Riverside / The Sixxis

Polish progressive rockers Riverside live in London is fortunately a commonality, having played here last year but the opportunity to see them in the opulent Islington Assembly Hall cannot be ignored. Last month saw the release of the band's sixth album 'Love, Fear and the Time Machine' and the venue is appropriately busy tonight, an indication that the capital is far from bored of this kind of Polish prog rock.

Formed in 2006 and having been strongly recommended by one of the most respected individuals in the prog world, Mike Portnoy, The Sixxis from Atlanta, Georgia are representative of plenty of young prog rock acts grasping instruments nowadays - that is, a penchant for coupling a sound popularised by the likes of Dream Theater with a modern alternative rock nervous system. The result is palatable but not remarkable, failing to distinguish themselves among their peers, with the exception of Vladdy Iskhakov pulling out a violin briefly and having it occupy a keyboard's role in its use. Nonetheless, the energy of the Americans defines them as watchable and their charisma secures positive responses from the spectators. As a youthful act, they still have a while to develop a more pronounced identity and perhaps awarding the violin more air time would be a foot in the right direction.

The prog rock quartet Riverside wastes no time propelling themselves into new song 'Lost (Why Should I Be Frightened by a Hat?)', showcasing emotive tenderness while simultaneously deploying a temperate introduction to the set. Backtracking to the album 'Shrine of New Generation Slaves' sees the Polish performers unveil the electronic-tinged 'Feels Like Falling', immediately exciting the fans. The Islington Assembly Hall is renowned for its crystal clear sound and tonight is no exception, with each instrument faultlessly defined and balanced against the others - perfect.

The musicianship of Riverside is a true delight with rich meandering melodies on the guitar, atmospheric and modern keyboard sounds, the bass adopting a more central and independent role than is usually expected of them in rock bands and flexible drumming, all underpinned by the smooth vocals of Mariusz Duda. The stage banter of Duda is particularly humorous, effortlessly drawing laughter out of the punters in between the likes of new selections 'Discard Your Fear' and 'Saturate Me' as well as the less fresh-faced songs such as the gorgeous 'Conceiving You', the sinister '02 Panic Room' and the particularly Porcupine Tree-sounding 'Egoist Hedonist'. Masterfully weaving '70s prog nostalgia with accessible contemporary prog rock with a hint of metal guitar pomp, Riverside engineer thoroughly entertaining music that is incredibly memorable.After 'Escalator Shrine', the headliners leave the stage rather promptly.

Little time elapses before they are drawn out again on stage. Duda thanks the crowd for choosing them over the football match happening down the road tonight before informing them that they wrote numerous songs beginning with the same note that they thought was cool at the time when they were younger, which keyboardist Michał Łapaj demonstrates multiple times, each time the audience emitting further laughter. When they launch into the song proper, the generic note shifts into 'The Same River' off their debut album 'Out of Myself' and a formidable ovation steals across the venue. Exhibiting their pride in 'Love, Fear and the Time Machine', the four-piece conclude the concert with 'Found (The Unexpected Flaw of Searching)', optimistic and serene, a comfortable note to finalise the evening. With hearty thanks, Riverside close the chapter on yet another stellar London performance undisputedly imprinted in the memory banks of the attendees tonight.