Reading, Pennsylvania-based progressive death metallers RIVERS OF NIHIL are pleased to release the instrumental edition of their acclaimed full-length, The Work, out today on Metal Blade Records.

Stream / purchase RIVERS OF NIHIL’s The Work (Instrumentals) HERE

RIVERS OF NIHIL has never fit neatly into a box, but with 2018’s Where Owls Know My Name, they transcended all labels applied to them. Returning in 2021 with The Work, they forged further into new territory, delivering an album that was as cerebral as it was visceral, and that covers a staggering sonic range, definitively placing them in a category of their own.

With the first track penned in the fall of 2018, while the band were touring on …Owls…, the writing process for The Work was long, lasting well into 2020. Even before the music industry shutdown that happened concurrently with the Covid pandemic, the band intended to take most of 2020 off to focus on writing, meaning that their schedule was not disrupted. Guitarist Brody Uttley describes the final product as a “Sound World,” a term coined by a friend. “It’s an album that almost sounds like a place rather than a thing. It puts you in this world where you’re not exactly sure what is going on at certain points, but eventually, it all comes together. It’s harsh and cold, but also warm and inviting,” he adds.

Watch a visualizer for “Terrestria IV: Work” at THIS LOCATION.

RIVERS OF NIHIL‘s The Work (Instrumentals) is out today digitally. Stream/purchase the record at: metalblade.com/riversofnihil

The Work (Instrumentals) Track Listing:
01. The Tower (Theme from “The Work”) [Instrumental]
02. Dreaming Black Clockwork (Instrumental)
03. Wait (Instrumental)
04. Focus (Instrumental)
05. Clean (Instrumental)
06. The Void from Which No Sound Escapes (Instrumental)
07. MORE? (Instrumental)
08. Tower 2 (Instrumental)
09. Episode (Instrumental)
10. Maybe One Day (Instrumental)
11. Terrestria IV: Work (Instrumental)

RIVERS OF NIHIL Live:
9/19/2024 Empire Underground – Albany, NY
9/20/2024 New England Metal And Hardcore Fest Pre-Party @ The Palladium Upstairs – Worcester, MA
9/21/2024 Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY
9/22/2024 Metal Injection Fest – Brooklyn, NY

RIVERS OF NIHIL Instrumental Lineup:
Brody Uttley – guitar
Jon Topore- guitar
Adam Biggs – bass/vocals
Jared Klein – drums
Zach Strouse – Saxophone
Grant McFarland – Cello on “The Void from Which No Sound Escapes”

https://www.facebook.com/riversofnihil
https://twitter.com/riversofnihil
https://www.instagram.com/riversofnihil
https://www.youtube.com/Riversofnihilpa

Reading, Pennsylvania-based progressive death metallers RIVERS OF NIHIL are pleased to release the instrumental edition of their critically lauded Where Owls Know My Name full-length today via Metal Blade Records.

Stream / purchase RIVERS OF NIHIL’s Where Owls Know My Name (Instrumentals) HERE

RIVERS OF NIHIL announced themselves as one of the most promising and forward-thinking metal bands in the world with their first two releases, The Conscious Seed of Light (2013) and Monarchy (2015). But in March of 2018, they shattered all expectations with their third full-length, Where Owls Know My Name.

Formed in 2009 by guitarist Brody Uttley, bassist/lyricist Adam Biggs, and vocalist Jake Dieffenbach, RIVERS OF NIHIL quickly made a name for themselves in the death metal scene, attracting the attention of legendary death metal titan Erik Rutan. Rutan, revered for his work as both a musician (Hate Eternal, Morbid Angel) and producer (Cannibal Corpse, Goatwhore), insisted on recording The Conscious Seed Of Light. The results were, unsurprisingly, spectacular, with Heavy Blog Is Heavy going so far as to assert that the debut “rivals even the most legendary work of some of [RIVERS OF NIHIL’s] peers and influences.” They continued along this trajectory with Monarchy, which Metal Injection praised as an “incredibly striking” demonstration of how “RIVERS OF NIHIL have evolved into a monster.“

