Riverside (band)
Encyclopedia
Riverside is a progressive rock
band from Warsaw
, Poland
. It was founded in 2001 by friends Mariusz Duda
, Piotr Grudziński, Piotr Kozieradzki and Jacek Melnicki, who shared a love for progressive rock and heavy metal
. Riverside can be described as a stylistic blend of atmospheric rock and metal elements, resulting in a sound similar to that of Pink Floyd
, Porcupine Tree
, The Mars Volta
, Opeth, Dream Theater
, and Tool
, while still maintaining an identity of their own.
in his car for Piotr Grudziński. While drummer Piotr 'Mitloff' Kozieradzki had played in two death metal bands, Dominion and Hate, and Piotr Grudziński had played guitar in a metal band, Unnamed, they both shared a deep affection for progressive rock. They were already friends with producer and keyboardist Jacek Melnicki who also owned his own studio. The three decided to experiment with progressive music but they needed a bass player to complete the lineup. Mariusz Duda, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist from the band Xanadu, agreed to attend a rehearsal in late fall of 2001 at the request of Jacek. Reactions to this first meeting between the four experienced instrumentalists were extremely positive.
After a few rehearsals, the members realized that they were involved in something special and deeply satisfying. Once a few compositions were completed, Mariusz attempted to sing in his own language, singing that was probably similar to the vocalizations in their future track "The Curtain Falls", although all future vocals and lyrics were to be written in English. Thus Mariusz began to take on the role of vocalist as well as that of the bass player. In October 2002, about a year after their formation, the band performed a pair of shows in Warsaw. After the distribution of 500 copies of their demo, the band performed at a small club in Warsaw once again in early 2003. As the band continued to write more material for a full length release, there grew a dissonance between keyboardist Jacek and the other members of Riverside. Jacek wished to continue with his studio pursuits so, during the latter part of 2003, he split from the group.
The rest of the band was left to mix their first album, which was to be entitled Out of Myself. It was released in Poland in late 2003. The success of the album in Poland and the live shows that the band performed led to a release of the album on American record label Laser's Edge in September 2004, this time with cover art from Travis Smith
, painter for bands such as Opeth
, Anathema
, and Devin Townsend
. The album Out of Myself
has won best debut in many magazines and websites such as Metal Hammer and Belgium Prog-Nose.
Following their 2003 debut Out of Myself
and the success that followed in 2004, the band began working on an EP entitled Voices In My Head
which was at first a release exclusive to Poland through the label Mystic Productions. The quartet from Poland performed their first foreign gig at the Progpower festival in the Dutch city of Baarlo. The band were taken in by major prog label InsideOut
, releasing Second Life Syndrome
in late October 2005. The album was a massive success, expanding the scope of the band's reach even further than Out of Myself. The album holds a formidable spot as number 62 on Prog Archives top 100 prog albums as well as the number one rated album of 2005. In 2006, Voices In My Head
, the EP originally released in Poland only, was re-released under the InsideOut label, now revamped with the inclusion of three high quality live tracks off the Out of Myself
album. In addition, the band played their first overseas show at NEARfest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on June 24, 2006. Soon after, the band would begin writing for its third full length album and final installment in the Reality Dream Series.
In October 2007, the band released the album Rapid Eye Movement
, once again under the InsideOut label. The European release had the standard nine tracks but the American release saw two versions of the album. One was a single CD with the nine tracks from the album, plus three tracks from their 02 Panic Room Single. This single was also exclusive to Mystic Productions and therefore mostly unavailable to oversea fans. The other version contained 2 CDs, the first with the nine album tracks and the second disc containing the three songs from the single as well as two new, more atmospheric, compositions. Before the release, the band toured in support for Dream Theater
on the European leg of their tour, exposing them to even more potential fans. Mariusz Duda recently released the debut album from his new project, Lunatic Soul. The self-titled album was released by Kscope
on October 13, 2008.
"We have gone from Warsaw, we have changed the studio and the producer. We care deeply about creating a coherent record and that is why most probably there are only going to be five songs on it. The material will be energetic, multifarious, and - I hope so - very good for live performances. It will be a story about liquid modernity, life in a constant hurry, stress and anxiety about the future. A picture of our times in 1920 x 1080 definition."
The record was released in Poland by Mystic Productions on June 15, 2009. Anno Domini High Definition became the best selling album in Poland during its second week on the charts, following a debut at sixth place.: The album is scheduled to be released on June 6 in the rest of Europe and on July 28 in North America. The band has tracked their recording process with the blog and website annodomininihighdefinition.com (Which is now not a registered domain name.).
