach always staying true to the basis of their sound. The last song on the album is also the longest one of the bunch and you can just recognize it's Riverside by the first two lines. It brings a full circle to the album and tells us "we still have a lot to give".

The progressive elements as well as the heaviness in their music are well put together and seem to fit perfectly. They do seem to know what they are doing and where they want to go with more precision. They certainly surprised me with the quality of this album although it was strange at first. I don't know how many times I've listened to it but I kept going back to it, going back to that place, connecting to Riverside again. I feel this album wont please a lot of the "Second Life Syndrome" addicts. It's always hard to take when something is new and fresh. Some might say Second Life Syndrome was heavier and maybe you're right but this one is different and the heaviness is still a big part of it. Just a small note on the songs in disc two: absolute pearls, they're worth a listen.

I also feel this is an acquired taste and it's exquisite once you open yourself to it. If you understand what makes Riverside unique you will understand why this album is a step forward.

Highlights: "Beyond The Eyelids", "Panic Room", "Schizophrenic Prayer", "Embryonic" and "Ultimate Trip"


Rating breakdown
Performance: 9
Songwriting: 10
Originality: 8
Production: 9

Written by BloodTears | 17.03.2008




Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.


Comments

Comments: 12   Visited by: 196 users
10.04.2008 - 18:32
Rating: 9
addiction
good review! well done! but you are defending it too much against second life syndrome...i personally think that they are both great in slightly different ways, but i dont get why ppl liking sls wont be pleased with this...
and a funy thing is that your highlights are more than 50% of the album...:) which obviously shows the level of the album...my personal favs are beyond the eyelids, parasomnia and ultimate trip and obviously the beggining of 02 panic room with that cool bass line!
excellent album and review!
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alive in the superunknown
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01.08.2008 - 04:04
Damnated
Churchburner
ridiculously over rating review. this album is utterly boring and sounds as if they recycled their two previous albums. pathetic.
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Blessed is he that murders Christ in himself and in his fellow men.



Written by TheBigRossowski on 10.02.2009 at 16:01

if my wife and I can't conceive, I want a medical shipment of your sperm so our baby will be just like you.

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07.09.2008 - 21:26
Rating: 6
HardSide
Listened to it a couple of times, I don't consider it metal, then again im not a fan of dream theater either. It's listenable but dont expect any rifts, good drumming or any of that sort. Reminds me of cold play or some american mainstream band.
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13.09.2008 - 20:53
marillionfan
Account deleted
Rapid Eye Movement does not bring anything new to the sound of Riverside, that's true, it'a a kind of Second life Syndrome part II; nevertheless, it's still a solid album, with good musicianship. Those who enjoy Riverside should get the secong REM disk, there are some very good songs there.

Comparing this album to Coldplay is wrong if not silly. I don't see any common points whatsoever.
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08.03.2009 - 20:49
Rating: 9
BloodTears
ANA-thema
Elite
Comparing Riverside with Coldplay is an insult really.

But I think he was refering to the "mainstream" sound Riverside supposedly (in his opinion) went for in this album.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29

Like you could kiss my ass.

My Instagram
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01.03.2010 - 18:24
Rating: 10
BudDa
Elite
Good review. I absolutely ate it up. There are no words however that could describe just how much I LOVE this album..and the band..
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Freeze! Step away from the hubris.
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09.01.2012 - 13:52
Rating: 8
Very good album. Rapid Eye Movement is indeed much more of a progressive rock album than a metal one, that does not mean it's mainstream music. 13 minute long songs do not feature in mainstream music, do they?
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10.01.2012 - 10:30
Rating: 9
BloodTears
ANA-thema
Elite
Written by Renard Solitaire on 09.01.2012 at 13:52

Very good album. Rapid Eye Movement is indeed much more of a progressive rock album than a metal one, that does not mean it's mainstream music. 13 minute long songs do not feature in mainstream music, do they?

Usually no, but that doesn't mean it can't happen. When they do, sometimes they are cut off to fit the 3/4 minutes format.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29

Like you could kiss my ass.

My Instagram
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10.01.2012 - 10:51
Rating: 8
Written by BloodTears on 10.01.2012 at 10:30

Written by Renard Solitaire on 09.01.2012 at 13:52

Very good album. Rapid Eye Movement is indeed much more of a progressive rock album than a metal one, that does not mean it's mainstream music. 13 minute long songs do not feature in mainstream music, do they?

Usually no, but that doesn't mean it can't happen. When they do, sometimes they are cut off to fit the 3/4 minutes format.

I would not know, I don't listen to any mainstream stuff. 3/4 minutes is the length of your attention span if you're not making a conscious effort to listen to the song.
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27.08.2016 - 02:07
Rating: 9
BlankFile
Not as good as the previous ones, but still a very passionate and emotional release.
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27.08.2016 - 12:12
Rating: 9
BloodTears
ANA-thema
Elite
Written by BlankFile on 27.08.2016 at 02:07

Not as good as the previous ones, but still a very passionate and emotional release.

I had forgotten about this review eheh Tks for commenting. I do agree with you that it is a "passionate and emotional" release. Over the years, I've grown to like it even more.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29

Like you could kiss my ass.

My Instagram
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21.11.2016 - 22:27
Rating: 9
BlankFile
Written by BloodTears on 27.08.2016 at 12:12

Written by BlankFile on 27.08.2016 at 02:07

Not as good as the previous ones, but still a very passionate and emotional release.

I had forgotten about this review eheh Tks for commenting. I do agree with you that it is a "passionate and emotional" release. Over the years, I've grown to like it even more.

I saw this only today. Ahahah Almost 3 months later...

I totally agree. It´s like wine. It gets better and better over the years.
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