Where Owls Know My Name represented a massive evolutionary leap for RIVERS OF NIHIL. Whereas …Seed… and Monarchy were thematically centered around spring and summer, respectively, Where Owls Know My Name represented the fall. And although that season is usually associated with death, for RIVERS OF NIHIL, the autumn served as a rebirth. Delivering an album which is often just as punishing as its predecessors while assimilating ingredients from musical genres as varied as electronica, jazz, alternative, folk, and the golden age of Shrapnel Records, the resulting music on Where Owls Know My Name is indescribably progressive, a multifaceted soundscape that goes beyond the wildest dreams of even the group’s most ardent admirers.

Comments guitarist Brody Uttley on the instrumental edition of the record, “Ever since Where Owls Know My Name came out we’ve had people begging for an instrumental version. Well… here it is! Better see you musician dorks doing all kinds of cover videos.“

Watch a visualizer for the instrumental version of “Subtle Change (Including The Forest Of Transition And Dissatisfaction Dance)” at THIS LOCATION.

RIVERS OF NIHIL‘s Where Owls Know My Name (Instrumentals) is out today digitally. Stream / purchase the record at: metalblade.com/riversofnihil. A reissued slate of Where Owls Know My Name merchandise is also available at: indiemerch.com/riversofnihil

Its release follows the unveiling of a brand new single and video, “Criminals,” earlier this spring. Stream that HERE.

Where Owls Know My Name (Instrumentals) Track Listing:
01. Cancer / Moonspeak (Instrumental)
02. The Silent Life (Instrumental)
03. A Home (Instrumental)
04. Old Nothing (Instrumental)
05. Subtle Change (Including the Forest of Transition and Dissatisfaction Dance) [Instrumental]
06. Terrestria III: Wither (Instrumental)
07. Hollow (Instrumental)
08. Death Is Real (Instrumental)
09. Where Owls Know My Name (Instrumental)
10. Capricorn / Agoratopia (Instrumental)

RIVERS OF NIHIL Live:
9/20/2024 New England Metal And Hardcore Fest Pre-Party @ The Palladium Upstairs – Worcester, MA
9/21/2024 Metal Injection Fest – Brooklyn, NY

RIVERS OF NIHIL Instrumental Lineup:
Brody Uttley – guitar
Jon Topore – guitar
Adam Biggs – bass
Jared Klein – drums
Zach Strouse – saxophone

https://www.facebook.com/riversofnihil
https://twitter.com/riversofnihil
https://www.instagram.com/riversofnihil
https://www.youtube.com/Riversofnihilpa

Reading, Pennsylvania-based progressive death metallers RIVERS OF NIHIL are pleased to unleash their brand new single, “Criminals.” The latest track serves as a teaser for the band’s upcoming new full-length.

Comments vocalist/bassist Adam Biggs, “Our newest single ‘Criminals,’ is by far one of the most aggressive tracks we’ve released in quite some time and displays the power of the new lineup at a full 10 out of 10. Lyrically, the song is a meditation on the nature of crime, punishment, and the delicate balance of power therein. So, show up for the shredding, stay for the contemplation of truth and justice. Enjoy!“

RIVERS OF NIHIL will join this year’s edition of the Chaos & Carnage Tour featuring co-headliners Carnifex and Metal Blade labelmates Cattle Decapitation with additional support provided by The Zenith Passage, Humanity’s Last Breath, Vitriol, and Face Yourself. The journey runs from April 30th through May 26th, with a handful of RIVERS OF NIHIL headlining dates mixed in. See all confirmed dates below.

