Review by Raphaël on July 11, 2025.

It has now been four years since Rivers released their previous album, the experimental and deeply philosophical work, no pun intended, The Work. Since then, they parted ways with their lead vocalist, Jake Dieffenbach, welcomed as a full-time member Andy Thomas (from Black Crown Initiate) and released a few singles giving a glimpse of their new direction. I say new but it's more like refining their sound and taking the best from The Work and Where Owls Know My Name and distilling it to its purest form.Actually, with Andy Thomas now a permanent member, they kind of made an entire album of the song Where Owls Know My Name and the result is pure magic!

The album begins with 'The Sub-Orbital Blues', the first single they dropped in 2023. The main riff is a simple rhythmic chug, reminiscent of the main riff in Sorceress from Opeth and right at the beginning we get a taste of what Andy Thomas now brings to the band, his soaring clean vocals bring a melodic dimension that is both emotional and epic as hell! The notes this guy reaches give me chills every time! Then, the harsh vocals come in. Adam Biggs took the role of harsh vocalist, so it still feels familiar but now, he demonstrates his range, going from his familiar higher pitch screams to his beautiful cleans to his absolutely savage death growls. Drummer Jared Klein also provides backing vocals and when the three guys sing together in harmony, it creates something wonderful. 'Dustman' is a more traditional tech death banger with a flurry of blast beats and a groovy, modern prog riff. Weaving in this heavy madness is a strong focus on atmosphere making it sound rich with different textures. 'Criminals' begin with funky bass lines and an atmosphere that gives a feeling of urgency! The song is extremely dynamic alternating between minimalistic sections, full of atmosphere and pure raging death metal. The chorus is Adam bringing a good dose of melody, singing: "There's no forgiveness Pray to the western sunrise Show me the man and I'll show you what he's done You're a criminal Just look at what you've done", essentially expressing that we, in the west, are, in a way, all culpable in for the crimes of our governments: "Let's stop pretending, There's still a western sunrise, At the end of a gun, Just look what we've become". Despair Church is the longest song on the album, at 6 minutes and 30 seconds and showcases the bands incredible dynamics, it's heavy, atmospheric, epic and full of surprises. Some you expect, like the circusy saxophone break and some will be a pleasant surprise, like the magnificent ending, a piano, cello and sax instrumental. 'Water & Time' is the "ballad" of the album. Starting with a slow electronic beat, reminding me of 'Terrestria III' from Owls, it quickly changes to an emotional and grandiose slower piece, again with a magistral performance by Andy but also, Adam and Jared. Their three voices harmonizing and combined with smooth saxophone makes me feel things inside! 'American Death' is a straight banger with its Meshuggah-esque heavy riff, incredible drum performance and infectious chorus. You truly feel like you're descending into madness when the dissonant first solo hits and it fits the lyrical theme so perfectly: "Death: American as apple pie, Another tragedy I forgot, A Bridge to sell you, While we dance in the total system rot, I can't believe anything you say, Since the last revolution that you tried to fake, Who's right? What's left? American death". The numbness to violence that Americans display is in itself the symptom of living in a dying empire and facing that reality, what can they do but dance in the rot. Rivers end their eponymous album with the track Rivers of Nihil, as if to say, "here, this is the new us going forward" and I have to say, I am floored with the result, it's a heavenly sublime work of art!

Since Owls, Rivers of Nihil has consistently been one of my favorite bands and with this album, they establish themselves as prog death royalty. Every song on here is worthy of a single, Brody and Andy's guitar performances are awe-inspiring, Adam's bass is funky, subtitle and heavy, and the drums, oh my god, Jared is a master on the kit with a technically impressive act that puts him on top with other legends like Mario Duplantier and Brann Dailor. Speaking of Mastodon, the three vocalists, Adam, Andy and Jared on the back, create such an interesting dynamic when the three harmonize. Adam is so comfortable in his lead harsh vocalist role, it's like he did this all of his life and what to say about Andy's voice, a spectacular performance, his voice is melodic, pure and so so epic! I can already predict this will end extremely high in my AOTY list!

Rating: 10 out of 10

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