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New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
Recent Reviews
April 2024
- Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
- Praying Mantis: Defiance
- King Zebra: Between The Shadows
- About Us: Take A Piece
- Blue Oyster Cult: Ghost Stories
March 2024
- Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
- Whom Gods Destroy: Insanium
- The Prog Collective: Dark Encounters
- Lords Of Black: Mechanics Of Predacity
- Lipz: Changing The Melody
- The End Machine: The Quantum Phase
- Stargate: Escaping The Illusion
- Turbulence: Binary Dream
- Sonata Arctica: Clear Cold Beyond
- D'Luna: Monster
- Big Big Train: The Likes Of Us
- Benjamin Croft: We Are Here To Help
February 2024
- Traveler: Prequel To Madness
- Lionheart: The Grace Of A Dragonfly
- Honeymoon Suite: Alive
- Durbin: Screaming Steel
- Smoking Snakes: Danger Zone
- Revolution Saints: Against The Winds
- Striker: Ultrapower
- Show N Tell: The Ritual Has Begun
- Robert Hart: Circus Life
January 2024
- Corvus: Immortals
- Caligula's Horse: Charcoal Grace
- Grand: Second To None
- Neal Morse: The Restoration - Joseph - Part Two
- The Rods: Rattle The Cage
- Gotus: Gotus
- Metalite: Expedition One
- Cobrakill: Serpent's Kiss
- Jack Russell & Tracii Guns: Medusa
- Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 1
- The Grandmaster: Black Sun
Riverside: Rapid Eye Movement
Some bands just get better with time and experience. They rise from ordinary to outstanding. Poland's Riverside is such a band. When I found 2003's 'Out Of Myself,' I thought, these guys are on to something very, very good. There is creativity and inspiration here; this is not your ordinary progressive metal or rock. With 'Rapid Eye Movement,' Riverside secures their place among the best of the best in progressive metal.
'Rapid Eye Movement' is an impressive listening experience. The entrance track 'Beyond The Eyelids' sweeps you into some progressive grandeur. It's really hard to believe only four men a can produce such immense sound. At times dark and foreboding, 'Rapid Eye Movement,' still breathes light and life on a song like '02 Panic Room,' where the vocals are emotional and the keyboards thrilling. For the full progressive experience, 'Parasomnia' excels in depth and innovation. There are moments of intensity and also subtle beauty. Throughout, I often hear a more heavy and introspective Pink Floyd especially on 'Embryonic.'
The bottom line is this: this is outstanding progressive metal, possibly without equal in Europe. If this is the future of progressive metal in Europe (and elsewhere), then we have the promise of a very bright future. Riverside is at the top of their genre and should be equally commended for their originality and creativity. Highly recommended!
- Craig Hartranft
By Craig Hartranft
In Short
Riverside is quite possibly the future of European progressive metal. This is their best work to date: innovative and compelling. Each song delivers dramatic progressive sounds.
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Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]