bonobo_cousin

The album is well-produced and an enjoyable listen, but doesn't really push any boundaries. It fits in neatly with what I've been calling the "popcore wave". There is some nice variety on the album as it bounces between the heavier djent-influenced syncopation and the more pop-influenced chord progressjons and vocal style. Nothing to scoff at, but I don't see this album's influence echoing into the future.

At this point, it's safe to say that this is my metal album of the year for 2025. This is the first record in a long time that has kept drawing me back for repeat listens. It reminds me of how I felt back before streaming platforms, when I would loop one CD that I loved in my walkman and learn and appreciate every detail of that album.

Rivers of Nihil's self titled album is poignant, timely, aggressive, elegant, and captivating. There is so much variety on this record, and yet it ... read more

Not a bad album, but it's hard not to compare it to the band's previous discography. The Cradle lacks the anthemic and hard hitting lyrics that gave Kingmaker their appeal. The lyrical callbacks on The Cradle to Kingmaker's previous releases were fun Easter eggs to discover. The lyrics have some nice moments, which include literary references: "do not stand at his grave and weep" in My Savior.

The new tracks on this album are mostly indistingiishable, even if there are ... read more

A massive outpouring of hatred and anger, this record is filled to the brim with gut punching sludgy riffs, incoherent howls of agony, and haunting textural elements that add depth to the hypnotic onslaught of aggression. The noisy transitions between many of the tracks bring an increased layer of friction that further establishes the grittiness of Primitive Man's message of disgust for our modern world. "Social Contract" is the clear stand-out track.