Old Composer REACTS to Rivers of Nihil Where Owls Know My Name

[@metalbladerecords]

Thanks so much for taking the time to listen to this one! The follow up record is currently in the works and we are EXTREMELY excited about the future for this band.

[@lurking162]

Hell yes!

[@polearmmonkey]

heeeeeeeelllllll yeaaaaaaaaaaaa !

[@cainamdead]

🤘🏼

[@beutochton]

Oh damn!

[@Evolvedpants]

LETS GOOOOOO! NEW ALBUM 😁🙏

[@joshuacanipe7688]

The saxophonist was a guest on several tracks on this album. Also this album was widely considered the best metal album of 2018.

[@jonathanhenderson9422]

For 2018 death metal I give the edge to Horrendous's Idol, but Where Owls Know My Name is close.

[@AlexTheDankEngine]

@@jonathanhenderson9422 2018 was just a great year for metal tbh

[@maxbarker3685]

@@AlexTheDankEngine 2021 should hopefully top it, tons of new stuff coming out this year, including a new Rivers of Nihil album :)

[@liamjoyce7774]

Only beaten by Slugdge-Eosoteric Malacology. 😉

[@fejuliano]

I sure hope they'll bring the saxophone for future albums

[@R1ckDeckard]

A little fact about Rivers Of Nihil: when I saw them live I found out thay their lead singer, the growly one, has a serious hearing disability and is mostly deaf. Yet he fronts one of the most exciting bands in modern Death Metal. Incredible

[@johnwiebe1579]

He has one of the most unique vocals in the industry too. It fits the band p e r f e c t l y and he's really nice and humble with the stage to boot.

[@swingonthespiral]

@@johnwiebe1579 His growls seem really nice and dry. I can do some more raspy Akerfeldt style stuff but it always amazes me when I hear this style I get jealous. If I try it comes out sounding very Mastodoney

[@SimonE-fr2pl]

@@johnwiebe1579 I was going to say the exact same thing. I don't know these guys and I don't really like growly vocals, but this fits perfectly with the music. What an awesome track!

[@kalebritchey5882]

He's also short

[@johnwiebe1579]

@@kalebritchey5882 incredibly short

[@trevorbook9529]

This whole album is absolutely incredible by the way. And there is saxophone all over it, not just this song!

[@RustyGonzo]

Oh yeah, without a doubt it's a masterpiece of an album overall. A lot of great music came out in 2018 (Slugdge - Esoteric Malacology & Hath's - Of Rot and Ruin come to mind), but it was easily my AOTY.

[@ryanadams9360]

The Silent Life is my favorite from the album.

[@Earthad23]

Death is real is awesome

[@thebreakfastman4638]

Subtle Change is really neat

[@brendonbalow6488]

Whole heartedly agree. Listening to the album from beginning to end is a real treat. One of the few albums where you want to listen to them in sequence

[@righteous247]

jazzcore needs to be more of a thing. I instantly fell in love with this band. too underrated

[@u.v.s.5583]

If there is one music video in the history of music to watch then it is the music video of this song.

[@grapefruitsimmons]

Fun fact: they actually didnt originally intend to have saxophone on the album. Allegedly they sent the unfinished tracks to a friend for him to listen to, but he ended up recording his sax over top and sent it back to them. They loved it so much, it became the staple of the album

[@Toxicity1987]

This is wrong. The Saxophonist Zach Strouse is himself in a Metal Band where he plays Bass, Brody Uttley met him since he helped for a recording for Zacks Band. There he learned that Zach played sax. They record the Sax Solo together over a demo of "A Silent Home", the whole band liked it so the sax became a thing for 3 other songs.

[@DubstepGuru420]

It’s so atmospheric, I feel like I was listening to a story.

[@brendonbalow6488]

All three of their albums are connected into one big story. I love it

[@unoriginal_name7091]

I had the dumbest grin on my face the whole time. So happy to see such an open-minded man dive deep.

[@jordanbenson2980]

Holy Shit! Rivers of Nihil!!! Never thought a KZbin reaction would happen for these guys. So glad you did buddy. The entire album is mind blowing.

[@devonhare2862]

More metalheads need to see this

[@trowabarton222]

This album is a masterpiece.

[@danruiz1708]

That’s the same “wait... is that a saxophone” face I made!

[@TwoandaHater]

It is a shame they don't have more tracks like this one.

[@SpielkindFR]

I play in a death metal band. What instrument do you play? The sax.

[@danruiz1708]

@@SpielkindFR haha!

[@plantdesigns7889]

You should watch the official video. Totally unexpected and kind of hilarious 😂

[@danruiz1708]

@@plantdesigns7889 will do!

