For us at Metal Mashup it is simply not enough to state that ‘Where Owls Know My Name’ is our pick for the best album of 2018. Following us in to the new year, we are still hooked on this record. Despite many albums from a diverse pool of artists coming across our monitors, it is a welcome fact that we are constantly drawn to the unique flavors that this album offers.
Proving that they have what it takes to stand with the giants of the genre with their 2015 album, Rivers of Nihil take the ultra-ambient and progressive characteristics from ‘Monarchy’ and develop their sound to the point of near perfection. Releasing a more mature and nuanced album, aside from the expert implementation of the new additions to the band’s sound, the biggest take away from ‘Where the Owls Know My Name’ is the sheer spectrum of emotion present in the sound.
Noticeable right from the off, the first track from the album provides an atmospheric prelude that effectively sets the sonic disposition of the entire album. Opening with a pronounced reservation to their sound, the band combine retro synths with thought provoking cleans to offer a dark and almost blackened backdrop to the record. Bleeding seamlessly into crushing intensity of ‘The Silent Life’, the second track of the album begins with a sound reminiscent of ‘Monarchy’ with finely tuned guitars sitting above blackened blasts all interlinked by a bassline that dances around the chords, yet even as the song transitions between movements it is clear that there is something more going on. Creating a powerful crescendo right in the middle of ‘The Silent Life’, the riff-heavy complexity dissipates to expose the listener to the layer of sound that was hiding just out of comprehension. The saxophone.
Emerging from the mix to combine with the guitars in order to create grand narratives within each track, the cordiality and sparkle of the saxophone defies what you may think and creates no mismatch or discord within the tracks. Adding a delectable richness throughout the album, it’s important to note that the addition of the sax is not to the detriment of the album’s ‘heaviness’ but rather bears testament to the band’s exemplary songwriting capabilities.
Adding a technical ability only thought possible though the use of Pro Tools samples, on an instrumental level the band offer a veritable section of auditory delights, with each track offering a bespoke arrangement of melody and ferocity. Dancing around this balance, one of the more astounding aspects of this album is the ability of the band to convincingly dip into a variety of differing styles of metal. From the wide enriched chords of the black metal riffs present on ‘The Silent Life’ to the extreme metal intensity of ‘Old Nothing’ to the prog fueled masterclass that is ‘Subtle Change’, to the somber intrigue of the acoustic passages, every second of ‘Where Owls Know My Name’ is just dripping with technical prowess. Providing the perfect counter to the thunderous yet well elocuted gutturals, even the cleans, often singled out as one of the weaker aspects of modern releases, are phenomenal in their delivery.
With ‘Where Owls Know My Name’, Rivers of Nihil break free from any self-imposed confines of genre and instead of being trapped by the musical principles of tech-death or fan expectation, the band not only expand the genre, but redefine it.
A Review By Matthew Young