RIVERS OF NIHIL w/ Cattle Decapitation, Carnifex, Humanity’s Last Breath, The Zenith Passage, Vitriol, Face Yourself:
4/28/2024 86th Street OKC – Oklahoma City, OK **
4/30/2024 Nile Theater – Mesa, AZ
5/02/2024 Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX
5/03/2024 Granada Theater – Dallas, TX
5/04/2024 Vibes Event Center – San Antonio, TX
5/06/2024 The Orpheum – Tampa, FL
5/07/2024 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA **
5/08/2024 Brooklyn Bowl – Nashville, TN
5/09/2024 The Crown – Baltimore, MD **
5/10/2024 The Brooklyn Monarch – Brooklyn, NY
5/11/2024 Reverb – Reading, PA
5/12/2024 The Palladium – Worcester, MA
5/14/2024 Sharkey’s Event Center – Liverpool, NY
5/15/2024 Preserving Underground – New Kensington, PA
5/16/2024 King Of Clubs – Columbus, OH
5/17/2024 The Crofoot – Pontiac, MI
5/18/2024 WC Social Club – West Chicago, IL
5/20/2024 The Gothic Theatre – Englewood, CO
5/22/2024 Cargo Concert Hall – Reno, NV **
5/23/2024 The UC Theatre – Berkeley, CA
5/24/2024 The Belasco – Los Angeles, CA
5/25/2024 House Of Blues – Anaheim, CA
5/26/2024 House Of Blues – Las Vegas, NV
5/28/2024 Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM **
5/29/2024 TempleLive at Wichita Scottish Rite Center – Wichita, KS **
5/30/2024 Off Broadway – St. Louis, MO **
** RIVERS OF NIHIL headlining date

RIVERS OF NIHIL have never fit neatly into a box, but with 2018’s Where Owls Know My Name, they transcended all labels applied to them. Returning in 2021 with The Work, they forged further into new territory, once again upending any expectations fans had placed on them. And now, with a new series of singles recorded in 2023 and released as singles since then – eventually appearing together on a new album – the band has once again shattered the ceiling of how far they are willing to go in search of new sonic terrain.

The band spent 2021 and 2022 burning the candle at both ends with a frenzied tour schedule including headlining runs of the US and Europe, a jaunt on the European festival circuit, and two runs in support of The Black Dahlia Murder and The Contortionist in North America. But once the latter tour wrapped up, they were short a band member.

For personal reasons, founding member and lead vocalist Jake Dieffenbach and the band went their separate ways. The split took place just three days after the recording of a live video and audio session for Audiotree‘s new From Nothing series, which was released on April 20th, 2023. And while initially the band wasn’t sure how to approach the release with the departure of a founding member and lead singer – or whether to release it at all – they decided to move forward with it to honor Dieffenbach’s contributions to the group over the years and mark the beginning of a new chapter.

In March 2023, RIVERS OF NIHIL wrapped up a recording session that saw the now four-piece band birth a considerable amount of new music featuring their previous bassist/backup vocalist Adam Biggs as the new lead vocalist/bassist. This recording session also marked the first appearance of new guitarist Andy Thomas (ex-Black Crown Initiate), whose vocals also play prominently in the music, as a member of RIVERS OF NIHIL. These new singles are the first to showcase the band’s new lineup in full-on collaboration, and demonstrate that while this is a new, brave sound with tons of potential, it also carries the band’s classic energy.

The band recently began sessions at Atrium Audio with Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland to finish recording what will end up being their fifth full-length album. Look out for that in 2025.

RIVERS OF NIHIL:
Adam Biggs – vocals, bass
Brody Uttley – guitar, keyboards
Andrew Thomas – rhythm guitar, vocals
Jared Klein – drums, vocals

https://www.facebook.com/riversofnihil
https://twitter.com/riversofnihil
https://www.instagram.com/riversofnihil
https://www.youtube.com/Riversofnihilpa

In March 2023, RIVERS OF NIHIL wrapped up a recording session that saw the now four-piece band birth a considerable amount of new music featuring their previous bassist/backup vocalist Adam Biggs as the new lead vocalist/bassist. This recording session also marked the first appearance of new guitarist Andy Thomas (ex-Black Crown Initiate), whose vocals also play prominently in the music, as a member of Rivers of Nihil. These new singles are the first to showcase the band’s new lineup in full-on collaboration, and demonstrates that while this is a new, brave sound with tons of potential, it also carries the band’s classic energy.

