Review RIVERS OF NIHIL “Rivers Of Nihil”

Rivers Of Nihil, a band from Reading, Pennsylvania, was founded in 2009, and their debut album dates to 2013. Three more releases came out after that, including “The Work,” which was released in 2021. Four years later, the band returns with their latest effort, a self-titled album.

A self-titled album is often the first one a band releases, though there are also other milestone moments when a group might release one. In this case, it is a return to basics and a new beginning, as there have been some shifts in the lineup. Rivers of Nihil has been joined by Andy Thomas, a new guitarist who is also responsible for the backing vocals. This allows Adam Biggs to focus on lead vocals.

Secondly, “Rivers of Nihil” can be seen as a summary of the band’s first four albums, brought into the present. The starting point is a song called “The Sub-Orbital Blues,” which is also the lead single for the new album. It is a throbbing beginning to the album, with clean vocals and growls interacting. It isn’t a fast-paced song, but it has different layers that showcase the musicians’ excellent musical abilities. Since “The Sub-Orbital Blues” was unveiled in 2023, the band decided to release another single closer to the album’s release date. “House of Light” is the song that should draw attention to the new album, and, as it is a masterfully crafted technical death metal piece, there is no doubt that “House of Light” can fulfill its purpose. Rivers Of Nihil excel at combining atmospheric soundscapes with brutal death metal outbursts. The thunderous “House of Light” exemplifies this approach, showcasing the harmonious blend of Andy Thomas’s and Adam Biggs’s vocals.

“Despair Church” also manifests a cinematic approach to music combined with raging moments. The eerie middle section is another facet of “Despair Church” that showcases the band’s versatility.

With “Evidence,” the band added an intense, barking death metal song to the album, showcasing their musical intensity in less than four minutes prior to “American Death.” The thunderous start features a massive riff assault, with the synth in the background adding to the atmosphere of this metal blast. The song’s greatness, as well as that of the album, comes from the alternating moments of aggressive, almost confusing, outbursts that are always mitigated by clean, melodic counterparts. This makes it easier for listeners to follow this challenging musical journey, and it adds to the excitement of the album.

The album ends with the song “Rivers of Nihil.” In a way, the tune combines everything we’ve heard earlier. It starts calmly, opening wider soundscapes before building up and gaining intensity. In the final third, “Rivers of Nihil” turns into a blasting headbanger, ending with an outro.

Rivers Of Nihil’s fifth album is an impressive piece of work that showcases the band’s musical talent and creative approach to music. “Rivers of Nihil” features many twists and details that slowly come to the surface as the album reveals its magic upon first listening. Fans of the band will enjoy it, and if you haven’t listened to Rivers of Nihil before, now is the time to catch up.