Music
[Album Review] Riverside ‘Shrine Of New Generation Slaves’
Hailing from Poland, Riverside have been putting out consistently great music for many years now. It’d be nearly impossible to define what category of “prog rock” they exactly fall under, but that’s what make them stand out from the crowd. They are one of those bands that have such a unique sound that it is easy to immediately identify them, an increasingly rare talent these days.
So upon receiving a copy of their new album Shrine Of New Generation Slaves, I knew I was in for something special, something that would challenge me. But have they delivered once again or did they fall fail to live up to their past greatness? Read on below for my thoughts!
Opening with “New Generation Slave”, the album begins slowly with gentle passages interspersed with dynamically heavy moments. Then, halfway through, things slam into full force and it’s straight into heavy prog rock territory.
The current single, “Celebrity Touch”, is a great example of the changes of the album. The opening and verse have a very Kansas-esque feel, albeit a tad heavier. The bridge then delves into some gorgeous Porcupine Tree territory and while a guitar solo during the song could easily be mistaken as a guest appearance from David Gilmour.
“We Got Used To Us” might be considered the ballad of the album, featuring heartbreaking delayed piano chords, silky smooth bass lines, and sexy guitar leads. Meanwhile, the opening to “Feel Like Falling” sounds like it came right out of an 80’s John Carpenter score. And the introduction to “Escalator Shrine” has a strong, old-Eastern European flair to it,
The thing that I noticed with this album is that as each track progresses there are more styles and influences. There is jazz, hard rock, classic prog rock, modern prog rock, metal, and more. From moments of intensity to sheer beauty to seductive smoothness, this album ebbs and flows with the greatest of ease from one style to another.
Serious props need to be given to vocalist/bassist Mariusz Duda for being so dynamic and creative with the bass. He shifts from using the bass as a lead instrument to diving back into the pocket with such effortlessness that it’s mindboggling.
The Final Word: If you want an album full of mystery and seduction while tickling all your prog rock desires, Riverside’s Shrine Of New Generation Slaves is one of the best releases for you. This is an album that kicks off 2013 in all the right ways.
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The Lost Boys: A New Musical officially kicked off on Broadway last month, and Deadline now reports that the show’s Broadway run has been extended into next year.
The show was originally set to run through November, but Deadline reports that The Lost Boys: A New Musical “has released a block of tickets through Sunday, March 7, 2027.”
The news comes in the wake of The Lost Boys: A New Musical becoming the most Tony-nominated musical of the season with twelve nominations including Best Musical.
Additionally, “The Lost Boys will launch a North American National Tour in Spring 2028, at Playhouse Square in Cleveland. Additional cities and tour dates will be announced later.”
The Lost Boys: A New Musical is of course an adaptation of the 1987 horror classic from director Joel Schumacher, with the cast including Ali Louis Bourzgui as lead vampire David (originally played by Kiefer Sutherland), Maria Wirries as Star (originally played by Jami Gertz), and LJ Benet as the soon-to-be-turned Michael (originally played by Jason Patric).
The horror musical’s cast also includes Shoshana Bean as Lucy Emerson, Benjamin Pajak as Sam Emerson, Paul Alexander Nolan as Max, Jennifer Duka as Alan Frog, Miguel Gil as Edgar Frog, Brian Flores as Marko, Sean Grandillo as Dwayne, and Dean Maupin as Paul.
The Lost Boys: A New Musical is Directed by Michael Arden, featuring Music and Lyrics by The Rescues, Book by David Hornsby & Chris Hoch, Story by James Jeremias & Janice Fischer, and Produced by James Carpinello, Marcus Chait & Patrick Wilson (The Conjuring) by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.
When a mother and her two teenage sons move to Santa Carla in desperate need of a fresh start, they soon uncover the darker side of this sunny coastal community. While Lucy tries to piece her family’s life back together, Michael keeps pulling away in search of belonging.
As he finds connection with a local rock band and its charismatic leader, his younger brother Sam comes face-to-face with a terrifying reality: When night falls, Michael’s new friends are even more dangerous than they first appeared.
Joel Schumacher directed the original The Lost Boys vampire movie in 1987, wherein two brothers move to a new town and discover that the area is a haven for vampires.
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