Riverside
Shrine of New Generation Slaves
InsideOut Music
2013
Riverside was the best prog rock band from Poland once. And I say “once” for I think they are in danger of losing their primacy from Votum, Moonrise and Retrospective. I had been expecting this album for a long time and although I wasn’t “hooked” by the video for the song “Celebrity Touch”, I had the patience to listen to the whole album and then draw conclusions. The guys have some amazing albums on their back catalogue and that makes us, the fans, have great expectations from the band.
“Shrine of New Generation Slaves” showcases how not to open an album. They couldn’t have chosen a more wrong way to do it. Generally, they could have avoided adding “New Generation Slave” to the track-list. Why? Because that song is mostly based on one of the most heard and recognizable riffs in the rock history… I’m talking about “Paranoid”. Yeap, they “borrowed” that riff and played it in a much lower tempo. The whole song is unbearable in any way. Then there’s “Night Session Part one & Part two” where we have some ambient music along with various sounds, instruments, sax, percussion, voices, synth sounds and so on. Nothing fanciful and rather boring in the end. Almost 22 minutes of nonentity. “Celebrity Touch” is OK but fails to grasp your interest on the whole. Thankfully there comes “The Depth of Self-Delusion” which is one of those songs that made Riverside what they are today. Wonderful, emotional, melodious and atmospheric. The same goes for “We Got Used to Us”, very good song indeed. “Feel Like Feeling” is nice without being really great. “Deprived (Irretrievably Lost Imagination)” is smooth, moody and progresses nicely, an ala Pink Floyd song. Another good one is “Escalator Shrine”; more prog rock in the vein of the 70s with Hammond, rhythms changes and atmospheric parts. Not bad at all. The last song “Coda” is less than 2 minutes. A fine acoustic prelude track.
I usually do not go on a track by track presentation for an album but there are some occasions that you must do so. Therefore, we got 2 amazing tunes, 2 good ones, 2 so-so and 3 terrible tracks. I do not count the last prelude on those. “Shrine of New Generation Slaves” ain’t “Second Life Syndrome” nor “Rapid Eye Movement”. Honestly, I can see how they can beat those two albums. After 4 years they’re back with a truly mediocre release that disappoints those who are seeking something more than the usual from this band. Let’s hope they come up with something better in the future.
“Shrine of New Generation Slaves” showcases how not to open an album. They couldn’t have chosen a more wrong way to do it. Generally, they could have avoided adding “New Generation Slave” to the track-list. Why? Because that song is mostly based on one of the most heard and recognizable riffs in the rock history… I’m talking about “Paranoid”. Yeap, they “borrowed” that riff and played it in a much lower tempo. The whole song is unbearable in any way. Then there’s “Night Session Part one & Part two” where we have some ambient music along with various sounds, instruments, sax, percussion, voices, synth sounds and so on. Nothing fanciful and rather boring in the end. Almost 22 minutes of nonentity. “Celebrity Touch” is OK but fails to grasp your interest on the whole. Thankfully there comes “The Depth of Self-Delusion” which is one of those songs that made Riverside what they are today. Wonderful, emotional, melodious and atmospheric. The same goes for “We Got Used to Us”, very good song indeed. “Feel Like Feeling” is nice without being really great. “Deprived (Irretrievably Lost Imagination)” is smooth, moody and progresses nicely, an ala Pink Floyd song. Another good one is “Escalator Shrine”; more prog rock in the vein of the 70s with Hammond, rhythms changes and atmospheric parts. Not bad at all. The last song “Coda” is less than 2 minutes. A fine acoustic prelude track.
I usually do not go on a track by track presentation for an album but there are some occasions that you must do so. Therefore, we got 2 amazing tunes, 2 good ones, 2 so-so and 3 terrible tracks. I do not count the last prelude on those. “Shrine of New Generation Slaves” ain’t “Second Life Syndrome” nor “Rapid Eye Movement”. Honestly, I can see how they can beat those two albums. After 4 years they’re back with a truly mediocre release that disappoints those who are seeking something more than the usual from this band. Let’s hope they come up with something better in the future.