Second Life Syndrome

Riverside | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 8, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Inside Out U.S.
• ASIN: B000BCHJRE
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,123 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

It is with no small amount of pride that Inside Out Music has the unique opportunity to announce its very first signing from a former communist country: Poland’s Riverside. Behind the Iron Curtain, over the past years, and especially in Poland, progressive music has very quietly (but surely) been growing in popularity and establishing itself as a real scene. As a result, some very interesting and promising bands have begun to see the proverbial light-of-day. Enter Riverside, with their hyper-creative compositional and instrumental skills, they create very intense compact soundscapes that could remind one of Pink Floyd from the days-of-old. Their debut CD received rave reviews from the progressive rock community with many calling it "the album of the year." We expect no less from Second Life Syndrome.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Progressive Metal Album for the Ages, November 28, 2005

By 

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

This review is from: Second Life Syndrome (Audio CD)

I ask you! Have you ever witnessed a band, who after releasing a monumental debut album, that had garnered widespread praise and universal acclimation, actually top that album with their second effort. I'm not saying it hasn't happened but I can't recall if is has, until now. I have listened to Riverside's brand new release Second Life Syndrome for a week now, probably some two dozen spins and I have come up with one inescapable conclusion. Second Life Syndrome not only surpasses their remarkable debut, Out of Myself: [...] but it ranks with the all time giants of progressive metal like, Dream Theater's, Images and Words and Awake, or Green Carnation's, Light of Day, Day of Darkness.

Forget the Opeth, Porcupine Tree, and Anathema comparisons, I made in my review, about their first disc, Out of Myself. Second Life Syndrome not only eclipses it, but it also insinuates a raw new Riverside direction that, shows the band evolving into a shadowy musical realm, while expanding the creative nucleus of their debut album.

Riverside

What are we talking about here? We're talking about a group of talented Poles, who seem to be creating a new and different style of music and yet it isn't. It's fresh as a spring rain and yet it's dark and morbid: "I can't take anymore, I can't breath, I'm sick of this goddamn darkness, sick of the sadness and the tears. I threw it all up every single day together with last nights dinner"

Take the best from Pink Floyd, Anathema, Porcupine Tree and Pain of Salvation and you almost have something close but not quite. Their music runs the gamut from mellow and subtle to intense and powerful. Most of the album is delivered in a slow to slow medium ethereal tempo but picks up for overpowering crescendos. Most of the music is carried by whining guitars with excellent keyboards interjected perfectly to compliment the music. The vocals by bassist Mariusz Duda, who still reminds me of Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt, though not inspired, are perfect for this melancholy music.

Total length 63:39

Line-up

- Piotr Grudzinski / guitar

- Markus Duda / vocals, bass & guitar

- Piotr Kozieradzki / drums & percussion

- Michal Lapaj / keyboards

Second Life Syndrome opens with "After", a slow moody, sing song number, which for somehow reminds me of a forty year old song, "Born to be with You" by the Chordettes, followed by a frenetic piece, "Volte-Face", Which has fast and somewhat discordant Middle Eastern feeling and some great keyboards. Track three, "Conceiving You", is an ethereal ballad.

The title track, starting with a slow guitar Pink Floyd ambiance, leads to a very long complex and varied number. "Artificial Smile" features a heavy bass and drum workout, finishing with manic screams. "I Turned you Down" is a rock style ballad that gradually picks up steam and "Reality Dream III" is a super instrumental. "Dance with the Shadows", another long one and most other reviewer's, I've read, favorite. The final track is "Before" is an ambient moody guitar and piano laden number.

CONCLUSION

The biggest mistake you can make, is blowing this band off because of where they are from. Believe me when I say, there is currently no better, progressive rock/metal band in America, Britain or anywhere else. There's no one out there, with more imaginative progressive music. No better ear for music, no better compositions, no better arrangements. In summary, the worse thing a progressive rock/metal fan can do is ignore Riverside.

Evidence of the imminent, popular ascension of this band comes from the fact that this album will now be released world wide by prestigious Inside Out Music. What do they know that you don't? I can't tout this album and the previous one enough. It's your move! 4.9 stars!

