The first single is up:

The single sounds great, maybe little too safe and probably meant to get the old fans hyped by being more like their earlier stuff, but sounds good to me. Can't wait for the full album to come out.

Written by Metal Diogenes on 21.10.2022 at 19:13

The single sounds great, maybe little too safe and probably meant to get the old fans hyped by being more like their earlier stuff, but sounds good to me. Can't wait for the full album to come out.

We all though they where playing safe... then they released the other two singles "Self-Aware" and "friend or Foe". Really loving the new direction, lets see what the rest of the album brings to the table.

One week to go until this one lands. I thought the single was decent - looking forward to hearing the full versions of 'friend or foe' and 'self aware'.

Written by Dylan 1974 on 13.01.2023 at 11:58

One week to go until this one lands. I thought the single was decent - looking forward to hearing the full versions of 'friend or foe' and 'self aware'.

I am just after listening. It's a pleasant, light-hearted album. I'd say in few songs it's a bit like progressive pop-rock. A nice change, a breath of fresh air. And yeah, "Self-Aware" is my favourite.

Written by Chidder on 13.01.2023 at 21:50

I am just after listening. It's a pleasant, light-hearted album. I'd say in few songs it's a bit like progressive pop-rock. A nice change, a breath of fresh air. And yeah, "Self-Aware" is my favourite.

Good to hear mate. Top band and really looking forward to checking the LP out.

Progressive metal without any death or black tends to be boring for me usually but this wasn't for sure. Though even this is not really my thing, I can appreciate how diverse these songs are and I like the lyrics even though they sound a bit cliché in some parts. I enjoyed it but probably won't listen it again.

Great release as I expected! Not metal in the slightest but still a good album. Really liked Friend or Foe and Self Aware.

Their best since at least Shrine Of New Generation Slaves, if not even better than that one; I wasn't sure what to expect from this but am very pleasantly surprised

Is the "landmine blast" some sort of self-quote? I definitely heard that on one of the albums, but I don't remember on which one.

Hell frigging yeah this is so good.

Another masterpiece from the beloved Riverside.
Everything is strong about this great prog album, so fresh and eclectic with crystal production.
Singles aren't the best tracks, it's the exact opposite!
8.8/10

The singles didn't prepare us for what this album really has in store. This is, unexpectadly, one of their best albums to date. Might even be their best. What a rare band they are.

A bit too soft fot me, otherwise a strong album

Ney. Not my cup of tea. Boring and, as most prog albums, I heard it all before.

This album feels short to me...

Like all the songs are great, but it sort of feels incomplete or they decided to add a couple of songs together for a long song or something (just feels weird, but not in a bad way). The deluxe edition adds some depth, but not really enough. I love all the 80s "New Wave" sound on this album, adds a really unique blend with their traditional prog sound.

Impressive, very enjoyable, with a great flow.

Yes it's safe, clean, and a wee bit soft but it's also impressively constructed, well thought through, and has some pretty neat songwriting. They're still releasing some of the finest progressive metal/rock around whereas Dream Theater seem to be heading in the opposite direction.

Written by AndyMetalFreak on 26.01.2023 at 12:13

Yes it's safe, clean, and a wee bit soft but it's also impressively constructed, well thought through, and has some pretty neat songwriting. They're still releasing some of the finest progressive metal/rock around whereas Dream Theater seem to be heading in the opposite direction.

Dream Theater have become predictable whereas Riverside have not.

Respectfully disagree with the last two comments

As for this album, I did really enjoy it, nothing amazing imo put definitely one of the best of the month.

They've gone full rock on this one. I never felt Riverside as a metal band, but always got the sense of the genre in some of their discs, which is not the case here. It's a great record, I'd rate it a 10, however, I'm quite saturated with groups going from an extreme sonority to a proggy vibe among many ones I listen to. Obviously, it's not the case with Riverside, as they've been progressive since their very beginning, I only think that, though being the "old new thing" in the rock/metal scene, very little has been added to the "progressive" label (whether rock or metal), and Riverside also did nothing about it in this new album, which is on my repeat mode since its release.

They managed to maintain the quality and expectation that was high after a great album like wasteland.... Great Album strong AOTY for me and we are just in January!

Good first half, but the second half i quite weaker

Written by KaninStryparn on 06.02.2023 at 12:28

Your post and rating made me sad.
Maybe Riverside is not your thing?! Do you think it's bad? (rating of 4 means bad album).
An album has to be really bad for me to give it a rating of 4.

Quote:
Your post and rating made me sad.
Maybe Riverside is not your thing?! Do you think it's bad (rating of 4 means bad album).
An album has to be really bad for me to give it a rating of 4.

Didn't want to make you sad, Sorry!
Yeah i guess riverside is not my thing. I found the album very boring. But maybe i just had a bad day and need to give it another try?

Quote:

Written by KaninStryparn on 07.02.2023 at 08:56

Your post and rating made me sad.
Maybe Riverside is not your thing?! Do you think it's bad (rating of 4 means bad album).
An album has to be really bad for me to give it a rating of 4.

Didn't want to make you sad, Sorry!
Yeah i guess riverside is not my thing. I found the album very boring. But maybe i just had a bad day and need to give it another try?

if you like progressive metal for sure bro ..... it's one of the great bands in activity today ..... it makes me feel sorry for bands like Dream Theater unfortunately when I stop to listen DT it's just old stuff

The songs are good, no doubt. I wish they were a bit more heavier and not as uplifting. The lyrics seemed preachy. I loved the riffing on I'm done with you and Age of Anger.

This is not a good album; like at all .. 😑

Written by Mreza.bhri on 03.04.2023 at 21:16

This is not a good album; like at all .. 😑

what's wrong with it?