If we were to consider newer bands that have come around since after the turn of the century, the very name of Rivers of Nihil is appropriately one that causes a good deal of a stir across virtually every corner of modern fans. Without exception, this band has been an absolute marvel to behold ever since their debut with each ensuing album having its own identity and sound to the point where this band has quickly become one of the most moving acts that have only recently come to our ears, and it’s never really felt like the band has ever been content to stay in the same territory for long. In no scenario is that any more true than with their brand new album.

It was without question with their last record, “Where Owls Know My Name”, that we all got a massive slab of change for a band that was very much a face of death metal for its few two albums, and while that was still very much the case, a shift had occurred that many of us agreed we could enjoy just as much if not more. A much more diverse sound and unique approach to death metal that we rarely get to see if ever, that initial transition pales in comparison to how much they really took things to another level with “The Work”. Quite literally everything about this record feels as though it comes out of left field from the clean vocals to the very approach that Rivers of Nihil took when carefully crafting this album, and I cannot express enough just how much it paid off to create a record that’s going to effortlessly stand as one of the most compelling, unique, and undeniably beautiful works of death metal that we’re going to get this year. So much of this record grinds against so much of what death metal has always laid forth to the point where it’s even now a stretch to call this any form of death metal to begin with even if it still very much has its due time within “The Work”, but much like a friend of the band described it there’s very little that can accurately describe this grand opus as a “sound world” for it’s a true menagerie of aural harmony the likes of which we only get one the rarest of occasions.

Words can only aptly describe the true glory of this album for so long before I begin to tread over the same ground and risk downplaying everything that’s brought forth here accidentally, and that’s nigh on perfect for what Rivers of Nihil has become: a real entity that defies conventional explanations for metal. There is very little that can compare to the grand work that is “The Work” and all that it accomplishes right from the very beginning, and I think it’s more than safe to say that we have gotten one of the biggest records that this year will throw our way.

LISTEN to “The Work” via multiple sources here.

LIKE Rivers of Nihil on Facebook here.