Riverside

Biography

Riverside is a Polish progressive rock band from Warsaw. It was founded in 2001 by guitarist Piotr Grudziński; drummer Piotr Kozieradzki; bassist and vocalist Mariusz Duda; and keyboardist Jacek Melnicki. Melnicki was replaced by Michał Łapaj in 2003. Grudziński died in 2016, and guitarist Maciej Meller joined the band in 2020. As of 2026, they have released eight studio albums, three EPs, four live records, and three compilations, as well as a number of singles. In April 2026, Duda and Meller announced their departure from the band.

Beginnings and Out of Myself

Drummer Piotr "Mitloff" Kozieradzki had played with the death metal band Hate between 1990 and 2001, while guitarist Piotr Grudziński had been a member of Unnamed from 1993 until 2003. Together with keyboardist Jacek Melnicki and vocalist, bassist, and acoustic guitarist Mariusz Duda, they formed Riverside in 2001. Melnicki left in 2003 and was replaced by Michał Łapaj. The band's debut studio album, titled Out of Myself×Out of Myself22 December 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1The Same River12:022Out of Myself3:443I Believe4:154Reality Dream6:155Loose Heart4:516Reality Dream II4:467In Two Minds4:388The Curtain Falls8:009OK4:46, was released later that year in Poland, and it came out a year later in the United States, with artwork by Travis Smith.

Voices in My Head and Second Life Syndrome

Following their successful debut, Riverside issued the EP Voices in My Head×Voices in My Head7 March 2005 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Us2:342Acronym Love4:453Dna ts. Rednum or F. Raf7:204The Time I Was Daydreaming4:535Stuck Between3:566I Believe (live)4:007Loose Heart (live)5:278Out of Myself (live)3:42 in 2005 and followed it with their second full-length album, Second Life Syndrome×Second Life Syndrome28 October 2005 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1After3:322Volte-Face8:413Conceiving You3:414Second Life Syndrome15:405Artificial Smile5:276I Turned You Down4:357Reality Dream III5:018Dance With the Shadow11:399Before5:24, released under Inside Out Music later that year. It reached number 62 on Prog Archives's top 100 prog albums.

Rapid Eye Movement and Lunatic Soul

In October 2007, Riverside issued the album Rapid Eye Movement×Rapid Eye Movement24 September 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Beyond the Eyelids7:572Rainbow Box3:36302 Panic Room5:304Schizophrenic Prayer4:205Parasomnia8:106Through the Other Side4:057Embryonic4:108Cybernetic Pillow4:469Ultimate Trip13:13, once again under InsideOut. A year later, Duda launched his solo project, Lunatic Soul.

Anno Domini High Definition and Memories in My Head

The band's next album was Anno Domini High Definition×Anno Domini High Definition15 June 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 5 tracksA1Hyperactive5:45A2Driven to Destruction7:06A3Egoist Hedonist: I. Different? / II. Hedonist Party / III. Straw Man Dance8:56B1Left Out10:59B2Hybrid Times11:53, released by Mystic Production in 2009. It became the best-selling record in Poland during its second week on the charts, following a debut in sixth place. Riverside issued the EP Memories in My Head×Memories in My Head10 June 2011 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Goodbye Sweet Innocence10:402Living in the Past11:583Forgotten Land9:57 in 2011.

Shrine of New Generation Slaves

In 2013, the band published their fifth full-length album, Shrine of New Generation Slaves×Shrine of New Generation Slaves18 January 2013 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11New Generation Slave4:172The Depth of Self-Delusion7:403Celebrity Touch6:474We Got Used to Us4:115Feel Like Falling5:186Deprived (Irretrievably Lost Imagination)8:267Escalator Shrine12:418Coda1:39Disc 21Night Session, Part One10:442Night Session, Part Two11:33.

Love, Fear and the Time Machine, Eye of the Soundscape, and death of Grudziński

Their sixth album, Love, Fear and the Time Machine×Love, Fear and the Time Machine4 September 2015 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks · 3 discsDisc 1A1Lost (Why Should I Be Frightened by a Hat?)5:52A2Under the Pillow6:47A3#addicted4:52B1Caterpillar and the Barbed Wire6:56B2Saturate Me7:08B3Afloat3:11Disc 2C1Discard Your Fear6:42C2Towards the Blue Horizon8:09D1Time Travellers6:42D2Found (The Unexpected Flaw of Searching)4:03D3Promise2:44Disc 31Lost (Why Should I Be Frightened by a Hat?)5:532Under the Pillow6:473#Addicted4:544Caterpillar and the Barbed Wire6:565Saturate Me7:096Afloat3:137Discard Your Fear6:438Towards the Blue Horizon8:109Time Travellers6:4310Found (The Unexpected Flaw of Searching)4:03, came out in 2015 and reached higher peak sales outside Poland than their previous records.
On 21 February 2016, guitarist Piotr Grudziński died of sudden cardiac arrest. Riverside subsequently announced the cancellation of scheduled tour dates.
On 10 March, the band announced that a new album, a compilation of ambient and instrumental pieces, was in progress. On 21 August, the record was announced to be titled Eye of the Soundscape, and it came out on 21 October.
On 23 September, Riverside announced that they would not immediately replace Grudziński and would instead continue as a trio. On 22 February 2017, Maciej Meller (Quidam) was revealed to be the band's new touring guitarist.

Wasteland

In September 2018, Riverside released their seventh album, and their first without Grudziński, titled Wasteland×Wasteland28 July 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1The Day After1:482Acid Rain6:033Vale of Tears4:494Guardian Angel4:245Lament6:116The Struggle for Survival9:327River Down Below5:438Wasteland8:279The Night Before3:59. On 3 February 2020, they announced that Meller had joined the band in an official capacity and would be involved in the writing sessions for their eighth album.

ID.Entity, Live ID.

In January 2023, Riverside issued ID.Entity, which was followed by a live recording titled Live ID., in 2025.

Duda and Meller departures

In April 2026, vocalist, bassist, and main songwriter Mariusz Duda stated on social media that he would be leaving Riverside after 25 years, due to the band's internal dynamics. Following that statement, guitarist Maciej Meller also announced his departure, citing an inability to continue without Mariusz.