Riverside
Riverside are the pre-eminent progressive rock band hailing from Poland. Founded in 2001 by Mariusz Duda (vocals, bass), Piotr Grudsinski (guitar), Jacek Melnicki (keys), and Piotr Kozieradzki (drums), they play a style of music that has been called “a blend of atmospheric rock and metal elements, resulting in a sound similar to that of Porcupine Tree and Pain of Salvation”.
The band released their first album, Out of Myself in 2003 and 2004. Jacek Menicki would leave the band in 2004, to be replaced by Michal Lapaj. The resulting success of that first album, the Voice in My Head EP, and their live shows landed them with InsideOut Records in 2005. Over the next three years, the band would re-released some materials previous only available in Poland in addition to 2 more studio albums. They would take a support slot for Dream Theater in Europe and play in America for the first time.
In 2009, the band would release their fourth studio album, Anno Domini High Definition, which would top the charts in Poland, earn the band it’s first Polish Gold Record, and enter the charts in Germany and The Netherlands. Another EP would follow in 2011 and a fifth studio album, Shrine of New Generation Slaves, in 2013. This would become another Polish Gold Record and break into the charts in 7 different European countries. 2015’s Love, Fear, and the Time Machine would become the band’s 3rd Polish Gold Record and put them on the UK Charts for the first time.
Then came the unthinkable. In February 2016, Piotr Grudzinksi unexpectedly passed away as the result of a pulmonary embolism. The band cancelled all touring plans and released Eye of the Soundscape, a collection of ambient and instrumental tracks later that year. The band announced that they would continue on as a trio. Maciej Meller would join the band as a touring member in 2017 and would become an official member in 2020.
In 2018, the band released Wasteland with Duda and guest musician assuming the guitar parts. The subject matter (a world trying to survive after tragedy) and tone (heavy and dark) of this album came as no surprise to fan of the band, who helped it earn a 4th Polish Gold Record and highest charting position on the many charts across Europe and the UK.
Just as the foursome began to work on their eighth studio and embark on another tour, the pandemic hit and grounded the band for the next 2 years. The band returned to touring in 2022 with tours of North America, South America, and Europe.
The band’s eighth studio album, ID.Entity, was released in 2023 and has been followed by numerous tours and festival appearances around the world.
