Riverside – Live ID (Triple Vinyl | 2‑CD + Blu‑ray)
Polish progressive‑rock masters Riverside have released another live document, and it’s superb! Live ID captures the quartet in Warsaw on 19 June 2024, distilling everything that makes them one of the most consistently thrilling bands on the European prog scene.
First impressions & packaging
I ended up buying both editions—because Riverside are one of those bands where I buy both formats.
2‑CD + Blu‑ray digipak
A sturdy six‑panel fold‑out houses two audio discs and a Blu‑ray (with a punchy 5.1 mix, behind‑the‑scenes footage and interview snippets). A glossy mini‑booklet is tucked inside, brimming with on‑stage photography, credits and set‑list notes—think tour programme in micro form.
Triple‑vinyl set
Pressed on heavyweight black vinyl, the three records arrive in polylined sleeves, two in the right pocket, one in the left alongside a full‑size booklet. The artwork mirrors the CD version but the larger format lets those concert shots breathe.
Everything feels premium: sharp print, thoughtful design, and none of the “just‑chuck‑it‑in-a‑sleeve” shortcuts that plague many live releases.
The performance
Riverside have always juggled melancholy, muscle and melody, and Live ID shows them doing so with effortless authority. Front‑man Mariusz Duda is in magnificent voice, but it’s his inventive, up‑front bass lines that anchor the show. Tracks like “Panic Room” turn the usual prog hierarchy on its head—the bass drives, guitars colour, drums and keys weave in and out.
Keyboardist Michał Łapaj wears his Jon Lord influence proudly these days; the swirling Hammond passages add heft without straying into retro cosplay. Guitar duties now fall to Maciej Meller, who honours the late Piotr Grudziński’s lyrical style while adding his own modern bite. Drummer Piotr Kozieradzki keeps everything nimble yet thunderous.
Set‑list highlights
“Egoist Hedonist” – 11 minutes of brooding dynamics from Anno Domini High Definition; the crowd roar when the brass‑like keyboard stabs kick in says it all.
“Left Out” – Near‑13‑minute centre‑piece from Second Life Syndrome that builds from hypnotic bass mantra to widescreen guitar crescendo.
“The Place Where I Belong” – At almost 16 minutes, this suite is a journey through Riverside’s full emotional palette—ambient introspection, metallic riffing, Floydian solos.
**Newer cuts from ID.Entity ** – “Friend or Foe?” and “I’m Done With You” sit comfortably beside older epics, proving the 2023 studio album’s songs have legs on stage.
For the uninitiated
If Riverside has somehow slipped under your radar, Live ID is a superb entry point. It cherry‑picks career milestones from 2005’s Second Life Syndrome through 2023’s ID.Entity, showing how the band evolve without repeating themselves. Spin the live set, then dive into studio side‑projects like Lunatic Soul for the full picture.
Essential for long‑time fans, highly recommended for curious newcomers, and a reminder that progressive rock in 2025 is alive, well and proudly Polish.
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
