Review Summary: An exciting release that proves to be worth more than just a phrase.
Potential is a word long worn-out on debut albums, seemingly attached to nearly every new group that displays any semblance of talent within their release. It’s almost a curse--any unfortunate band labeled as ‘having potential’ either follows up on that promise substantially or fades away into obscurity, their supposedly budding creativity lost inside the ever-expanding database of musical artists. One could almost liken the phrase to a sort of death sentence. With its increasing magnitude and relative ease of entrance, the modern music market proves to be a tough hurdle to jump for any up-and-coming cluster that’s trying to introduce something creative and engaging to the masses.
That being said, tagging RIVIẼRE and their first output
Heal as having potential seems to do a disservice to the excellent music they’ve produced. Instead of describing what the group has currently presented, it diverts unnecessary consideration towards what they
could present to us in the future. What should be immediately and primarily important is the fact that RIVIẼRE have crafted quite the strong opus that, while indeed showcasing a great amount of potential, offers the listener much more than just promises.
RIVIẼRE clearly went to the Earthside school of progressive metal, wherein traditional category structures are blended in elements from post-metal. Though noticeably less theatrical than the latter group, RIVIẼRE are equally competent, balancing genre normality and the post additions to great effect. Featuring softer, more atmospheric sections positioned alongside wonderful build-ups and powerful climaxes,
Heal contains quite a bit for everyone. “Satin Night” is perhaps the best example of this style succeeding on all fronts, beginning with soft instrumentation and exploding at its end into vocal harmonies punctuated by heavy guitars. Closer “Yosemite” is the no doubt the record’s most post-metal song, its later half providing a brilliant mood that seems to guide you on a journey through the park itself.
The band proves to be more than capable of designing straightforward prog jams. “Golden Wounds” clearly exhibits RIVIẼRE’s competence in a variety of settings, combining some djent-inspired guitar parts with more typical progressive metal melodies. The more impressive tune of this style, “Binary Love,” wastes no time ensnaring you with its groovy composition and hard-hitting central riff. Every band member is audible, adding to the song in their own way. Special note goes to the subtle intricacy of the guitars, consistently bringing forth quality material and not falling into archetypal prog organization. At the forefront is an energetic vocal performance that appropriately matches the tonality of the music and demonstrates a very pleasing range.
The album’s flow is one of the better points of interest, significantly contributing to the constant interest of the audience. Any effort that clocks in over 50 minutes runs the risk of losing steam and, by consequence, the listener. However, the band’s three 8+ minute post-rockers are separated by the exceptional and more direct heavy tracks, striking a pleasing equilibrium that ensures persistent variability as one progresses through the record.
Time will tell if RIVIẼRE can weather the storm of ‘potential’ and retain any sort of prominence they have gained in their scene. What can be known for certain is that
Heal kicks off the new year with a captivating collection of progressive metal songs. The intermingled sound influences make this accessible to fans from all kinds of musical classifications. It may not be the most original thing to grace your ears, but it’s impossible to ignore the energy and smart composition presented here. For now, at least, it’s best to set the future aside and enjoy what’s been given in the here and now.
