Rivers of Nihil

4.56

PICKMETER

4.91

HMB

4.40

CRITICS

band:

Rivers of Nihil

release date: May 30, 2025

label: Metal Blade Records

type: Full-length

HMB´S REVIEW

As someone who has long wandered the winding paths of heavy music, the name Rivers of Nihil has never been unfamiliar to my ears. They’re the kind of band that refuses to paint with the same colors over and over, throughout their career, they've shown the courage to leave their comfort zone and explore the lesser-lit corridors of metal. And now, with the arrival of their fifth album, they’ve chosen to name it after themselves. That’s no coincidence. A self-titled record often carries symbolic weight. It's when a band looks in the mirror, recognizes themselves, and tells the world, “this is who we are now”.

When I hit play on Rivers of Nihil, I felt like I was stepping back into the band’s domain but not into stale ground. It was like returning to a familiar place, only to find the air different, charged with new energy. Perhaps it’s because this is the first album with Adam Biggs as the main vocalist. And honestly? He doesn’t just take the reins, he commands the ship with presence and heart. His voice sculpts the songs with conviction.

Musically, it's that controlled storm only Rivers of Nihil can conjure. There’s raw heaviness that sonic punch straight from death metal but it’s constantly wrapped in softer, almost ethereal layers from the band’s progressive and experimental side. It feels like brutality and beauty are dancing together, pulling each other in without ever clashing. The riffs feel like labyrinths: dense, crafted, and demanding your attention. And the drumming? It’s the heartbeat of this living creature: strong, precise, relentless.

Then comes the saxophone. Yes, it returns as a distinct signature in their sound. Not just for ornamentation, it speaks, it breathes, it punctuates key moments with soul. In several sections, it’s like a second voice, whispering between the screams, adding texture to the chaos.

Tracks like 'The Sub-Orbital Blues' (which opens the album like a cosmic storm), 'Despair Church' and 'Water & Time' showcase the fusion that defines the band today: heaviness, progression, boldness and that ever-present sax, as smooth as a breeze cutting through the tempest.

In the end, Rivers of Nihil feels like a journey not just for the band, but for artists embracing their identity with conviction. It’s an album that hits hard, but also offers comfort; that challenges you, yet guides you. It’s proof that this band has something to say and they say it with talent, soul, and sonic maturity.

Review by Troadie - HMB´s Staff