The Limited Edition of Anno Domini HD is a 2-disc set. The second disc is a DVD that contains a seven-song video production. The show was taped at the Paradiso Theater in Amsterdam.
Plans are afoot for a new full length album, to be released in 2012, together with a mini album in 2011 that will only be available at the 10th anniversary tour gigs that are to be planned. The mini album, entitled Memories in My Head
, will contain 3 new songs.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band from Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. It was founded in 2001 by friends Mariusz Duda
Mariusz Duda
Mariusz Duda is a Polish vocalist and bassist best known for his position in the band Riverside. He is also a former member of Xanadu and did guest vocals for Indukti's album S.U.S.A.R. He released his debut solo album under the moniker Lunatic Soul on the Kscope label in October 2008. Mariusz...
, Piotr Grudziński, Piotr Kozieradzki and Jacek Melnicki, who shared a love for progressive rock and heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
. Riverside can be described as a stylistic blend of atmospheric rock and metal elements, resulting in a sound similar to that of Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree is a progressive rock band formed by Steven Wilson in 1987 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. Their music is difficult to categorise, being associated with both psychedelic rock and progressive rock, yet having been influenced by trance, krautrock and ambient due to Steven...
, The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is a Grammy award winning American progressive rock band from El Paso, Texas. Founded in 2001 by guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala, the band incorporates various influences including progressive rock, krautrock, jazz fusion, Latin American music, and...
, Opeth, Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
, and Tool
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
, while still maintaining an identity of their own.
Beginnings and Out of Myself
One day near the turn of the millennium, during a short drive, Piotr Kozieradzki played some MarillionMarillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
in his car for Piotr Grudziński. While drummer Piotr 'Mitloff' Kozieradzki had played in two death metal bands, Dominion and Hate, and Piotr Grudziński had played guitar in a metal band, Unnamed, they both shared a deep affection for progressive rock. They were already friends with producer and keyboardist Jacek Melnicki who also owned his own studio. The three decided to experiment with progressive music but they needed a bass player to complete the lineup. Mariusz Duda, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist from the band Xanadu, agreed to attend a rehearsal in late fall of 2001 at the request of Jacek. Reactions to this first meeting between the four experienced instrumentalists were extremely positive.
After a few rehearsals, the members realized that they were involved in something special and deeply satisfying. Once a few compositions were completed, Mariusz attempted to sing in his own language, singing that was probably similar to the vocalizations in their future track "The Curtain Falls", although all future vocals and lyrics were to be written in English. Thus Mariusz began to take on the role of vocalist as well as that of the bass player. In October 2002, about a year after their formation, the band performed a pair of shows in Warsaw. After the distribution of 500 copies of their demo, the band performed at a small club in Warsaw once again in early 2003. As the band continued to write more material for a full length release, there grew a dissonance between keyboardist Jacek and the other members of Riverside. Jacek wished to continue with his studio pursuits so, during the latter part of 2003, he split from the group.
The rest of the band was left to mix their first album, which was to be entitled Out of Myself. It was released in Poland in late 2003. The success of the album in Poland and the live shows that the band performed led to a release of the album on American record label Laser's Edge in September 2004, this time with cover art from Travis Smith
Travis Smith (artist)
Travis Smith is an American graphic artist best known for designing heavy metal album art. He has been called "renowned" by Alternative Press and "unquestionably one of the most talented graphic artists in metal today" by Chronicles of Chaos...
, painter for bands such as Opeth
Opeth
Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...
, Anathema
Anathema (band)
Anathema are an English band from Liverpool primarily known for their ever evolving sound. Beginning as pioneers of the death/doom metal sub-genre, their later albums have been associated with genres such as alternative rock, progressive rock, art rock, new prog, and post-rock.-History:Anathema...
, and Devin Townsend
Devin Townsend
Devin Garret Townsend is a Canadian musician and record producer. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has had an extensive career as a solo artist....
. The album Out of Myself
Out of Myself
Out of Myself is the first full length album by progressive rock/metal band Riverside released on December 15, 2003. At the time of its release, Out of Myself was hailed as the best debut album from a progressive rock band in recent memory. It was first released under the The Laser's Edge music...
has won best debut in many magazines and websites such as Metal Hammer and Belgium Prog-Nose.
