Review by Jeger on May 28, 2025.

Rivers Of Nihil - one of the world of progressive Death Metal's most important collectives alongside Fallujah and Psycroptic - an innovative DM triumvirate of enterprisers whose impact on the scene has broken ground as would a meteorite just after it rips through the atmosphere; rumbling the crust and mana below, as it explodes the soil above; turning up new and exciting elements of modernization. Rivers Of Nihil generally go one of two ways: traditional (as traditional as prog gets, which isn't too traditional at all) or experimental, as evidenced by 2015's Monarchy and 2018's Where Owls Know My Name. The latter falls into the experimental category. Saxophones, piano and alternating compositions that volley back and forth from highly visual to brutal, and peppered in throughout are these delicious dreamlike parts. 2021's The Work saw the band in more of a fundamental state. Naturally, there are still some unorthodox parts, but altogether, The Work feels a bit more familiar in comparison to WOKMN. Does that mean that their forthcoming self-titled album will be full of surprises?

A namesake record could mean solidity or it could mean savvy. Either way, these albums set bands up for what could be legend status or possibly disappointment. When you look back at some of the great self-titled Death Metal albums like "Deicide" and "Suffocation", it's very quickly that you begin to understand the pressure of recording such an album. Rivers Of Nihil are obviously up for the challenge. On May 30, they will release their namesake record via Metal Blade.

It's incredibly difficult to play the comparison game when it comes to progressive DM bands. What I'm hearing right now, during the opening track, "The Sub-Orbital Blues" sounds like a combination of Periphery, Haken and Monstrosity: soulful cleans, bewildering riffs one second and brutally heavy ones the next. The following track, "Dustman", however, is heavy through and through. A little something to bang your head to here; something to get the pit stirred up and the brews knocked back. Production quality is of the engineered in an Alien spacecraft variety, as it should be. Comparable to the aforementioned Fallujah's upcoming "Xenotaph" LP, and that says a lot. Not quite as crisp, but still of a masterclass in its own right. Uber-experimental? Not so much. This is textbook Rivers Of Nihil thus far - an homage to the band's essence. Thus far a worthy record indeed. Expect some tinkering here and there, but not quite like their 2018 volume. Vocals are the selling point: brimming with passion are the cleans, dredging the depths of savagery are the gutturals and there's some nice depth in between.

Midway through, you'll take in "Water & Time" - an escape - an orbital view of our planet's vast and mysterious seas. The force of time is but a minuscule power in comparison to these waters deep and terrifying. And out come the saxophones! Only for a bit, but just enough to spice things up a notch. Consumingly atmospheric and hypnotically mesmerizing. Rivers Of Nihil is unfolding with more and more flamboyancy now. What an experience! Unpredictable but smooth and cool like an ice-cold Summer ale. A nice balance between familiar Death Metal parts and jaw-dropping progressive elements. Definitely a proud representation of everything this band has proven to be capable of over the years. Packaged in classy cover art and livened by world-class engineering.

Rivers Of Nihil continue to be THE band to watch within the realm of Death Metal technicality and progressiveness. And these guys are obviously passionate about their art, as this flare for creating just oozes over every second of runtime during every one of their renowned-the-scene-over albums. Just in a class of their own. Like Revocation on acid… Prepare for a journey! One that will send you soaring above the clouds of perception and diving deep into mystical oceans of the imagination. One of the very best just doing what they do - awing musicians and appeasing even the most scrutinizing enthusiasts. One of those great self-titled albums is Rivers Of Nihil. An accomplishment for the books.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10