The Work

Description

Rivers Of Nihil from Reading, Pennsylvania, have never fit into a box, but with Where Owls Know My Name, they transcended all the labels that had been attached to them. Returning in 2021 with The Work, they ventured into new territory, delivering an album that is as cerebral as it is visceral, and that covers a staggering sonic range, definitively placing them in a category of their own. Without a doubt a very dense and heavy collection, The Work is far too dynamic to be considered a purely metal record, and there is a real warmth that comes through, especially on “Wait” and the magnificent “Maybe One Day.” The band included much more clean vocals alongside the screams that tear through most of the heavier tracks. Courtesy of their friend Zach Strouse, the saxophone once again adds extra layers of atmosphere to the collection, using baritone, soprano and alto saxophones. With the guitars and synths/keyboards recorded in Uttley’s home studio, the band then returned for the third consecutive album to Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland at Atrium Audio for the drums, vocals, bass, sax and mixing: “We’ve done so many sessions with those guys that they’ve become an extension of our band. They generally know what we like, and we always encourage them to roast us to make things better,” says guitarist Brody Uttley.