RIVERS OF NIHIL - Where Owls Know My Name · CAPRICORN MARBLED 2LP

Clear/green "Capricorn" marbled double vinyl in gatefold sleeve.

More about 'Where Owls Know My Name'

Rivers of Nihil's 'Where Owls Know My Name' is a really impressive piece of progressive death metal that goes way beyond the usual genre stuff. Metal Blade Records put out something special here - the technical skills are incredible, but there's also real depth in the songwriting that makes it worth multiple listens. The guitar work is intricate without being show-offy, and the rhythms are complex enough to keep you engaged. What's cool is how they manage to switch between brutal, heavy sections and more melodic passages without it feeling forced. Each track feels carefully constructed, exploring existential themes and introspection - pretty heavy subject matter that actually works.

Production-wise, this thing sounds fantastic. You can feel the raw energy, but they've also captured these haunting atmospheres that give the album its character. Tracks like "The Silent Life" and the title track "Where Owls Know My Name" are definite standouts - and here's where it gets interesting: they've incorporated saxophone into the mix. Sounds weird for death metal, right? But somehow it totally works and adds this unique layer to their sound. This record shows that Rivers of Nihil aren't just skilled musicians, but they're also willing to take risks. In today's metal scene, that kind of boldness really makes a statement.

For Fans of: Opeth, Ne Obliviscaris, Gorguts, Blood Incantation, Ulcerate

Track listing

LP 1:
A1. Cancer/Moonspeak
A2. The Silent Life
A3. A Home
B1. Old Nothing
B2. Subtle Change (Including The Forest Of Transition And Dissatisfaction Dance)

LP 2:
C1. Terrestria III: Wither
C2. Hollow
C3. Death Is Real
D1. Where Owls Know My Name
D2. Capricorn/Agoratopia

Manufacturer: Metal Blade Records GmbH, Friedrichstr. 38, 73033 Göppingen, Germany, Contact: www.metalblade.com