Shrine of New Generation Slaves
Riverside · 2013
73 min · 10 tracks · progressive metal
Merging intricate melodies with heavy rhythms, the album navigates themes of disillusionment through lush progressive soundscapes.
Top tracks — play these first
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New Generation Slave Start here — This opening track encapsulates the album's themes of societal disillusionment while featuring complex time signatures and a powerful vocal performance that sets the tone for the entire record.
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Celebrity Touch — With its biting commentary on fame and superficiality, this song merges catchy hooks with a heavier instrumental backdrop, demonstrating Riverside's knack for balancing accessibility and depth.
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Escalator Shrine — Serving as a nearly 13-minute centerpiece, this track showcases the band's dynamic range, shifting from serene passages to explosive crescendos while embodying the overarching narrative of the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features intricate compositions and strong production, with cohesive themes and dynamic shifts throughout.
What we noticed
- The first track opens with a slow build, layering intricate guitar melodies over a steady drum beat before transitioning into heavier sections.
- Several tracks feature extended instrumental passages that allow for dynamic shifts in tempo and mood, particularly in 'Deprived (Irretrievably Lost Imagination)'.
- The album closes with two lengthy tracks that blend into each other, creating a seamless transition from the reflective 'Coda' to the more experimental 'Night Session, Part One' and 'Night Session, P…
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- gradual build to emotional climax
- introspective themes for deep reflection
- immersive soundscapes for headphone listening
- ideal for late-night contemplation
- extended tracks inviting patient listening
Maybe skip if you
- prefer quick, catchy songs
- seek immediate gratification
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — Showcases Riverside's artistic ambition and received positive critical reception.
- Career context
- Released on January 18, 2013, Shrine of New Generation Slaves is Riverside's fifth studio album, following the critically acclaimed Anno Domini High Definition from 2009. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their place within the progressive rock and metal scenes while exploring deeper thematic elements and musical complexity.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Porcupine Tree· Opeth· Dream Theater
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 New Generation Slave Start here 4:17
- 2 The Depth of Self-Delusion 7:39
- 3 Celebrity Touch 6:47
- 4 We Got Used to Us 4:10
- 5 Feel Like Falling 5:18
- 6 Deprived (Irretrievably Lost Imagination) 8:26
- 7 Escalator Shrine 12:41
- 8 Coda 1:39
Disc 2
- 1 Night Session, Part One 10:44
- 2 Night Session, Part Two 11:32
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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