Out of Myself

Riverside | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 21, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Laser's Edge
• ASIN: B0002VEONQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,629 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!, September 7, 2005

By 

Mr D. "Artist/Designer/Kibitzer" (Cave Creek, Az United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Out of Myself (Audio CD)

I always enjoy seeing something really great, from overseas, make a splash here in the states. So much really good import music goes virtually unnoticed here and it's really a shame. It's not that American musicians aren't capable of producing music of the quality of Riverside's Out of Myself, it just seems like they can't be bothered, because American buyers will line up, no matter what they peddle.

Out of Myself is being touted by many Progressive Rock aficionados as the best prog/rock album of 2004. I don't know about that but it is an exceptional album and I do enjoy it more than recent releases by Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree and Pain of Salvation. Their music is atmospheric blend of aggressive prog metal and a smoother prog rock style and it is overwhelming. Their opening track, "The Same River" is a classic and may indeed be the Prog/rock track of the year. Twelve minutes of a haunting, predominantly instrumental masterpiece. It starts with special effects, a radio tuner spinning along the dial, static and all, leading into some Floydian guitar work. After a couple minutes we settle into a contagious, continuous guitar rhythm which permeates the song throughout, while ethereal vocals and soaring guitar solos run their course. There are some lyrics but they are near the end of this monster song: "I am your fear, hope - I am your grief, joy - I am your deed, word - I am your hate, love - I know... I can... Wanna stay..."

Next, the title track, "Out of Myself" is shorter but an equally potent track. Again the guitar is the main instrument, sometime soft and often heavy and crunchy. This is a busy song with lots happening and the singer, Duda is excellent singing lyrics like: "I don't feel quite myself. I think I'm losing heart. I'm sick and tired of all those words. Voices in my head"

The title track is followed by a very good easy going song, "I Believe" featuring an acoustic guitar and double track singing. This song reminds me of one of Mikael Akerfeldt's milder endeavors. Then comes another five star number in the six minute "Reality Dream," another hard driving number, sort of like an instrumental version of the title track. Track Five, "Loose Heart" is like an atmospheric power ballad but it gets real heavy including screaming vocals right at the end: "Raise me up. Don't let me fall. Cause I don't get myself. I feel like I felt before. But can't find my way "

"Reality Dream II" is a heavy guitar laden instrumental reprise of "Reality Dream" I, albeit shorter. "In Two Minds" Duda has an ambient melancholy sound with an accompanying, first acoustic then electric guitar. A synth plays a good part in the slow easy going number as well: "But if you lose your faith. Know that I am still your friend. And if the sky falls down. Know that I will still support you."

Track Eight, "The Curtain Falls" starts slowly with a sort of steel guitar flavor leading into Dud`s soft vocals. At first it sounds like something Chris Rea would sing but it does pick up nicely at the three-thirty mark, with some excellent progressive movements: "I know what I'm really like...I'm bleeding... I don't mind... That was very foolish of me. I can do nothing now

"

Ok, "OK", is my least favorite song but on this album that ain't bad. It is very slow and moody. It is a simple but effective song of heartbreak: "There's sadness in my mind - ok. There's darkness in my mind - ok. Thoughts echoing in my mind - ok. Everything is gonna be..."

Line-up

- Piotr Grudzinski / guitar

- Markus Duda / vocals, bass & guitar

- Piotr Kozieradzki / drums & percussion

- Jacek Melnicki / keyboards

Conclusion

Out of Myself is an album for those of you who appreciate good guitar playing. When I listen to this album I hear influences from all the masters but Riverside bows to no band. Their work is both original and wonderful. Yes I hear Floyd and Pain of Salvation and Porcupine Tree and Anathema and even Opeth but what I hear most is Riverside.

The music tends to be dark and dreamy. It's progressive but there are songs that could be right at home on the radio. Singer Markus Duda is an superlative singer and guitar player. His voice is a little like Opeth`s Mikael Akerfeldt. There is no question that the first two songs are the highlights but the remaining songs all stand on their own merits. For a debut album this is amazing. If you like great progressive rock/metal music dig out seventeen bucks and splurge. You won't be disappointed. Final Rating 4.5 Stars, rounded up.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sheer emotion from Poland, August 26, 2005

By 

Paulo Andre (Portugal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Out of Myself (Audio CD)

Those who know me well acknowledge the fact that I'm a bit compulsive about the things I like. I have to admit I am that way to some extent. Some things I can't just casually enjoy, I get almost fanatical about them. Fortunately, that's only the case with a few selects things. Another thing that's part of my character, is a strong inclination towards the unconventional, that which hadn't been done yet or that which is extremely original and heartfelt. Right now, I can tell you of at least one band that fits all these bills: RIVERSIDE.

"Out of Myself", RIVERSIDE's debut album, is a concept album about one finding inner peace, understanding of himself and the surrounding world. According to the band's vocalist and bassist, Mariusz Duda, this is the first part of a trilogy dealing with the aforementioned subjects and, let me tell you, if the next two pieces are on par with this one, then I can't wait for them and this trilogy will become a huge classic.

