On October 16th, Rivers of Nihil will release LP re-issues of their sophomore album, 2015’s Monarchy, via Metal Blade Records. Pre-order your copy now at: https://www.metalblade.com/riversofnihil – where hoodie, t-shirt, guitar tab book and flag bundles are also available!
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Those Darn Gnomes like to hide in a purple haze…
Hello friends. A variety pack of sonically pernicious and delicious specimens to steer your ears towards today. These are bands who have not been afraid to experiment with constraints in recent times.
San Diego jazz/metallers Those Darn Gnomes have signed with Nefarious Industries. The group are a perfect fit for the open minded label, which includes everything from Gridfailure to A Fucking Elephant to Globelamp to Bangladeafy and more. Really looking forward to hearing more from this outfit. From the press release:
Since their formation in 2013, the bombastic THOSE DARN GNOMES collective has blurred the lines between noise, metal, and free jazz. The group formed initially with the lineup of Mark Steuer (vocals), Christian Molenaar (guitar, flute), Russell Case (bass), and Bryon Wojciechowski (drums), releasing their debut album The Years independently in 2015. The band followed up with their second full-length, The Zodiac, in 2016. While their debut more heavily emphasized the band’s roots in avant-garde metal and hardcore, The Zodiac stripped away any pretense of being a metal band in favor of a new, even more aggressive sound incorporating further elements of free improvisation and harsh noise. The band released a fully improvised single-track EP, Peeling, as a limited cassette in 2017, before playing shows throughout North America with like-minded experimental acts such as Ehnahre, Sult, Hypnagogue, Dischordia, and many more.
Calling Whitetails To A Tuned Bow is THOSE DARN GNOMES’ first release for Nefarious Industries and sees a further expansion and refinement of the band’s sprawling, genre-defying sound. Here, the group explores the outer reaches of progressive metal, free improvisation, and avant-garde sound design through the incorporation of algorithmic compositional techniques derived from mold cultivation, homemade instruments, and a greater focus on abrasive weirdness.
Watch for the full details on Calling Whitetails To A Tuned Bow to be released shortly with a springtime release date imminent.
Also watch for details on the collaborative album between the band’s Christian Molenaar and labelmate Gridfailure’s architect David Brenner to be issued in the coming days.
Rivers Of Nihil are justly being praised for their steady growth and driven, rage infused masterful modern death. Three albums in and if the new material we have heard so far is any indicator the band are well on the way to securing their legacy and never being forgotten as an important death metal act of note, but it sounds like they also have a LOT of surprises in store for us as well. The newest record is said to draw from a LOT more influences than the band previously has.
Today RoN made a huge announcement about their 3rd LP that has fans drooling:
On March 16th, we will release our third full-length, “Where Owls Know My Name”, via Metal Blade Records. “Whereas The Conscious Seed of Light” (2013) and “Monarchy” (2015) were thematically centered around spring and summer, respectively, “Where Owls Know My Name” represents the fall.
Check out the album’s second track, “The Silent Life.”. Pre-order bundles are available at: http://metalblade.com/riversofnihil/
Rivers of Nihil – "The Silent Life"
On March 16th, we will release our third full-length, "Where Owls Know My Name", via Metal Blade Records. "Whereas The Conscious Seed of Light" (2013) and "Monarchy" (2015) were thematically centered around spring and summer, respectively, "Where Owls Know My Name" represents the fall. Check out the album's second track, "The Silent Life," above. Pre-order bundles are available at: http://metalblade.com/riversofnihil/The following formats are available for pre-order:– CD + t-shirt bundle– Vinyl + t-shirt bundle (swamp green [limited to 400], olive green with black splatter [limited to 300], doublemint inside swamp great vinyl [limited to 300]), all come with Bandcamp download card, USA Only– "Deluxe Bundle" with CD or vinyl, t-shirt, wall flag and embroidered patch–"Shredders Bundle" with CD, t-shirt, guitar and bass tab book (or digital download) and guitar pick–"Drinkers Bundle" with CD, pint glass, beer koozie and bottle opener– CD or Vinyl + longsleeve bundle– CD only– Vinyl onlyGuitarist Brody Uttley comments:"This record is Rivers of Nihil being exactly who we want to be. Many bands get stuck in a comfortable routine of releasing the same album over and over again. Constantly relying on the same familiar formula may work for some bands, but it does not work for us. Music is art, and art is ever-changing. Without change, there is no progress. Without progress, the very fire that powers art and expression will die. This record is the sound of where we come from, where we are, and where we are going." Adds bassist/vocalist Adam Biggs:"This time around, the lyrics feel a little more personal than on previous albums. The story picks up several millennia after the events of 'Monarchy', where one person still remains alive, chosen by the planet to be the sole intelligent witness of its ultimate fate. But 'Where Owls Know My Name' is less about overarching narrative than our previous albums. The scenario is just a backdrop for the more emotional material we tried to put forth this time around. Ultimately, this is an album about loss, getting older, and reaching a point where death becomes a much more present part of your life.""Where Owls Know My Name" track-listing1. Cancer / Moonspeak2. The Silent Life3. A Home4. Old Nothing5. Subtle Change (Including the Forest of Transition6. Terrestria III: Wither7. Hollow8. Death Is Real9. Where Owls Know My Name10. Capricorn / Agoratopia
Posted by Rivers of Nihil on Tuesday, February 6, 2018
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Pennsylvania death metalheads Rivers of Nihil have parted ways with Alan Balamut.