The second of these new singles, “Hellbirds“, is available today on all digital platforms. Check out the video for the new song, shot by David Brodsky & Allison Woest of My Good Eye Visuals, HERE!

Vocalist and bassist Adam Biggs had this to say about the latest single:
“‘Hellbirds’ is a song that was actually largely written during the sessions for The Work. We couldn’t find a place for the song on that album, but we knew it would see the light of day sometime because it’s easily one of the heaviest songs we’ve ever written, and we’ve reworked it to display the raw power of the new lineup. The lyrics are written from the perspective of someone you might consider a ‘typical’ person in this day and age; worn out, drug addicted, nihilistic and living in the wake of so many things he can’t control. It’s an anthem for people who hail from dead end towns like us.”

• Music and Lyrics by Rivers of Nihil
• Engineering, Mixing and Mastering by Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland at Atrium Audio
• Additional engineering by Brody Uttley

Watch/Listen to “Hellbirds” HERE and the first single, “The Sub-Orbital Blues” HERE.

European fans can catch Rivers of Nihil live this fall when the band hits the road with Lorna Shore, label-mates Ingested, and Distant. See dates below and get tickets HERE!

Lorna Shore’s The Pain Remains EU Tour featuring Rivers of Nihil, Ingested, and Distant
11-05 NL Den Bosch The Rock Circus
11-06 DE Hamburg Edel Optics Arena *venue upgrade
11-07 SE Gothenburg Gothenburg Studios *SOLD OUT
11-09 FI Helsinki Ice Hall *venue upgrade
11-10 FI Tampere Pakkahuone *SOLD OUT
11-12 SE Stockholm Fryshuset
11-13 DK Copenhagen Amager Bio *SOLD OUT
11-14 DE Hannover Capitol *SOLD OUT
11-16 DE Berlin Columbiahalle *venue upgrade
11-17 DE Dresden BallsportArena
11-18 PL Warsaw Progresja *SOLD OUT
11-19 CZ Prague Roxy *SOLD OUT
11-20 HU Budapest Barba Negra *SOLD OUT
11-22 AT Vienna Gasometer *venue upgrade
11-23 DE Munich Zenith *2nd venue upgrade
11-24 IT Milan Alcatraz *venue upgrade
11-25 CH Pratteln Z7 *SOLD OUT
11-26 BE Brussels AB *SOLD OUT
11-28 GB Birmingham Academy
11-29 GB Leeds Academy
11-30 GB London Forum Kentish Town *SOLD OUT
12-02 GB Manchester Academy *SOLD OUT
12-03 GB Glasgow Barrowlands *SOLD OUT
12-04 GB Cardiff Great Hall *SOLD OUT
12-06 FR Paris Bataclan *SOLD OUT
12-07 DE Wiesbaden Schlachthof *SOLD OUT
12-08 DE Oberhausen Turbinenhalle *SOLD OUT

Rivers of Nihil is:
Brody Uttley – guitars/keyboards
Adam Biggs – vocals/bass
Jared Klein – drums/vocals
Andy Thomas – guitar/vocals

About the band:
Pennsylvania progressive death metal band Rivers of Nihil has never fit neatly into a box, but with 2018’s Where Owls Know My Name, they transcended all labels applied to them. Returning in 2021 with The Work released on September 24 via Metal Blade Records, they’ve forged further into new territory, delivering an album that’s as cerebral as it is visceral, and that covers a staggering sonic range, definitively placing them in a category of their own. Inarguably a dense, heavy collection, The Work is far too dynamic to be considered a solely metal record and there is a genuine warmth that shows through, particularly tracks like “Wait” and the gorgeous “Maybe One Day.” Additionally, the band had incorporated far more clean vocals alongside the screaming that tears through many of the record’s heavier tracks. Courtesy of their friend Zach Strouse, saxophone once again adds extra layers of atmosphere to the collection, utilizing baritone, soprano, and alto saxes to great effect.

