Riverside: Wasteland

What with 2016’s Eye Of The Soundscape being a collection of reworked and rescued ambient pieces that were fashioned with new music into an album, Wasteland should probably be viewed as Riverside’s first full foray since the tragic and sudden death of guitarist Piotr Grudzinski. Since then the band have not only signalled their intention to continue through the aforementioned Soundscape, but also with some triumphant live performances that brought band and fans together in a manner seldom seen - music and emotion a bond that will never be broken for those who saw those shows. On those nights Maciej Meller took on the role of six-string presence in the band and did a superb job, however, for now, the main guitarist on Wasteland is Riverside singer and bassist Mariusz Duda, the feeling within the camp being that slow steady rebuilding is the wisest and most respectful course of action - although Meller and Mateusz Owczarek do both contribute some lead guitar work.

It may feel a little obvious to say it, because the same applies to nearly everything Riverside record, but it is worth emphasising that Wasteland is a slow burn of an album where initial encounters merely hint at the beauty and melancholic majesty of what has been created. That said, this time those early dalliances do reveal some aspects that stay the course, with some stronger nods to the band’s earlier sound than more recent albums have provided being strongly in evidence. While, conversely, there’s also a more organic, earthy feel in places. That’s not to say that the ethereal dream-like moods and meanders that have long been Riverside’s calling card aren’t firmly in place, but where the guitars bite they do so with a gentle ferocity and viscous intent. Yet, as you might expect, it’s the bass-work from Duda and keyboard contributions from Michal �apaj that often forge this continuation from Riverside, “Vale Of Tears� brutish in its bottom end, yet beautiful in its melody.

For a band who have been through so much, it should maybe be expected that the theme of this album is surviving through tragedy and rising above adversity. There’s a strongly defiant air and a feel of optimism running through everything and while Riverside have, in truth, always been an outfit who have traded strongly on more stark and longing emotions, possibly the most impressive aspect across the Wasteland is that they have chosen not to reside in these areas any more than we would have previously expected. “Guardian Angel� is both resilient and yet full of despair, the stinging guitar melody pushing against the strum of an acoustic six string and the pull of the piano. Whereas “Lament� booms in its patient bass movement and grinding guitars, all of which rush headlong into something much more organic in the shape of violin and melodies that sound more traditional to this band’s Polish roots.

Running to over nine minutes, “The Struggle For Survival� feels integral to the soul of Wasteland as it veers from traditional prog-rock keyboard surges and swirling riffs to pensive, almost spy-movie like intrigue. Whereas “Acid Rain� is almost joyous in its pain, Duda providing a wordless vocal that’s sure to be a raucous sing along in the live arena, even if the guitar breakdowns pull at the heartstrings. “Wasteland� takes a similar idea and winds it around brooding guitars that dig deep in the psyche, while “River Down Below� is possibly the most ‘traditional Riverside’ in its introspective construction. With it all bookended by the connected pair of “The Day After�, which is a brave voice and atmospherics introduction, and “The Night Before�, which closes things out as a similarly themed piano ballad, the journey of emotion this album takes you on really can be somewhat overwhelming.

Where Riverside go from here is anyone’s guess. Will they burrow deeper into the heart of what has made them the individual, idiosyncratic outfit they are, or will they veer into completely new territory? Those are, in fairness, questions for another day. For now we should simply rejoice in their return and be thankful that Riverside are as strong and vital as they always were.

See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!

Track Listing
1. The Day After
2. Acid Rain
3. Vale Of Tears
4. Guardian Angel
5. Lament
6. The Struggle For Survival
7. River Down Below
8. Wasteland
9. The Night Before

Added: December 8th 2018
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Wasteland @ Riverside online
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Language: english

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