4 YEARS TANGRA MEGA ROCK
RIVERSIDE, Pantommind
09.05.2010, 'Blue Box' club, Sofia - Bulgaria
words by Ivaylo Alexandrov, photo:В Elena NenkovaВ 

"You are amazing! If we knew what expected us here, we would have played in Bulgaria a long time ago”, said frankly excited Mariusz Duda during the concert of the wonderful Riverside last night at the Blue Box club that marked the end of the one month lasting parties for the birthday of Tangra Mega Rock. And it couldn’t be other way. Because for another time in a row, at such a concert where there are only people that do know why they are there, the audience was the second main actor and its role was conducted brilliantly.

I believe thatВ RIVERSIDE would return for another meeting with all of us because both we and they deserve it.

I haven’t seen PANTOMMIND live for around two years. But when they come out before 300 people and present for an hour their progressive metal compositions, it becomes obvious why we hear a lot of them lately.

With hard work and a lot of playing these four guys have raised the level very high. It is not that I manage to remember and differ their songs from one another but it couldn’t be different at a first meeting.

The fans however know well the songs of Pantommind and they applause every next compostition (I understand later that they present mostly material from their last album Lunasense) and the voice of Tony is more powerful and stable than a granite block. Strong stage presence, talented playing, devotion and as a dessert – incredible cover version of Black Sabbath’s 'When Death Calls' during which from the singing of Tony my jaw drops to the chest. Bravo, guys, well done!

It passes 9.30 PM when the Poles emerge on the plain decorated stage. And gently, without turgid and fanfares they plunge themselves and the around 600 people in the deep embrace of their fairy music. The guys from Warsaw grip the attention not with headbanging, showing off, scenery or theatricality. Fopur guys in jeans and t-shirts (Piotr GrudziЕ„ski wears a nice t-shirt of Fields of the Nephilim which burns my jealousy).

They are there and they play and play, and play and stay onВ stage so naturally, so real, that they dive us in the cozy of their beautiful compositions; more impressionism than progressiveness.

Nice, smooth and warm melodies with accent mostly on 'Anno Domini High Definition' but with also highly coveredВ 'Rapid Eyes Movement'.

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It is notable the complete lack of songs from the debut album of Riverside and I am just about to get angry on them but then I hear the lyrical 'Conceiving You' during which Mariusz is muffled by the voices of hundreds of people singing along and I am touched and moved and I no longer pay attention which song I do not hear but enjoy to the end of the magic the four guys offer us with such an ease, so inspiring.

They play for more than hour and the mood from the studio sound – distanced cool melancholy, melts in dense and moving trip live, a walk of the mind, not of the senses. Not progressive but impressive.

They confess for another time that we are impressive audience and Riverside hide… for a while. It just can’t be that such a touching concert is going to end so quickly.

First encore and what a blast! Over ten minutes of instrumental perfection, most of which I spend with eyes closed, almost in trance under the music of the Poles. Then I raise my eyelids, I look around and I see so many companions. The sound in the club is brilliant which contributes even more for the great impression Riverside makie while on stage. Excellent instrumentalists who discretely remind of the good moments of so many bands from Pink Floyd, through Tool, to Porcupine Tree but so distinctive, so true and so themselves. And the people love them, sing along, applause and call them for second time.

After this – bows. And goodbye. And promises for another meeting. Then autographs. And good aftertaste, great soundtrack, that will remain with us until the fifth holidays next year. Happy Birthday! And to all of you who came last night – thank you! You were lovely guests and extraordinary audience.

GALLERY