Towards the end of 2021, the Pennsylvania progressive death metalers Rivers of Nihil spent the majority of their time burning the candle at both ends with a frenzied tour schedule including headline runs of the U.S. and Europe and in support of The Contortionist in North America for a month in September/October of 2022, but once the latter tour wrapped up, they were short a band member.

For personal reasons, founding member and lead vocalist Jake Dieffenbach and the band went their separate ways. The split took place just three days after the recording of a live video and audio session for Audiotree‘s new ‘From Nothing‘ series, which was released on April 20, 2023. And while initially the band wasn’t sure how to approach the release with the departure of a founding member and lead singer – or whether to release it at all – they decided to move forward with it to honor Dieffenbach’s contributions to the group over the years and mark the beginning of a new chapter.

“Of their many accomplishments, Rivers Of Nihil’s most impressive feat is making listeners reconsider what death metal can be” – Kerrang!

“The Work is nothing less than a work of art. It’s by far the group’s most cohesive, ambitious, meditative, and varied effort, with greater uses of philosophical significance and transcendental respites.” – Metal Injection

“The Work flows beautifully… [it’s] the sound of a band in thrall to their own inspirational ideas, and with a refined grasp of the dynamics required to truly take listeners on, dare we say it, a journey.” – Blabbermouth

“With The Work, RIVERS OF NIHIL have crafted an album that is both indisputably them but also hits very differently to its predecessor, without sacrificing any quality or creativity… It’s a monument to their refusal to be pigeonholed… as well as to their relentless desire to push the envelope creatively, with the end result an album that is incredibly rewarding” – Distorted Sound

https://www.facebook.com/riversofnihil
https://www.youtube.com/Riversofnihilpa
https://www.instagram.com/riversofnihil
https://twitter.com/riversofnihil

📸: Mike Truehart

In March 2023, RIVERS OF NIHIL wrapped up a recording session that saw the now four-piece band birth a considerable amount of new music featuring their previous bassist/backup vocalist Adam Biggs as the new lead vocalist/bassist. This recording session also marked the first appearance of new guitarist Andy Thomas (ex-Black Crown Initiate), whose vocals also play prominently in the music, as a member of Rivers of Nihil. These new singles are the first to showcase the band’s new lineup in full-on collaboration, and demonstrates that while this is a new, brave sound with tons of potential, it also carries the band’s classic energy.

The first new single “The Sub-Orbital Blues” is available today on all digital platforms.

Here’s what Biggs had to say about the new song; “This song is about the dichotomy of living in a 21st century society rife with scientific and technological advancements such as artificial intelligence and ever more sophisticated space travel, while also dealing with the increasing threat of old world problems like out of control governments and the looming threat of world war.“

Check out the video for “The Sub-Orbital Blues” shot by David Brodsky & Allison Woest of My Good Eye HERE

Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland of Atrium Audio engineered, mixed and mastered the new singles, with additional engineering by guitarist Brody Uttley.

The remaining three singles from the April 2023 recording session will be released leading up to the release of the band’s next full-length studio album, which the band is eager to begin work on.

The band’s magic remains and is best experienced in a live setting that shows how musically tight and visually enthralling Rivers of Nihil truly are. See for yourself when the band hits the road with Between the Buried and Me and Thank You Scientist, kicking off tomorrow in Charleston, SC and wrapping up on July 31 in Winston-Salem, NC. All dates including some headline gigs and ticket links can be found below.