In Alan’s place Rivers of Nihil have brought Dylan Potts on board.
You can check out a statement from Alan, a drum play-through of “Perpetual Growth Machine” by Dylan and Rivers of Nihil tour dates here.
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This Friday sees the release of RIVERS OF NIHIL‘s sophomore album “Monarchy” via Metal Blade Records. Right now at metalblade.com/riversofnihil “Monarchy” is streaming in its entirety. Be sure to check out this landmark album and if you haven’t go ahead and pre-order your copy!
RIVERS OF NIHIL have a special CD release show scheduled for This Wednesday August 19th in Brooklyn, NY at Saint Vitus. Fans will be able to hear songs from “Monarchy” performed live for the first time and purchase the CD in person. A full autumn tour itinerary will be announced soon.
A video documenting the making of the album has been released today and can be viewedHERE. The video was shot during recording at guitarist Brody Uttley’s home studio and recording at Atrium Audio in Lancaster, PA with Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland. This video gives fans an insight into the processes behind the tracking and concept of “Monarchy.”
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Rivers Of Nihil are back with Monarchy, a Metal Blade release that is a big
victory for the death metal genre, the well regarded label and the East Coast
band. It is a captivating listen from start to finish, a record that rules
like a dark monarch’s shadowy yet obeyed decrees. This fucker has some
technical moments, some pure hostility and even more potent vacations into the
unknown.
Oh, and their “Sand Baptism” music video was half shot by kids!!
While the ‘Earth in peril/Sun worship’ plot subtheme of the lyrics reminds me
a bit of Shai Hulud’s excellent Reach Beyond The Sun, 2015 is a time when
people are more commonly embracing Earth conscious lyrics and subtexts. Its
cool that Metal Blade has released a lot of the best recent records in metal
that has more important environmental lessons under the surface of great riffs
and screams, from Cattle Decapitation’s The Anthropocene Extinction to the
aforementioned Hulud release.
Read a rock solid convo on the process of Monarchy BELOW.
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Pennsylvania tech-deathers Rivers of Nihil have today dropped a new track heavy enough to crush your will to continue living.
“Monarchy” is the title track off of the band’s forthcoming album, which is due out August 21 via Metal Blade Records.
Head on over to No Clean Singing to stream “Monarchy”!
Rivers of Nihil are:
Jake Dieffenbach – Vocals
Brody Uttley – Guitars
Jon Kunz – Guitars
Adam Biggs – Bass/vocals
Alan Balamut – Drums
RIVERS OF NIHIL unveils “Monarchy“, their sophomore full length album. The record will be available worldwide on Metal Blade Records on August 21, 2015. A brand new track, along with pre-order bundles, are available online now. Fans can visit metalblade.com/riversofnihil to hear “Perpetual Growth Machine” and reserve copies now.
Hmm, while this song title reminds me of a weird conspiracy theory Zac Shaw from Dead Unicorn and I had about the government putting nanobots into weed, the new track “Mechanical Trees” from Rivers Of Nihil is nonetheless exceptional, so have no fear of Big Brother here. The band have launched a brand new music video for “Mechanical Trees” on their official YouTube channel at THIS LOCATION. The Dave Brodsky (The Smash Up, Gwar) -directed performance clip comes by way of the band’sThe Conscious Seed Of Light full-length.
