Progressive metal project BETWEEN RIVERS has released a visualiser for their new track ‘Freedom Denied’. The song is the first offering from their upcoming debut mini-album, Form Without Soul, which is set for independent release on March 26, 2027.
BETWEEN RIVERS combines progressive metal with thrash and death-metal elements. The project aims to balance metal’s aggression with melody and drama. Emanuele Viali, a multi-instrumentalist based in Stockholm, created BETWEEN RIVERS.
Viali states that ‘Freedom Denied’ addresses “the contradiction between the idea of personal freedom and the reality of living inside systems that constantly restrict it.” He adds that the song explores how “every movement, choice, and basic need seems to come with a cost,” and the “lack of privacy in contemporary life.” Musically, Viali describes it as “probably the most aggressive track on the album, built to feel like a short burst of pressure rather than a long progressive construction.”
Emanuele Viali wrote and produced Form Without Soul, performing all instruments except for vocals and some guest guitar solos. Viali also wrote the lyrics for ‘Brightest Eyes’. Recording, mixing, and mastering were handled by Emanuele Viali and Dmitry at Ozone Hole Studios. Vladimir Lalic (ORGANIZED CHAOS) provides vocal performance, vocal arrangements, and lyrics for all tracks except ‘Brightest Eyes’. Francesco Domenichetti performs guitar solos on ‘Silicon Paradise’ and ‘Insides’, while Fabrizio Milo plays the guitar solo on ‘Brightest Eyes’. The cover art for the album is by Niklas Sundin (ex-DARK TRANQUILLITY).
Emanuele Viali, originally from Terni, Italy, holds a degree in jazz bass and also plays guitar and keyboards, and programs virtual instruments. He works professionally with music and sound for video games. Before forming BETWEEN RIVERS, Viali played in the folk metal band BLODIGA SKALD and other projects.
The sound of BETWEEN RIVERS draws from various influences, including AYREON, DEVIN TOWNSEND, DEATH, NEVERMORE, GENESIS, 90s Disney film music, death/thrash metal, progressive metal, and Italian songwriters such as Fabrizio De André, Franco Battiato, and Giorgio Gaber.
Form Without Soul Track List:
- ‘Silicon Paradise’
- ‘Freedom Denied’
- ‘Insides’
- ‘Chroma Veil’
- ‘Brightest Eyes’
- ‘Choices’
- ‘Thing Beyond Things’ (Devin Townsend cover)
Connect with BETWEEN RIVERS on Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.