RIVERS OF NIHIL w/ Between the Buried and Me and Thank You Scientist
16-Jun – Charleston, SC – Music Farm – tickets
17-Jun – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage – tickets
18-Jun – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia – tickets
20-Jun – New York, NY – Irving Plaza – tickets
21-Jun – Albany, NY – Empire Live – tickets
22-Jun – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground – tickets *Rivers of Nihil only
23-Jun – Worcester, MA – The Palladium – tickets
24-Jun – Montreal, QC – Club Soda – tickets
25-Jun – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall – tickets
27-Jun – Millvale, PA – Mr Smalls Theatre – tickets
28-Jun – Detroit, MI – The Majestic – tickets
29-Jun – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall – tickets
30-Jun – Chicago, IL – House of Blues – tickets
01-Jul – Minneapolis, MN – The Lyric at Skyway Theatre – tickets
02-Jul – Kansas City, MO – The Truman – tickets
03-Jul – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre – tickets
05-Jul – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex – tickets
06-Jul – Billings, MT – Pub Station (Taproom) – tickets *Rivers of Nihil only
07-Jul – Calgary, AB – MacEwan Hall – tickets
08-Jul – Edmonton, AB – Union Hall – tickets
10-Jul – Vancouver, BC – The Vogue Theatre – tickets
11-Jul – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile – tickets
12-Jul – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater – tickets
13-Jul – Sacramento, CA – Ace Of Spades – tickets
14-Jul – Bakersfield, CA – 1933 – tickets *Rivers of Nihil only
15-Jul – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues – tickets
16-Jul – San Diego, CA – The Observatory – North Park – tickets
17-Jul – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theatre – tickets
19-Jul – Odessa, TX – The Ector Theatre – tickets *Rivers of Nihil only
20-Jul – San Antonio, TX – Vibes Event Center – tickets
21-Jul – Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum – tickets
22-Jul – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live – tickets
23-Jul – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues – tickets
25-Jul – St. Louis, MO – Red Flag – tickets
26-Jul – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl Nashville – tickets
28-Jul – St Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live – tickets
29-Jul – Orlando, FL – The Beacham – tickets
30-Jul – Atlanta, GA – Heaven at The Masquerade – tickets
31-Jul – Winston-Salem, NC – The Ramkat – tickets

About the band:
Pennsylvania progressive death metal band Rivers of Nihil has never fit neatly into a box, but with 2018’s Where Owls Know My Name, they transcended all labels applied to them. Returning in 2021 with The Work released on September 24 via Metal Blade Records, they’ve forged further into new territory, delivering an album that’s as cerebral as it is visceral, and that covers a staggering sonic range, definitively placing them in a category of their own. Inarguably a dense, heavy collection, The Work is far too dynamic to be considered a solely metal record and there is a genuine warmth that shows through, particularly tracks like “Wait” and the gorgeous “Maybe One Day.” Additionally, the band had incorporated far more clean vocals alongside the screaming that tears through many of the record’s heavier tracks. Courtesy of their friend Zach Strouse, saxophone once again adds extra layers of atmosphere to the collection, utilizing baritone, soprano, and alto saxes to great effect.

Towards the end of 2021, the Pennsylvania progressive death metalers Rivers of Nihil spent the majority of their time burning the candle at both ends with a frenzied tour schedule including headline runs of the U.S. and Europe and in support of The Contortionist in North America for a month in September/October of 2022, but once the latter tour wrapped up, they were short a band member.

For personal reasons, founding member and lead vocalist Jake Dieffenbach and the band went their separate ways. The split took place just three days after the recording of a live video and audio session for Audiotree’s new ‘From Nothing‘ series, which was released on April 20, 2023. And while initially the band wasn’t sure how to approach the release with the departure of a founding member and lead singer – or whether to release it at all – they decided to move forward with it to honor Dieffenbach’s contributions to the group over the years and mark the beginning of a new chapter.

Rivers of Nihil is:
Brody Uttley – guitars/keyboards
Adam Biggs – vocals/bass
Jared Klein – drums/vocals
Andy Thomas – rhythm guitar/vocals

Find Rivers of Nihil at:
https://www.facebook.com/riversofnihil
https://www.youtube.com/Riversofnihilpa
https://www.instagram.com/riversofnihil
https://twitter.com/riversofnihil
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