Riverby – Absolution

Since the release of their debut album ‘Smart Mouth’ Riverby have as many other bands/artists have too, been restricted in what they have been able to do, a worldwide pandemic has thrown at them, travel bans, live show restrictions, all this must be a huge blow to how their music has been received or accessed.  So to this end, the upcoming release of their sophomore album ‘Absolution’ can only be even more nerve racking than it should be.

But the wait is over and now we all get to sit down, stand around, dance, sing or what ever the hell else you do when surrounded by what is essentially the epic musical/lyrical experience that this album brings you.  

As within my 2020 review of ‘Smart Mouth’, I did elude to the fact that this is was not a hardcore punk offering and should never be judged with this in mind.  Well here we are in 2022, and now this band have brought forward another epic heart rendering collection of emotional life affirming moments, but along with this, we are now seeing just how talented Riverby really are/can be, switching from full on angst filled songs like the single release ‘Baseless’ a moment of unadulterated revenge, a song that at no point apologises for the need to not forgive, “You can take it up with God” (if he exists) is a line that hits home a sentiment that runs through this album like an epitaph. To a song like ‘Heavy To Hold’ which drops the attitude for a gentler approach, this shows off August Greenberg’s vocal adeptness, the ability to go from chilling revengeful moments like in the brilliantly self affirming ‘Off With Yer Head’ or the hateful empowering ‘Burn Your House Down’, then we are taken all the way down to the stunning love song that is ‘Chapel’.  

What your’e getting with Riverby is a fully rounded band that can hit all the ups and downs of life, wrap them up in beautiful ballads, searing rock songs and everything in-between, a vocal gymnast at the helm of a musically almost symphonic band.  

If you want to drop yourself into the eye of a storm, feel yourself slammed into a brick wall or just thrown a rope to save yourself when times get hard, then this album cover it all.

Out now via Take This To Heart Records

Get yourself over to FACEBOOK  TWITTER  BANDCAMP or Go HERE to, Stream or Buy.