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keep the Progressive Juices Flowing..., March 3, 2006

By 

Sunshine the Werewolf (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Second Life Syndrome (Audio CD)

RIVERSIDE - Second Life Syndrome

-

Fusing the styles of Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd, A Perfect Circle and even touches of the legendary King Crimson, Poland's Riverside is an unstoppable progressive tour de force. Though offering nothing entirely `new' to the genre... They have created an album in exceptional beauty and with ample feeling. It is powerful, emotive and moving... I love whenever a bands music is actually `felt' and not just simply `heard'.

I could go into extended lengths about how amazing this CD is... But one listen to any track on this disc and it will sell itself...

Oddly enough my primary diet consists of Metal music but as a Prog lover and fan of Porcupine Tree I was told to check this out, and boy am I glad I did. Once again, I now have to update my Best of 2005...

Favorite Tracks: Second Life Syndrome, Reality Dream III, Conceiving You and I Turned You Down

-4.75 Stars

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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars POLISH PROG-ROCK GROUP 'RIVERSIDE' MAKES ASTOUNDING INTERNATIONAL DEBUT, March 25, 2006

By 

Edwin Ollikkala (Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Second Life Syndrome (Audio CD)

Riverside is the best new band I've heard in ten years.

In fact, had I looked for them any earlier, they would have been impossible to find. Not because the band is from Poland. Not because they weren't popular. But because the band started taking critics by surprise when they played live for the first time in just 2002. I must tell you that my standards in a group are very high. Most bands don't cut it with me. When I'm going to invest my time with a group, I choose carefully. And you know that if you choose right, you become a part of the group's message and grow old with them.

Having long been a fan of progressive rock, my groups must be overwhelmingly competent. My definition of an intelligent person's rock band would be Spock's Beard, Dream Theater, Flower Kings, Transatlantic, Yes, early Genesis... well...you get the idea. Nowadays, it's really hard to find exceptional music in the 'progressive' genre to invest in. It's not unlike a 35 year old twice-divorced man who begins dating again. He knows the field and most of the field is not to his liking because he's seen all of the hooks and tricks before.

But Riverside is like a fresh lover. Fresh, naughty, experienced, playfully naive, and ready to teach you.

So one day, while searching for a new lover amongst the cross-listings of NEO-PROGRESSIVE ROCK at Amazon.com, one band stood out. I mean REALLY stood out. People had nothing but heaps and mounds of praise for Riverside. Pretty unusual for a group which never played outside of their home country and were overrun by fans at their first gig. But like computer dating, just because the profile seems be a good match on paper, the truth is meeting your date face-to-face, or in this case 'ear-to-ear'. I want you to listen to Riverside.

You're getting in on the ground floor here. I'm giving away bits and pieces of the band because they seem too good to believe. Would you believe that there are an incredible 94 reviews of the band's first album, 'Out of Myself' carefully compiled and linked on the band's website. All of them are overwhelmingly positive. There are even reviews of their self-financed 300 copy promo CD! Riverside has only just released their second album "Second Life Syndrome"(yes folks, only their second) and has kept the critics raving. 137 reviews - 137 double-thumbs up.

If you're in the states and have never heard of Riverside, don't be alarmed. The group was invited to NearFEST last year (2005) but was not able to attend. Not that they didn't want to (it's progressive rock's highest showcase). They wanted to, but passport pleas fell on the deaf ears of the authorities. In June 2006 Riverside will make their impact on the international rock scene properly. Watch and see. It's actually not a hard prediction to make (word has it that Nearfest SOLD OUT in 30 minutes)

Some thoughts about Riverside. . . (while in a deep dreamy state of Vulcan mind-meld)

blend of prog rock, art rock, and ambitious music

sensitive lyrics.. straight to the heart

an intravenous injection of music

a critics' joy!

highly addictive

raw talent, clear focus

it's all about... finding YOURSELF

Lyrics:

Follow my name

Follow my sin

Wearing my mask

Cover my fear

All of my blame

All in my place

Wearing my mask

Cover my shame

We are so far from understand

We are so far from

"we can take"

ONWARD AND UPWARD

To be at the right place at the right time requires luck and synchronicity. I've seen some fantastic live photographs that have accurately captured in pixels what must be the live energy of the band. I can only imagine. Riverside is a rare treat that must be shared. 5 Stars!