Open Web Player
The much-hyped new Rivers of Nihil has been released and after spending some time with it, here's the heart of the matter. It's pretty darn awesome. I've gone back and listened to their prior two albums and the biggest thing I take away from the new as compared to the old is that Rivers have stepped up their songwriting game considerably. After a spin or two, the songs on Where Owls Know My Name just stay with you, while the prior two albums start to lose your attention after a while. I like that they have scaled back some of the look-at-me technicality in favor of good songcraft a LOT. The progressive nature of these songs isn't immediately apparent because of how all of the parts easily flow together and come back to solid hooks, but progressive it is, drawing some Pink Floyd and King Crimson influence into their extended-range modern metal approach.
All of the elements that people like about Rivers of Nihil are still there, too, but, for example when Rivers turns the crush on or has a sweet guitar solo, it has even more impact than before. The "outside" elements of saxophone solos, keyboards, clean singing are not shocking or out of place in their music, either, giving this music good repeat listening value.
The only beefs I see online are "production values" and "riffs." If I had any beef at all it would be the production/mix/master. It's not BAD, it's more or less your standard modern metal mix and master, squished quite a bit, loud but not exceptionally so. It works, but the case could and should be made that if they dialed back the mix and master and allowed the music to breathe just a little bit more the album would have even more impact than it does. But again, it isn't BAD and for a modern mix/master it has not given me any headaches or ear fatigue and you can hear most of what's going on. As for the "riffs," some detractors out there are saying that there isn't a lot going on with guitar riffs but I disagree. The riffs are FINE and as I hear it are the end result of a band holding themselves back in order to provide the listener with better, more far reaching SONGS. And they succeeded! Thank you Rivers of Nihil!
Frequently bought together
$20.57
Get it May 30 - Jun 14
Only 4 left in stock - order soon.
+
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Similar items that may deliver to you quickly
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
From the manufacturer
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2018
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2019
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2019
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2019
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2018
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2019
Top reviews from other countries
Actually Not at all. I have ordered it twice now. The first time I received the Logan movie soundtrack. And the second time was the pet shop boys. Highly unprofessional. Not once but twice. Most likely will quit ordering from you. This is actually the 3rd time overall I received the wrong item.
Vinyl
Reviewed in Canada on December 27, 2023
xplanet2112
Just the best Deathprog album in recent years
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 4, 2021
Dark Groove
Excelente, de lo mejor del año en death metal
Reviewed in Mexico on January 25, 2019
