“American Death” is the latest single from progressive death metal progenitors Rivers Of Nihil. The ferocious new track — a true-to-form beater that’s sure to slay live — comes by way of the band’s eponymous fifth full-length, set for release on May 30th via Metal Blade Records.
Comments founding guitarist Brody Uttley: “‘American Death’ is a title that we’ve been throwing around and printing on our T-shirts since 2013. We figured it was finally time to write a song with that title, and given the subject matter of the lyrics, it would only make sense for this song to be a true ass beater. It’s definitely the most true form ‘heavy’ song of these singles, so we are very much looking forward to playing it live.”
Pre-order the album here.
Sixteen years and five albums into the Pennsylvania band’s career, Rivers Of Nihil is upping the ante with Rivers Of Nihil. Traditionally, a self-titled record can signal a return to basics and/or a fresh beginning, and in ten powerful songs, it’s clear that both those factors are in play.
Founding bassist Adam Biggs became the band’s new lead vocalist/bassist in 2023; the same year marked the appearance of additional guitarist Andy Thomas (ex-Black Crown Initiate), whose vocals also play prominently on Rivers Of Nihil. Producers Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland at Atrium Audio captured the new dynamics across more than fifty minutes of music.
On June 15th, 2023, the band released the single, “The Sub-Orbital Blues,” the first track with Biggs handling lead vocals following the 2022 departure of singer Jake Dieffenbach. It was also the first track to feature Thomas. A second single, “Hellbirds,” dropped on October 19th of that year. On April 29th, 2024, the band released the cut “Criminals” and an accompanying music video. Both “Criminals” and “The Sub-Orbital Blues” appear on Rivers Of Nihil.
Rivers of Nihil was created in a very “rock n’ roll” manner.”On 2021’s The Work I wrote a lot of the record on the piano and then the band filled in the gaps, but on this new record I wanted to make sure that this stuff would hit hard live with just the four of us before adding in all of the sparkly auxiliary ‘frosting’ on top,” explains Uttley.
Rivers of Nihil also showcases additional musicians, including Patrick Corona on alto saxophone; Stephan Lopez on banjo; McFarland on cello; and a slate of other guest vocalists. Further singles include “American Death,” a true-to-form beater that’s sure to slay live, and “Water & Time,” which Uttley says is Rivers‘ “stab at writing a big chorus style synth-laden song. The main melody on synth came out so cool the band filled out the song with ‘metal band stuff’” for the potent final version heard on Rivers of Nihil.
Rivers Of Nihil Tracklist:
- The Sub-Orbital Blues (4:18)
- Dustman (4:33)
- Criminals (4:32)
- Despair Church (6:30)
- Water & Time (5:24)
- House of Light (5:49)
- Evidence (4:22)
- American Death (5:23)
- The Logical End (6:07)
- Rivers of Nihil (3:16)
Rivers Of Nihil‘ fifth Metal Blade album “deserves the ‘self-titled’ treatment. I feel like these songs are the perfect blend of all our albums, with all the fat cut away,” says founding member/guitarist Brody Uttley. “There are more technical songs that call back to The Conscious Seed of Light and Monarchy sound, but with a more mature understanding of how to pace a song. There’s a fair bit of the Owls and The Work-type experimental stuff but with a more refreshed perspective on those styles for the current era of the band.”
And that everything old is new again vibe is encapsulated in the title track, which is the album’s last song. “Rivers of Nihil” sums up the band, but not in the expected way. “The name ‘Rivers of Nihil’ implies this dark nihilistic hopeless thing,” Uttley says. “But lyrically the song is actually about letting time slip by you and not giving into the darkness.”
Producers Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland at Atrium Audio captured the new dynamics across more than 50 minutes of music. Despite the fresh approach on Rivers of Nihil, the album fits neatly into the band’s discography.
With Where Owls Know My Name (2018), Rivers Of Nihil transcended all labels applied to them, and with its 2021 follow-up, The Work, they forged further into new territory.
