Riverside was founded twenty-five years ago in Poland and their musical blend of atmospheric rock and metal in the veins of Porcupine Tree and Pain Of Salvation, soon became immensely popular and certainly since their last album ID.Entity (2023, see review) they rank amongst the most loved prog rock bands to date. Live ID. is probably the definitive live album of prog rockers Riverside, consisting of two CDs and a beautiful, amazing Blu-ray, featuring twelve songs, of which six tracks are from their most recent album ID.Entity. However, this glorious gig kicks off with an extended version of #Addicted from Riverside's 2015 album Love, Fear And The Time Machine (see review), which is followed by another "oldie", being: Panic Room from Riverside's third studio album Rapid Eye Movement (2007) and these great songs set the tone for an amazing gig indeed, especially as Duda's vocals are impeccable and almost immaculate during the entire setlist. The six new songs of ID.Entity are "scattered" throughout the set in three groups of two, the first being Landmine Blast and Big Tech Brother and the last Friend Or Foe? (impressive version) and Self-Aware. Highlights - in fact, all the songs are true prog rock gems - for me at least are: Left Out, the almost thirteen minutes long centrepiece of this album, packed with heavy, powerful guitarwork and the second encore Conceiving You. The latter is of course from Riverside's second studio album Second Life Syndrome (2005) and here the band plays a wonderful, excellent, extraordinarily and extended version of this "haunting" ballad; what a way to end this gig indeed! Conclusion: Live ID. is a MUST have album for fans of melodic progressive rock, so buy or die and play it LOUD!!! ****+ Martien Koolen (edited by Dave Smith) Where to buy? |
