Rivers of Nihil

Rivers of Nihil

Rivers of Nihil are a death metal band from Reading, Pennsylvania, in the United States. They form in 2009 and remain active, working within death metal, progressive metal, and technical death metal. The group signs to Metal Blade Records.

Formation and early line-up

The band begins with Jake Dieffenbach on vocals, Ron Nelson on drums, and Jon Kunz on guitars, who come together after the end of their previous band with the aim of pushing death metal beyond its usual boundaries. They first perform as a trio, then add Adam Biggs on bass and vocals and Brody Uttley on guitars, both of whom have recently left another band of their own. The later listed members also include Jared Klein, Jonathan Topore, and Dylan Potts.

Early releases and touring

Rivers of Nihil self-release two EPs: Hierarchy in 2010 and Temporality Unbound in 2011. They tour extensively in the United States, with shows across the East Coast and Midwest, including appearances at Midwest Fuckfest alongside Dying Fetus, Misery Index, and Arsis, and at Akron Deathfest with Complete Failure. During this period they also share stages with Suffocation, The Faceless, Despised Icon, Revocation, Beneath the Massacre, Dysrhythmia, Decapitated, Six Feet Under, and Decrepit Birth.

Metal Blade Records and studio work

In 2012 the band begins discussions with Metal Blade Records and signs to the label in September. The following year they enter MANA Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida, with Erik Rutan, known for work with Hate Eternal and as a former member of Morbid Angel, to record their first full-length album.