Guitarist Brody Uttley comments: “Working with David Brodsky on this video was a truly awesome experience. This guy has shot so many of our favorite bands over the years and to be able to work with him on something for our own band was truly surreal.”
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Here’s a quick little update to accompany the Rivers of Nihil Reading Rainbow tour announcement from earlier. Brody and I spoke earlier this summer while they were in New York touring with Devildriver. Brody had much to say on playing lager venues on this tour package and how their next Metal Blade release is shaping up. I also got some comments on their robbery in St. Louis and the subsequent crowd funding campaign, which he has avidly spoken out against.
Click here for the short and sweet.
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Pennsylvania’s Rivers of Nihil will be touring this September-October with fellow Reading natives, Black Crown Initiate. The “Reading Rainbow Tour” will begin on September 19 in Buffalo, NY and winds its way through RI, PA, MI, OH, and KY before wrapping up on October 3rd in their home town. Several more dates are still TBA, with updates to be made available at facebook.com/riversofnihil as they are made available.
Click HERE for tour stops.
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Donate directly to the Rivers of Nihil PayPal riversofnihilpa@yahoo.com or buy some merch at their Indiemerch store. \mm/
They even had to ask fans on Facebook to chip in to get their singer some clothes! Man, Jake just needs some blue jeans and he can go all shirtless like Iggy Pop. At least it seems the thieves were fans if they stole all the RoN t-shirt merch as well. Jake could have worn a Rivers of Nihil shirt if not. Iron Maiden wear their own shirts. It’s metal!
In happier news…Rivers of Nihil have posted a brand new guitar playthrough video to their official youtube channel. In the video, guitarist Jon Kunz performs “Soil & Seed” from the band’s album “The Conscious Seed of Light” to show off his new Lace Pickups, and his Orange Amp. Check out how the song is performed on guitar and stream the video now at youtube.com/riversofnihilpaHERE.
For those of you asking if we will be carrying on with tour: you’re fucking right we are! Thank you for the continued support and kind words! See you soon.-the guys.
Pennsylvanian death metallers Rivers of Nihil have today released the music video for their song “Birth of the Omnisavior”.
“Birth of the Omnisavior” comes off of Rivers of Nihil’s latest album The Conscious Seed of Light.
Check out Rivers of Nihil tour dates and the “Birth of the Omnisavior” video here.
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Brooklyn’s Saint Vitus has always been a bar of great metal genre diversity. I’ve seen thrash shows, prog shows, and straight up death metal shows there, sometimes all in the same night. It is also a very fertile ground for New York City’s fledgling bands as well, many citing Vitus as a “dream venue” or one they “always wanted to play.” So Hideous is one of those NYC bands out there working hard to create a memorable experience with each performance. The other two bands both hail from Reading, Pennsylvania: Black Crown Initiate, who take a progressive approach to death metal, and headlineres Rivers of Nihil. Guitarist John Kunz told me in an interview once “I’m going to write a song that sounds like fucking Morbid Angel.” That pretty much sums up their sound.
Click here for the break down and photos.
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Pennsylvania death metallers Rivers of Nihil have announced a handful of dates leading up to The Best in Brutality Tour.
The Best in Brutality Tour will feature Broken Hope, Oceano, Fallujah, Kublai Khan.
In other news, drummer Ron Nelson has parted with Rivers of Nihil.
Read the official statement from the band on the departure and find out who their new drummer is, as well as all of their tour dates here.
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The current "it" darlings of tech, ARCHSPIRE return with Bleed The Future! This band has not lost their edge like many others caught in a dragon chase for commercial appeal, instead absolutely destroying it on their latest release. Only Obsolete and Ophidian I even come close recently to pulling off shit this crazy and Archspire's "Drone Corpse Aviator" by far led the pack for the fastest chops freak out of 2021, while still containing some very dynamic calm between the storm, majestic guitar parts as well. I am honestly just thrilled for these dudes that they have pulled off such a bad ass follow-up to the hard to top Relentless Mutation (2017). This moment was worth the wait and the future will take your pound of flesh one way or the other. Get on board and hold fast!
