Rivers of Nihil - American Death (Official Video)

“‘American Death’ is a title that we’ve been throwing around and printing on our T-shirts since 2013. We figured it was finally time to write a song with that title, and given the subject matter of the lyrics, it would only make sense for this song to be a true ass beater. It’s definitely the most true form ‘heavy’ song of these singles, so we are very much looking forward to playing it live.” - Brody Uttley

Sixteen years and five albums into the Pennsylvania band’s career, RIVERS OF NIHIL is upping the ante with "Rivers Of Nihil." Traditionally, a self-titled record can signal a return to basics and/or a fresh beginning, and in ten powerful songs, it’s clear that both those factors are in play. Founding bassist Adam Biggs became the band’s new lead vocalist/bassist in 2023; the same year marked the appearance of additional guitarist Andy Thomas (ex-Black Crown Initiate), whose vocals also play prominently on Rivers Of Nihil. Producers Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland at Atrium Audio captured the new dynamics across more than fifty minutes of music.

Rivers Of Nihil also showcases additional musicians, including Patrick Corona on alto saxophone, Stephan Lopez on banjo, McFarland on cello, and a slate of other guest vocalists. Despite the fresh approach on Rivers Of Nihil however, the album still fits neatly into the band’s discography. With Where Owls Know My Name (2018), RIVERS OF NIHIL transcended all labels applied to them, and with its 2021 follow-up, The Work, they forged further into new territory with Metal Injection calling the latter album “the group’s most cohesive, ambitious, meditative, and varied effort, with greater uses of philosophical significance and transcendental respites.”

RIVERS OF NIHIL is:
Adam Biggs: Vocals, Bass
Brody Uttley: Guitar
Jared Klein: Vocals, Drums
Andy Thomas: Vocals, Guitar

Directed by: Matthew Marcellus

Produced by: Three Hive Studios
Subscribe: @threehive

Cinematography & Editing by:
Rich Abraham

Lighting Director:
Matthew Marcellus

Special FX:
Adam Serrano

Location: Three Hive Studios

[metalbladerecords]

American Death
Music: Uttley
Lyrics: Biggs

My Currency is bloodshed
Wild West alive and well
Down the falling axes
Send the enemy straight to hell
Heaven mandate reign supreme
Adrenochrome American dream
Fucking pigs won’t waste themselves
They learn the cost of being free
The side you love/the one you hated
Surveillance State incorporated
If it’s the end of my empire
I wanna be the last survivor

Do you care where you go when you die?
Tried to tell you
Death: American as apple pie
Another tragedy I forgot
A Bridge to sell you
While we dance in the total system rot

I can’t believe anything you say
Since the last revolution that you tried to fake
Who’s right? What’s left? American death

(solo: Uttley)

So when they come to claim
The day the bill comes due
With righteous foreign hate
Sum of all your fear come true
Fulfilling history prophesied
And when he plunge my chest with his knife
I’ll look that dirty bastard dead in his eye
And say I had a fuckin beautiful life

I can’t believe anything you say
Since the last revolution that you tried to fake
Who’s right? What’s left? American death

Don’t believe a word you say
Do you think you’re better than me?
I’m Kaczynski, Capone and Kennedy
I’m the goddamn American dream

Who is right?
And what is left?
There’s only American death
Just another American death

(solo: Uttley)

I can’t believe anything you say
(I got a fuckin bridge to sell ya)
Since the last revolution that you tried to fake
Who’s right? What’s left? American death
Just another American death

[dandymoesen]

This band is becoming one of my favorites

[SantiagoKodela]

Saw them in live last week...mind-blowing

[metalomana]

I am a simple woman: I see Rivers of Nihil and automatically love it. ♡

[Nick-Foster]

God I fucking love Biggs on vocals. He’s a beast.

[corvid_k]

God damn am I happy that this band is still going. Was worried that they would fade away after Jake's unfortunate departure. But nahh, they're keeping this shit alive and well and Andy's voice adds even more to it now. Hell yeah!

[Ngrdr]

One of the very rare but very welcome and good recommendations from YouTube.

[MikeEnx]

I just bought tickets to see RoN live next week. And 5 mins after they release this! Maaaan it's gonna be a brutal show!!

[ronaldsexton]

They are off the fukn chart right now! Maturity and pure talent have come together for them. Greatly enjoyed watching their growth over the past 5 years. 🤘

Love it when the setup for the breakdown happens. The shift in feel, the drop out in sound all clear signals that something is about to pop the fuck off. And then it does. Loving this recalibrated version of the band
.

[manoflego]

I am absolutely psyched for this album

[mguardianofmetalm]

Glad to see theyre keeping the black shirts and camo alive in Death Metal

[kramersurfer]

still cant stop listening to this, ,that chorus is amazing.

[BoneMachineMUC]

Most anticipated album of the year, 100%

[johndonaldson]

One of the most incredible and talented bands in music. Will always love them.

[konradbott]

I love how the first grooving major-key vocals come in at 2:00 get sucked into the eerie minor-maelstrom of 2:22 . It`s the tension and contrasts that makes it interesting and intense :)

[sunshinesummits]

I love this!! Poetry at its finest. A radical song about the screwed up society of America. Thankyou!!!

[OurCelestialAnatomy]

You know is its going to be a good day when Rivers drops a new track🤘

[ethanlee]

For a song now that spawned from a title 12 years ago, this hits like 12 arsenals worth of American artillery to my eardrums. And goddamn if it isnt amazing.

[BearInThaWoods]

Song feels like it's straight out of mid 2000's metalcore. Not a bad thing at all, good earworm of a chorus and the second solo delivered. Definitely a song I wouldn't skip.