Voices In My Head and Second Life Syndrome
Following their 2003 debut Out of Myself
Out of Myself
Out of Myself is the first full length album by progressive rock/metal band Riverside released on December 15, 2003. At the time of its release, Out of Myself was hailed as the best debut album from a progressive rock band in recent memory. It was first released under the The Laser's Edge music...
and the success that followed in 2004, the band began working on an EP entitled Voices In My Head
Voices in My Head
Voices in My Head is an EP by the band Riverside. It was originally released in 2005 through Mystic Productions, but re-released in 2006 through InsideOut Music. Lyrically, the EP is not a part of the Reality Dream series even though it was released between Out of Myself and Second Life Syndrome...
which was at first a release exclusive to Poland through the label Mystic Productions. The quartet from Poland performed their first foreign gig at the Progpower festival in the Dutch city of Baarlo. The band were taken in by major prog label InsideOut
InsideOut Music
Inside Out Music is a German independent record label based in Kleve, in the North Rhine-Westphalia region, and dedicated to the publication of progressive rock, progressive metal and related styles music albums.-History:...
, releasing Second Life Syndrome
Second Life Syndrome
Second Life Syndrome is the second full length album by progressive rock band Riverside, released on November 8, 2005. This second release garnered quite as much praise as Out of Myself and was released on the large prog rock Label InsideOut...
in late October 2005. The album was a massive success, expanding the scope of the band's reach even further than Out of Myself. The album holds a formidable spot as number 62 on Prog Archives top 100 prog albums as well as the number one rated album of 2005. In 2006, Voices In My Head
Voices in My Head
Voices in My Head is an EP by the band Riverside. It was originally released in 2005 through Mystic Productions, but re-released in 2006 through InsideOut Music. Lyrically, the EP is not a part of the Reality Dream series even though it was released between Out of Myself and Second Life Syndrome...
, the EP originally released in Poland only, was re-released under the InsideOut label, now revamped with the inclusion of three high quality live tracks off the Out of Myself
Out of Myself
Out of Myself is the first full length album by progressive rock/metal band Riverside released on December 15, 2003. At the time of its release, Out of Myself was hailed as the best debut album from a progressive rock band in recent memory. It was first released under the The Laser's Edge music...
album. In addition, the band played their first overseas show at NEARfest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on June 24, 2006. Soon after, the band would begin writing for its third full length album and final installment in the Reality Dream Series.
Rapid Eye Movement and Lunatic Soul
In October 2007, the band released the album Rapid Eye Movement
Rapid Eye Movement (album)
Rapid Eye Movement is an album by progressive rock/metal band Riverside. It is the third and final part of the Reality Dream Trilogy which has thus far included Out of Myself and Second Life Syndrome. The album is split into two parts: part one consists of tracks one through five while part two...
, once again under the InsideOut label. The European release had the standard nine tracks but the American release saw two versions of the album. One was a single CD with the nine tracks from the album, plus three tracks from their 02 Panic Room Single. This single was also exclusive to Mystic Productions and therefore mostly unavailable to oversea fans. The other version contained 2 CDs, the first with the nine album tracks and the second disc containing the three songs from the single as well as two new, more atmospheric, compositions. Before the release, the band toured in support for Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
on the European leg of their tour, exposing them to even more potential fans. Mariusz Duda recently released the debut album from his new project, Lunatic Soul. The self-titled album was released by Kscope
Kscope
Kscope is a division or sub-label of independent record label Snapper Music dedicated to artists in the Post-Progressive genre.Artists that the label has issued albums for to date include Anathema, Anekdoten, Engineers, Lunatic Soul, No-Man, North Atlantic Oscillation, Nosound, Porcupine Tree,...
on October 13, 2008.
Anno Domini High Definition
The quartet has recently completed a new album, "Anno Domini High Definition". Mariusz Duda had the following to say about the album on January 27, 2009:"We have gone from Warsaw, we have changed the studio and the producer. We care deeply about creating a coherent record and that is why most probably there are only going to be five songs on it. The material will be energetic, multifarious, and - I hope so - very good for live performances. It will be a story about liquid modernity, life in a constant hurry, stress and anxiety about the future. A picture of our times in 1920 x 1080 definition."
The record was released in Poland by Mystic Productions on June 15, 2009. Anno Domini High Definition became the best selling album in Poland during its second week on the charts, following a debut at sixth place.: The album is scheduled to be released on June 6 in the rest of Europe and on July 28 in North America. The band has tracked their recording process with the blog and website annodomininihighdefinition.com (Which is now not a registered domain name.).
