Upon initial listening, Rivers of Nihil’s second full length release, Monarchy, is a powerfully miserable record. If you can envisage a depressingly heavy version of Gojira, with furious technicality and oodles of dominant blast beats, then you pretty much have Monarchy in its entirety.
The influence of previous tour mates Whitechapel and Dying Fetus is strong throughout the album, with vocalist Jake Dieffenbach adopting powerful low, Philip Bozeman style vocals at points. However, despite the albums strong sinister and death metal vibes, the influence of more innovative styles such as Devin Townsend and Strapping Young Lad on their more experimental tracks such as Suntold and Terrstriall II: Thrive is very much present.
Several tracks throughout Monarchy are packed full of so much atmosphere they could easily be mistaken for belonging on a horror soundtrack. Opening number Heirless for example is one crushing, Conan-esque instrumental number with a heavy death doom focus. Another atmospheric number on the album is Ancestral I. With its intense, explosive opening and some impressively furious fretwork throughout, it’s clear that every member of Rivers of Nihil is an exceptional musician who has worked remarkably hard on this mammoth, gloomy number.
As well as masses of atmosphere to it, Monarchy is a technical tour de force throughout. Second track Perpetual Growth Machine is a commanding track, with insane blast beats and some mightily mechanical solos in there for good measure. Following song Reign of Dreams is also a technical delight, combining both aggressive death metal with an innovative and almost hardcore-esque twist to create a truly explosive and captivating track. Instrumental number Monarchy is also a very Whitechapel inspired speedy little song, with a pleasant underlying groove to it that lulls the listener into a false sense of security before whipping up a speeding frenzy towards the end.
Monarchy is a beautifully disturbing and hostile listen from start to finish. Despite this however, Rivers of Nihil could do with injecting some more infectious riffs and catchy grooves into a song or two to take this confident album up a peg or two. Lack of groove aside, this is a very forceful and wickedly entertaining listen. Rivers of Nihil have succeeded in creating a very uniquely extreme sound by combining good old rackety death metal with a refreshingly modern twist. Monarchy is guaranteed to be like nothing else you will listen to this year. 10/10 for effort and originality on this one.
(7/10 Eilish Foxen)
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