I wouldn't say RIVERSIDE are strictly a progressive band but they surely approach it in a very strong manner. So much so that this album can clearly appeal to 70's progressive rock lovers. The closest they come to being really progressive is right on the first track, "The Same River", an ambitious 12 minute piece which goes through different moods and emotions, always showing a band that's unbelievably tight for a debut, aswell as instrumentally superior. Take for instance, right after the first section of the song, how ethereal the guitar that enters the scene at 04:40 really is. Piotr Kozieradzki's drum work is always precise yet rather complex and Michal Lapaj's keyboards provide a sweet backdrop to the song (and the rest of the album too).

Throughout the record, the idea I got is that RIVERSIDE are the perfect cross between PORCUPINE TREE (in the sense of ever present surprises and unexpected turns in their songs) and OPETH (especially with their "Damnation" album). In fact, Duda's vocals reminded me more than once of Mikael Akerfeldt's clean vocals. Also thrown in for good measure are some PINK FLOYD influences.

Speaking of Duda's vocals, rarely I listened to someone sing with such warmth and feeling. Take for example "I Believe", "Loose Heart" and especially "In Two Minds" which starts with a telephone-like sort of whispered and echoed voice (another PORCUPINE TREE trademark and possible influence) and then becomes crystal clear. This song's arrangement blew me away. This is top notch composition, as far as I'm concerned and Duda's vocals always give me goosebumps. Piotr Grudzinski's guitar work is also amazing and perfectly balanced.

"The Curtain Falls" is a more experimental tune, yet rather good, and "Ok" basically gives Duda singing softly over a sort of trip hop-ish backdrop. Interspersed within the album, are also two moody pieces "Reality Dream I" and "Reality Dream II" which serve the concept purpose of the album making use of interesting samples - the sound of a phone call producing a dial error, an alarm clock going off, a clock ticking. Both are probably the heaviest numbers on the album showing the metal side of the band. I suggest you check the section in "Reality Dream I" from 03:58 to 04:51 for the ultimate demonstration of what this band is instrumentally capable of, in particular the odd time signatures produced by Kozieradzki and of course Grudzinski's guitar work. The whole of "In Two Minds" show just how good Duda is as a singer.

The production is top notch and that's a relief because it would be a shame if such a truly beautiful piece of work got ruined by it. The worldwide release of "Out of Myself" features cover art designed by Travis Smith (of OPETH and ANATHEMA fame) which pretty much suits the underlying concept.

My compulsiveness towards the things I like may sometimes be a problem, but bear with me on this one. Usually when a band debuts with such a great album it either disbands immediately (CYNIC comes to mind) or is destined to great things. I sense RIVERSIDE are on the latter group. I just hope they get that little bit of luck everyone needs to succeed, because the talent, the emotion, the technique, the ability... well, it's all there. Saint-Exupery once said that "perfection is not achieved when there's nothing more to add but rather when there's nothing more to take away". While I don't claim "Out of Myself" to be perfect (despite the hands-down 5 star rating) it certainly comes very close to fitting that phrase.

You want to have this album. Don't say I didn't warn you.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent debut effort !, October 9, 2005

By 

thor9 (Richmond, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Out of Myself (Audio CD)

I would have given this album 3.5 stars if it were possible. That is NOT to say it isnt a good album. Actually, its an excellent album and a terrific freshman prog-rock effort by these boys from Poland. This album was a great listen and highly recommended as a wonderful new group with good instrumentals and sound, but they are not breaking any "new" ground here and parallels to others are inevitable and rather obvious. I wasnt "blown away" but did find myself swaying in the wind by this album.

There are clear influences by Pink Floyd, Dream Theater, Opeth and Porcupine Tree , to name just a few of the quintessential names that pop to mind as one listens to Riverside.

The guitar playing is very cool and they break out into clean solos which are very well played and has an excellent ambient sound. "Reality Dreams II" stands out a song with a nice guitar and drum ending.

The vocals are clean and the singer Duda has a nice range. Not influencing the listening pleasure but, I felt that a non-native English "accent" is clearly noted on most of the songs. This again is not to define any way that the language should sound (given that Brits and Americans differ on most words as well) but I guess I would hear a deviation from a "neutral" accent that seems to characterize most music vocals. As other reviewers have pointed out, the lead singer sounded a lot like Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth on many an occasion. I also found him sounding like Gavin from Dredg (especially on the song "loose heart"). This is purely a chronological phenomenon as one tends to compare with predecessors in the same genre.

One thing I would note though is comparisons to Floyd (or most great prog rock bands for that matter) are premature and definitely lacking from a purely lyrical perspective. The music is pretty cool, but they really need to work on their lyrics. They could easily be mistaken for some teen-angst ravings about lost love (which seems to be the theme of all the songs). "As you know/ I've always loved you and I know I will always love..."

All in all, this is a very promising band with an amalgam of sounds that seems to be influenced by all the greats and yet manages to have a sound of their own. Give it a listen and keep a ear out for future efforts from them.