“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.”
Watch RIVERS OF NIHIL‘s previously released video for “House Of Light” 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,” explains Uttley. “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.”
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. Despite the fresh approach on Rivers Of Nihil however, the album still 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 with Metal Injection calling the latter album “the group’s most cohesive, ambitious, meditative, and varied effort, with greater uses of philosophical significance and transcendental respites.”
Writes Revolver in an early preview of the record, “…their forthcoming self-titled album… specializes in metronome-exploding kick work, riffs brawnier than a full-grown Kodiak, and a vocal tandem of soaring highs (guitarist Andy Thomas) and demonic lows (bassist Adam Biggs).“
Find pre-orders at: metalblade.com/riversofnihil
RIVERS OF NIHIL is currently in the midst of their Aggressive Progressive EU/UK headlining tour with support from Cynic, Beyond Creation, and labelmates, Dååth. In May, the band will return to North American stages for another month-long headliner with support provided by Holy Fawn, Inter Arma, and Glacial Tomb. Tickets and VIP packages are available now at: ron.soundrink.com. See all confirmed dates below.
RIVERS OF NIHIL w/ Cynic, Beyond Creation, Dååth [remaining dates]:
3/12/2025 Patronaat – Haarlem, NL
3/13/2025 Gruenspan – Hamburg, DE
3/14/2025 Fryshuset Klubben – Stockholm, SE
3/16/2025 Tavastia – Helsinki, FI
3/18/2025 John Dee – Oslo, NO
3/19/2025 Pumpehuset – Copenhagen, DK
3/21/2025 Proxima – Warsaw, PL
3/22/2025 Columbia Theater – Berlin, DE
3/23/2025 Z-Bau – Nürnberg, DE
3/24/2025 Flex – Wien, AT
3/25/2025 Dürer Kert – Budapest, HU
3/26/2025 Backstage – München, DE
3/27/2025 Slaughter Club – Milan, IT
3/28/2025 Kiff – Aarau, CH
3/29/2025 Substage – Karlsruhe, DE
w/ Holy Fawn, Inter Arma, Glacial Tomb:
5/22/2025 Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA
5/23/2025 The Palladium (Upstairs) – Worcester, MA
5/24/2025 Rec Room – Buffalo, NY
5/25/2025 The King Of Clubs – Columbus, OH
5/27/2025 Pike Room @ Crofoot – Pontiac, MI
5/28/2025 Reggies – Chicago, IL
5/29/2025 The Cabooze – Minneapolis, MN
5/30/2025 Bourbon Theater – Lincoln, NE
5/31/2025 Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO
6/01/2025 Metro Music Hall – Salt Lake City, UT
6/03/2025 Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC
6/04/2025 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
6/05/2025 Dante’s – Portland, OR
6/06/2025 Goldfield Trading Post – Roseville, CA
6/07/2025 Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA
6/08/2025 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA
6/10/2025 Nile – Mesa, AZ
6/11/2025 Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM
6/12/2025 Jake’s – Lubbock, TX
6/13/2025 The Rail – Ft. Worth, TX
6/14/2025 Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX
6/15/2025 Scout Bar – Houston, TX
6/17/2025 Basement East – Nashville, TN
6/18/2025 Eulogy – Asheville, NC
6/19/2025 The Canal Club – Richmond, VA
6/20/2025 The Meadows – Brooklyn, NY
6/21/2025 Fairmount Theatre – Montreal, QC
6/22/2025 Lee’s Palace – Toronto, ON
RIVERS OF NIHIL:
Adam Biggs – bass guitar, vocals
Andy Thomas – guitar, vocals
Brody Uttley – guitar, piano, keys, programming
Jared Klein – drums, vocals
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