Riverside are quite often considered a progressive metal band, but they’ve always been much more varied and nuanced than that. Certainly, they are capable of being heavy but that’s not the same thing. Here on this re-release of their first album, originally released in 2003, it is evident that they were a band of some talent.

Rather than just metallic, you can hear from the start a certain psychedelic air, not least an influence of Pink Floyd. There are reminders of other bands in the sound too, including King Crimson, Porcupine Tree, Opeth and even a touch of Pain of Salvation. There are also moments of a neo-progressive air too.

The music turns out to be quite thoughtful, sensitive and not a little bleak. There’s not much of cheer on display, but the lyrics never become maudlin or depressing. Ambient style passages can give way to something more powerful and soaring. They’re not afraid to wig-out at times either. There are moments in the opener, The Same River, when things become a little Ozric Tentacles-like. There’s plenty of marked changes too which provides lots of colour and contrast. Elsewhere the music takes another feeling altogether. I Believe is more of a ballad with acoustic guitars and a much more mellow approach. There are a couple of purely instrumental tracks as well in Reality Dream and Reality II. They are well done too, showing that you can be impressive musically without being overbearing or wearisome.

This was a very impressive debut from the band, with the musicians giving assured and vibrant performances and they’ve followed that up since with some exceptional releases. Just once in a while the tempos can become a little plodding, something that space rock can fall into. In many ways what the band did on this release provided a template to what they would create on later albums. Powerful and often beautiful, the album is also a deeply melancholic one but one that avoids falling into a misery. This is a very good listen.

This release has been remastered but there is no bonus material. This is just a straight re-release.

1. The Same River (12:01)
2. Out of Myself (3:43)
3. I Believe (4:14)
4. Reality Dream (6:15)
5. Loose Heart (4:50)
6. Reality II (4:45)
7. In Two Minds (4:38)
8. The Curtain Falls (7:59)
9. OK (4:46)

Mariusz Duda / vocals, bass, acoustic guitar

Piotr Grudziński / electric guitars

Jacek Melnicki / keyboards

Piotr Kozieradzki / drum, percussion

With:

Krzysztof Melnicki / trombone (9)

Format: Special Edition CD Digipak & Sticker, black LP+CD, coloured LP+CD, Digital album

Label: InsideOut Music

Originally Released: 2003

Re-release Date: 12^th February 2021

https://riversideband.pl/en/

https://www.insideoutmusic.com/index.aspx