The Limited Edition of Anno Domini HD is a 2-disc set. The second disc is a DVD that contains a seven-song video production. The show was taped at the Paradiso Theater in Amsterdam.
Plans are afoot for a new full length album, to be released in 2012, together with a mini album in 2011 that will only be available at the 10th anniversary tour gigs that are to be planned. The mini album, entitled Memories in My Head
Memories in My Head
Memories in My Head is an EP by the band Riverside released by Progteam in Poland and Glassville Records in the rest of Europe on June 20, 2011. In North America the EP was released on June 28, 2011 by Laser's Edge. Prior to its worldwide release, the EP was sold exclusively at live shows being...
, will contain 3 new songs.
Current members
- Mariusz DudaMariusz DudaMariusz Duda is a Polish vocalist and bassist best known for his position in the band Riverside. He is also a former member of Xanadu and did guest vocals for Indukti's album S.U.S.A.R. He released his debut solo album under the moniker Lunatic Soul on the Kscope label in October 2008. Mariusz...
- lead vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound... - Piotr Grudziński - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s - Piotr Kozieradzki - drums
- Michał Łapaj - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, backing vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
Albums
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales thresholds) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POL OLiS OLiS is the official list of the highest selling music albums in Poland. The list exists since October 23, 2000 and is provided by ZPAV.... |
NLD Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
DEU Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
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| 2003 | Out of Myself Out of Myself Out of Myself is the first full length album by progressive rock/metal band Riverside released on December 15, 2003. At the time of its release, Out of Myself was hailed as the best debut album from a progressive rock band in recent memory. It was first released under the The Laser's Edge music...
|
— | — | — | |||||
| 2005 | Second Life Syndrome Second Life Syndrome Second Life Syndrome is the second full length album by progressive rock band Riverside, released on November 8, 2005. This second release garnered quite as much praise as Out of Myself and was released on the large prog rock Label InsideOut... |
22 | — | — | |||||
| 2007 | Rapid Eye Movement Rapid Eye Movement (album) Rapid Eye Movement is an album by progressive rock/metal band Riverside. It is the third and final part of the Reality Dream Trilogy which has thus far included Out of Myself and Second Life Syndrome. The album is split into two parts: part one consists of tracks one through five while part two... |
2 | 73 | — | |||||
| 2009 | Anno Domini High Definition Anno Domini High Definition Anno Domini High Definition is the fourth full length studio album by Polish progressive rock band Riverside and also the first full length Riverside album that is separate from the Reality Dream suite. The album was released in Poland on June 15, 2009 through Mystic Production and was released... |
1 | 58 | 94 |
|
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| "—" denotes a release that did not chart. | |||||||||
Live Albums
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Reality Dream Reality Dream Reality Dream is a live album by progressive rock-metal band Riverside. Its two discs contain the live performance of the Reality Dream Trilogy which includes Rapid Eye Movement, Out of Myself and Second Life Syndrome...
|
DVDs
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Reality Dream Live DVD
|
EPs
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Voices in My Head Voices in My Head Voices in My Head is an EP by the band Riverside. It was originally released in 2005 through Mystic Productions, but re-released in 2006 through InsideOut Music. Lyrically, the EP is not a part of the Reality Dream series even though it was released between Out of Myself and Second Life Syndrome...
|
| 2011 | Memories in My Head Memories in My Head Memories in My Head is an EP by the band Riverside released by Progteam in Poland and Glassville Records in the rest of Europe on June 20, 2011. In North America the EP was released on June 28, 2011 by Laser's Edge. Prior to its worldwide release, the EP was sold exclusively at live shows being... |
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales thresholds) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POL |
|||||||||
| 2003 | "Loose Heart Loose Heart Loose Heart is the first single by progressive rock band Riverside, and is featured on their first album Out of Myself.-Track listing:*Lyrics By Mariusz Duda. Music By Riverside. Arranged By Riverside.# "Loose Heart" # "Out of Myself"... " |
17 |
|
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| 2005 | "Conceiving You" | 31 | |||||||
| 2007 | "02 Panic Room" | — |
|
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| 2008 | "Schizophrenic Prayer" | 31 |
|
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| 2009 | "Egoist Hedonist" | 31 | |||||||
| 2011 | "Forgotten Land" | 6 | |||||||
| "—" denotes a release that did not chart. | |||||||||