Riverside are a progressive rock/metal band from Warsaw Poland. The band are famous for their atmospheric music based around progressive rock themes and emotional lyrics.
The group has been active since 2001 and have released eight studio albums and three previous live albums. As far as Live I.D album is concerned, it was recorded back on June 1, 2024, at COS
Torwar in Warsaw. It captures a set twelve songs, mainly taken from the band’s latest studio album Entity I.D, released in 2023.
The setlist was about 110 minutes, the music underlining the improvement of the band’s psychological status after the loss of Piotr Grudziński in 2016. Every song sits well in the set, from the beginning with the musical dynamite Addicted entering us into a sonic initiation that gives the listener the chance to forget everyday life and escape. As we talk about music gems, it is kind of difficult to distinguish between them.
I could say that my favourite is Post-Truth as it talks about issues we face as misinformation, propaganda and many other of complexities of every life. In general, all these songs are steps to get a reaction from the audience. An album to forget yourself with and just enjoy as if you were there it could be used to release anxiety, spiritual pain and depression as Riverside too let go of their turbulent times.
The group has been active since 2001 and have released eight studio albums and three previous live albums. As far as Live I.D album is concerned, it was recorded back on June 1, 2024, at COS
Torwar in Warsaw. It captures a set twelve songs, mainly taken from the band’s latest studio album Entity I.D, released in 2023.
The setlist was about 110 minutes, the music underlining the improvement of the band’s psychological status after the loss of Piotr Grudziński in 2016. Every song sits well in the set, from the beginning with the musical dynamite Addicted entering us into a sonic initiation that gives the listener the chance to forget everyday life and escape. As we talk about music gems, it is kind of difficult to distinguish between them.
I could say that my favourite is Post-Truth as it talks about issues we face as misinformation, propaganda and many other of complexities of every life. In general, all these songs are steps to get a reaction from the audience. An album to forget yourself with and just enjoy as if you were there it could be used to release anxiety, spiritual pain and depression as Riverside too let go of their turbulent times.
As we reach the end of the review, Live I.D is a great sample of Riversides amazing performance on this tour. 9/10
Thundermother - Dirty & Divine (AFM Records) [Dan Sierras]
Thundermother return with a revamped lineup for its latest album Dirty & Divine. Joining guitarist Filippa Nässil are new lead singer Linnéa Vikström and new drummer Joan Massing with Majsan Lindberg returning on bass. They show no sign of slowing down on this latest release full of hard rocking, arena rock hits.
You can hear the influence of AC/DC and Motörhead throughout, but with their own touch to it. These ladies bring it from track to track, starting out with the killer riff on the banger So Close. There’s no slowing down with the next track Can’t Put Out The Fire, another track begging to be played in front of an arena full of fans. And get out of the way or you’ll be run over with a freight train with the next track Speaking Of The Devil. Vikström’s vocals soar on this song.
The heavy harmonies continue on the next track Feeling Alright, with outstanding guitar work from Nässil. Then watch out for the next banger Take The Power. Lemmy Kilmister is most definitely banging his head to this track. And the heavy opening bass riff on I Left My License In The Future is riffalicious.
Dead Or Alive is yet another great track showing off new vocalist Vikström’s strong pipes. Followed by yet another song that would have fans screaming Can You Feel It in a packed arena, and Bright Eyes will have your feet stomping along with the beat. The album wraps up the same way it started with American Adrenaline, with another fast-paced, hard rocker.
Six albums deep, Thundermother show they’re not going anywhere with Dirty & Divine. They deliver an excellent hard rock album that deserves to be listened to with the volume all the way up! 9/10
Beneath A Steel Sky – Cleave (Ripcord Records) [Rick Eaglestone]
Originally created as an instrumental project Beneath A Steel Sky have now evolved into a full band ensemble merging post-rock intensity with profound musical exploration for debut album Cleave.
Formed in a landscape of uncertainty Beneath A Black Sky forged ahead with desolate and contemplative mindset with is reflected through this captivating release, take for instance the woeful opener The Sky Above The Port Was The Colour Of Television, Turned To A Dead Channel immediately puts the listener into a fragile state as melodies are complimented with equal levels of anguish which flows into Vanguard with atmospheric elements with heavy riffs.
Everyone You’ve Ever Known rides an ethereal wave with a much gentler vocal delivery before balancing alongside a gloomy tormented outpouring which is followed by the prog tinged Quetzalcoatlus providing another dynamic that fits in well with the rest of the album.
The crowning glory appears in the form of The Infinite Silence That Follows The Absolute Truth really gives the band the opportunity for the bad to really show off their musical prowess and come together as a collective to offer the listener something wonderfully immersive and the instrumental composition is just majestic.
Cyclical Dunt still manages to hold true to the album’s overall aesthetic with hypnotic reels that flow into the final and longest track of the album the near eight-minute opus The Becoming which really feels like a journey of sorts which seems to be projected into musical form with a clear sense of admiration and an acknowledgement of a past not quite left behind
From beginning to end this album is sprinkled with captivating soundscapes that take the listener on their own journey of reflection. Masterfully Bleak. 7/10
Thundermother - Dirty & Divine (AFM Records) [Dan Sierras]
Thundermother return with a revamped lineup for its latest album Dirty & Divine. Joining guitarist Filippa Nässil are new lead singer Linnéa Vikström and new drummer Joan Massing with Majsan Lindberg returning on bass. They show no sign of slowing down on this latest release full of hard rocking, arena rock hits.
