Here’s the first surprise album for me this year. Riviere released their debut album, entitled Heal, on January 20 of this year. I had never heard of these guys until stumbling upon a sample song and was slightly intrigued by what I heard. I decided to give the album a chance and was extremely happy that I did.
This French quartet has crafted a solid and inspiring slab of progressive post-metal that is in the mold of a mellower Intronaut. Every song on this album is a standout and this is easily my favorite release of the new year so far. The songs are crafted with multiple layers of instrumentation and vocal stylings. This album is just a dense wall of sound all the way through. It has just made a mark on me and I haven’t been able to stop playing these songs over and over in my head. I hope to hear more things out of these guys in the future.
4.5 flip flops out of 5
DISPATCHES FROM THE VOID 