Album Rating: 2.7

Trif holding the hill alone for the big avatar crew

Album Rating: 2.5

Yeah. . . I think this was an unnecessary disc. And I say it as a big Mariusz stan.

Album Rating: 3.0

I'm doing it for all of you 💖

Album Rating: 3.0

really wanted to finish this album and give it an easy 4 but there are just too may low points that really put a dent in my enjoyment of the album as a whole.



The biggest offender is The Place Where I Belong. I feels like it’s going for a similar funk feel as Steven Wilson’s Eminent Sleaze, and much like old SW – the lyrics here are truly awful, like really awful. Something else is off for me here as well, not sure if to describe it as the pacing, cadence or rhythm – but the vocals just sound awkward, like too many words are being forced into the lines. What is it with these prog groups when they try and say something insightful about the state of society, whether is social or political – the observations are expressed so crudely and cliched. The irony of the line “tell me something that doesn’t sound like you just finished high school” – because that’s exactly how the lyrics come across here. Web browsers, meditation apps, gender, race – it’s just all too trying, too obvious. And, finally – 13 minutes!! This should have been the central epic for the album but musically it just doesn’t give any kind of pay off, there is nothing building and then the final 4 minutes just finish with a nice and pleasant but ultimately unrewarding instrumental closedown. Tragic waste of 13 minutes in every way.



And, tell me what were they thinking with the beginning of Big Tech Brother – just so misplaced and worst of all the song is really good, but that intro just ruins everything. It’s easily my worst moment in Riverside’s discography. Some shitty, ironic, funny moment?? – just not needed.

Album Rating: 3.0

But as for the rest of the album:



I really enjoy the 80’s feel to Friend of Foe and it is intelligently used within the Riverside sound, and really adds another dimension to the sound. It works really well. I get an A-ha vibe which I have no issue with (they are one of my guilty pleasures – at least the first two albums anyway). Those sweeping synths and digital stabs really add to the atmosphere.



Landmine has a subtle Eastern Arabic kind of sound and that works fine for me. Not too obvious. But that robotic spoken word parts irritate the hell out of me.



Big Tech Brother, intro aside, starts with some weird keyboard horn type sound very reminiscent of ADHD but soon morphs into a classic Riverside heavy rocker. Such a great track – just delete the first 15 seconds!



Post-Truth continues with its very guitar-centric drive. Just Riverside doing what they do best. Same can be said of I’m Done with You – which really does feel like a lost track from ADHD with the organ parts.



I like the poppy, uplifting pace of Self-aware which is more in keeping with Love, Fear and the Time Machine, and even the “oh oh oh oh’s” don’t grate. In many ways the sound of it also sounds like it could have come from SONGS. But that’s only half the song as it slowly morphs into much darker, subtler textures and draws the album to a perfect end.

Album Rating: 3.0

So to draw this rambling to an end, there are so many hooks here into their past and not in any way derivative or just retreading old ground. Lots of additional elements here that work really well, and I think this is a vast improvement on Wasteland. replace Landmine Blast and The Place Where I Belong with the two instrumentals Age of Anger and Together Again – and the album is getting better. Still, on first few listens I’d rate this second weakest album with Wasteland being the weakest.

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

that big triumphant intro which turns into a synth-pop song with mismatched drums is really funny to me for some reason



like it doesn't add up whatsoever



but that's not my main complaint about this kinda music. nothing defeats it as much as the vox. the singing crushes the fun out of the entire genre, no-one a neo progressive mic actually has fun with their voice, they gimme this feeling of nervous defiance instead. the unspoken lyrics are like "I know this sucks, but I am going to nail every note". haken and steven wilson too, obligatory vox poisoning the music supply

Album Rating: 3.0

That might be so, maybe even often, but Mariusz can definitely show fun with his vox. ADHD is a good example of this.

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

I'll check ADHD some time ❤️

Album Rating: 3.0

I’ve never had an issue with his voice in previous albums. I think he’s vocally strong in Love Fear and the Time Machine. So no idea what happened here.

Album Rating: 3.5

I usually really like Duda's lyrics and vocals, especially in Lunatic Soul, but I also appreciate them in Riverside. Strange to hear they're so blunt and in-your-face this time. Still looking forward to hearing this.

Album Rating: 2.5

on a fun note, YT queued up this with that horrible SW song where he states that "he is tired of facebook". wow.

Haven't listened to this yet, but it would be nice to read something where the pandemic wasn't mentioned.

Album Rating: 3.0

Have given the album another listen, this time trying to concentrate on the aspects I had liked so far, but this is just getting worse for me the more I listen. The rockier tracks just seem quite bland the more time you spend with them and it just doesn’t grab me. The only track I can while heartedly say o enjoy is the first track. Now down to a 3.0 as my initial 3.5 is just too generous. What with this and Katatonia proving to be massive let downs all in the space of one weekend, gutted!

Album Rating: 3.3 | Sound Off

I listened to this again this morning, and I'm still not sure what issue I'm 'missing' when it comes to Duda's vocals. He sounds the same as always, to me. Also, the weird phasing on a few songs didn't bother me. It's prog, it's not always going to sound smooth and easily digestible.

The album keeps on getting better and better for me the more I listen to it. I love the first two songs and the last two. At first I was kind of let down by "The Place Where I Belong," but it has grown on me significantly despite some of the lyrics. Overall I think this is a really solid album and I will be listening to it a lot this coming year.

Album Rating: 2.5

Yeah I also think last Katatonia was mild at best, watchman.

I suggest the EP Memories In My Head Duey. It’s a mixture of right after ADHD and a new direction.

Album Rating: 3.0

Enjoyable, funny and goofy are the 3 things that comes to mind while listening to this, lyrics are a little cringe at times but otherwise is not that bad, I guess.

Album Rating: 3.5

this is definitely a prog rock album alright