You can hear the influence of AC/DC and Motörhead throughout, but with their own touch to it. These ladies bring it from track to track, starting out with the killer riff on the banger So Close. There’s no slowing down with the next track Can’t Put Out The Fire, another track begging to be played in front of an arena full of fans. And get out of the way or you’ll be run over with a freight train with the next track Speaking Of The Devil. Vikström’s vocals soar on this song.
The heavy harmonies continue on the next track Feeling Alright, with outstanding guitar work from Nässil. Then watch out for the next banger Take The Power. Lemmy Kilmister is most definitely banging his head to this track. And the heavy opening bass riff on I Left My License In The Future is riffalicious.
Dead Or Alive is yet another great track showing off new vocalist Vikström’s strong pipes. Followed by yet another song that would have fans screaming Can You Feel It in a packed arena, and Bright Eyes will have your feet stomping along with the beat. The album wraps up the same way it started with American Adrenaline, with another fast-paced, hard rocker.
Six albums deep, Thundermother show they’re not going anywhere with Dirty & Divine. They deliver an excellent hard rock album that deserves to be listened to with the volume all the way up! 9/10
Beneath A Steel Sky – Cleave (Ripcord Records) [Rick Eaglestone]
Originally created as an instrumental project Beneath A Steel Sky have now evolved into a full band ensemble merging post-rock intensity with profound musical exploration for debut album Cleave.
Formed in a landscape of uncertainty Beneath A Black Sky forged ahead with desolate and contemplative mindset with is reflected through this captivating release, take for instance the woeful opener The Sky Above The Port Was The Colour Of Television, Turned To A Dead Channel immediately puts the listener into a fragile state as melodies are complimented with equal levels of anguish which flows into Vanguard with atmospheric elements with heavy riffs.
Everyone You’ve Ever Known rides an ethereal wave with a much gentler vocal delivery before balancing alongside a gloomy tormented outpouring which is followed by the prog tinged Quetzalcoatlus providing another dynamic that fits in well with the rest of the album.
The crowning glory appears in the form of The Infinite Silence That Follows The Absolute Truth really gives the band the opportunity for the bad to really show off their musical prowess and come together as a collective to offer the listener something wonderfully immersive and the instrumental composition is just majestic.
Cyclical Dunt still manages to hold true to the album’s overall aesthetic with hypnotic reels that flow into the final and longest track of the album the near eight-minute opus The Becoming which really feels like a journey of sorts which seems to be projected into musical form with a clear sense of admiration and an acknowledgement of a past not quite left behind
From beginning to end this album is sprinkled with captivating soundscapes that take the listener on their own journey of reflection. Masterfully Bleak. 7/10
The Slime - Crabwalk To Oblivion (Self Released) [Mark Young]
Talk about fast and furious without a car or any mention of family! Like the running time, this is a relatively short review that hopefully will highlight how much of a blast this is.
The Slime blast through with 11 songs in 15 minutes, sometimes in a blink and you'll miss it style. I think that sometimes you just need an album to come in and batter you around for a bit and leave, taking your dinner money with it. In the time it took me to type this they have flown through 4 tracks such is the speed of delivery. They don't believe in taking any longer than us necessary to get their point across.
The Toronto natives are plainly having a good time here and it reminds me of early Suicidal Tendencies in the way they are dropped. It's a frenetic as promised, and what's more it's great fun. They are not trying to be something they're not, it's good solid hardcore, nothing more and nothing less and it's a breath of fresh air to be fair.
What I take from this is that live it would be wild with each track having enough energy to whip an audience up into a frenzy. Of all the releases this week, it's one that might get overshadowed amongst the technical and the wizardry and pure mayhem that has come out but in terms as being a pure belt of good fun, it can’t be beaten. Give it a go, you won’t regret it!! 7/10
Talk about fast and furious without a car or any mention of family! Like the running time, this is a relatively short review that hopefully will highlight how much of a blast this is.
The Slime blast through with 11 songs in 15 minutes, sometimes in a blink and you'll miss it style. I think that sometimes you just need an album to come in and batter you around for a bit and leave, taking your dinner money with it. In the time it took me to type this they have flown through 4 tracks such is the speed of delivery. They don't believe in taking any longer than us necessary to get their point across.
The Toronto natives are plainly having a good time here and it reminds me of early Suicidal Tendencies in the way they are dropped. It's a frenetic as promised, and what's more it's great fun. They are not trying to be something they're not, it's good solid hardcore, nothing more and nothing less and it's a breath of fresh air to be fair.
What I take from this is that live it would be wild with each track having enough energy to whip an audience up into a frenzy. Of all the releases this week, it's one that might get overshadowed amongst the technical and the wizardry and pure mayhem that has come out but in terms as being a pure belt of good fun, it can’t be beaten. Give it a go, you won’t regret it!! 7/10
No comments:
Post a Comment