Band:	Riverside
Album:	Out Of Myself
Style:	Progressive metal
Release date:	December 15, 2003
A review by:	Ivor

01. The Same River
02. Out Of Myself
03. I Believe
04. Reality Dream
05. Loose Heart
06. Reality Dream II
07. In Two Minds
08. The Curtain Falls
09. OK

It took at least three spins of this album for me to really start wondering who the hell Riverside was and how come I hadn't heard of them before. From then on I started discovering this album in every sense, it grew on me so much that it has become one of the most treasured pieces in my collection.

In a way, Riverside's formula for a great musical experience lies in the "simple" approach -- strong bass lines by Mariusz Duda, supporting drum section by Piotr Kozieradzki to form the backbone, Piotr Grudzinski on guitar to create the lead melodies, and back at the recording time Jacek Melnicki on keyboard to take care of the aerial atmosphere. Add great singing by Duda and some creativity and influences by Anathema, Pink Floyd, Opeth and Porcupine Tree. Stir, shake and serve.

The result is a highly emotional album focusing not only musically but also conceptually on emotions, feelings and the struggle in life and endless failure. And all wrapped up in artwork by Travis Smith. The album starts off with a 12 minute track "The Same River." Typical prog metal you say? Naah... Half of the song is an instrumental intro to the album which sets the listener in the proper frame of mind. Starting with haunting atmosphere the song slowly gains speed, might and versatility on the stairs of the underlying bass, layered with guitar melodies that shine with compositional skill. Mid-song hits an abrupt pause and almost starts anew with bass that just makes an imprint in your memory. And thus starts a story that tries to tell about a man facing depression and failures and trying to struggle through it again by entering "the same river."

The second track "Out Of Myself" is where the aforementioned reference to Pink Floyd first springs up. Took me a while to actually find why the beginning guitars sounded so familiar. Reminded me very much of "Let There Be More Light," the opening track from Pink Floyd's "A Saucerful Of Secrets" album. Not exactly the same but the theme is very similar in the beginning. The track feeds on emotions and grows into a rather angry piece and I love when Duda can almost be heard screaming "Let me get this straight / Let me get this right" towards the end of the track.

"I Believe" is a moment of calm, a stop to take a breath to go onto an instrumental journey that is "Reality Dream," a journey where you find beauty, calmness and aggressive speed, stubbornness and the will to fight. It has interesting interplay between guitars and keys, heavy riffing and it builds up some sense of panic, the one that you can feel after waking up from a nightmare. This is the first of the two instrumental flights, challenging pieces that just get remembered for great lines and turns. It is followed by "Loose Heart" which captures Anathema-like atmosphere of loss, with a bit of Opeth coming in when Duda almost growls the lines "Raise me up / Don't let me fall!" The second part of instrumental, "Reality Dream II," is virtuously served next. It's interesting to note that the band has used instrumental tracks to build up momentum and vocal tracks to slow the pace down.

"In Two Minds" is more like a ballad, a slow track accompanied by acoustic and electric guitars. Nothing really special but it suits well with the coming "The Curtain Falls." This track is another strong reference, guitar wise, to Pink Floyd. Some very Gilmoure-like use of guitars from the times of "Wish You Were Here" and especially "The Wall" albums, the track particularly retains similarity with the "Another Brick In The Wall, Pt. 1" in the background. Hauntingly familiar and yet it still sounds fresh. The album is closed with "Ok," a peculiar end to the album. It’s a track not really fitting the general style but a good end because of the message it carries. "There is sadness in my mind -- OK," a sadness because the world doesn't change... and because the album ends.

This album might not be one you are going to love from the first listen. In the first place it might not even be anything special. It's just that this piece of art is a bit more delicate and subtle and needs time to live into it. It took me a while till my feet were kicked from under me. In my case this album became dearer and dearer with each spin. And I'm really curious if these guys from Poland can prove with their new album that this gem did not come out accidentally.


Dedicated to janhuss who made me discover this band. Thanks, mate!!