[@Opranius]

"Be'lakor - The Smoke of Many Fires" - I think you might like this - it's heavy and death metal vocals but melodic as well. Very interesting band!

[@IvanIvanov-qx5oz]

Love Be'lakor! Countless Skies is my favorite track.

[@Enochulator]

Withering Strands kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJmYeKpmq6-Nlac or An Ember’s Arc kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6rYdYKMop2HfZY also good options off of Vessels.

[@hegelian27]

"The Smoke of Many Fires" is (IMO) one of the best metal songs ever written.

[@decorative295]

Second this. I can´t wait for their coming album!

[@Patrins]

@@IvanIvanov-qx5oz same!

[@davidberkowitz3363]

I've been playing Bass for 30 yrs. now. The bass player Adam Biggs is my new spirit animal. The kid is a freakin' beast!!

[@KingHeadbang]

The entire album is a master piece. When it came out I had it on repeat for weeks on end.

[@666cashley]

Was lucky to see this album performed in it's entirety with the saxophone

[@anthonybaillus6858]

You really should liste to "Subtle Changes" from Rivers of Nihil. This song just blew my mind the first time I heard it !

[@FargSchitter]

And here I thought only boiling water could harden me.

[@ScreamerProductionss]

This cracked me up.

[@tristondirks6455]

This pun has me rolling

[@robertarrowsmith781]

What an eggcelent pun.

[@kalamiki4235]

omelette du fromage

[@pantsedjuniorhayseed4816]

thanks, yolks, y'all been great!

[@herrpye]

There's 3 different singers on this one. The intro is a guest singer. The bass player does the main clean singing for the band normally, he's on harmonies, but he also does some screaming(the higher gnarly stuff). The main screamer does that exclusively. Great pick!

[@lordiblees]

Absolutely masterfully written song. Just genius. And the video is a vibe

[@ShenLung13]

The Contortionist - Language I and II The Contortionist - Primordial Sound

[@ragingstorm79]

There's not a sax player in the band but they did have a friend join them for this particular album, which has loads of tasteful sax features

[@VincentV83]

У самого мурашки по коже от этой песни!

[@chillyeah]

This song so quickly slipped into my top 5 fav songs of all time the first time I heard it. Gorgeous peice of music

[@lucacox3589]

Leprous- slave live, is quite the sonic journey

[@hroj]

or contaminate me for some sick 11 and 9 feels

[@Elbonics]

I second any and all Leprous

[@ryanadams9360]

Leprous live is spot-on.

[@Rusted_Empire]

Yes!!!

[@CatalystOfFire]

Not any and all Leprous, but yes. Leprous.

[@nathanzzx]

Man, this channel is so good. We can see that you're having fun while discovering some of our favourite metal. And you do this while educating us on music. Cheers from Brasil

[@alispie]

YEEEEESSSSS. I'll watch every reaction to this lol.

[@jen.g.]

This album, along with Zeal & Ardor’s “Stranger Fruit”, were tied for my favorite albums of 2018. So great.

[@jrbaconcheez]

Absolute masterpiece. I've heard this song at least 50x and my brain still isn't quite used to whats going on here.

[@gtrlvl3742]

1st time listening to Rivers of Nihil, but OMG, what a beaaautiful surprise!

[@KyeASPIRE]

I really enjoy your reactions mate. Keep em coming. Big love from Australia

[@TrappedByCats]

I'm so glad you reacted to this song, this band is incredible. The lyrics of this song in particular are very well written, definitely worth reading along during one of your re-listens.

[@oregonwoodelf]

This whole album is incredible. One of the best and most creative prog/death metal albums to come out in a long while. You gotta check out Hessian Peel by Opeth! The song goes so many places and is just immaculately produced. I'd love to hear your take on it. It's a legit masterpiece! 🤘

[@rileygraham4484]

This song always gives me goosebumps man. That sax solo is something else. Awesome reaction and insight. I dig ur channel

[@joshrowell8375]

Think you'd really like obscura. I would check out their song akroasis.

[@noahhonkanen2090]

Definitely Akroasis. Still the only obscura song I’m crazy about. There’s so much to enjoy about it, especially in terms of production.

[@dankmeme5196]

yeah or septuagint , what a tune

[@jeffersonaraujo7591]

The production and arrangements of Obscura is absolutely amazing. He would love it. Weltseele would be a great song.

[@sdkmains]

@@noahhonkanen2090 sermon of the seven sons, with the fretless bass and guitar solos, that song is a masterpiece

[@TheApothecaryAus]

May as well consider Necrophagist while we're there!

[@josifaesatru3618]

Sending east coast Aloha! I was fortunate enough to see these guys live and they are no joke. Genuinely impressive band!

[@FicoosBangaly]

I think that 50% of the fun of this channel is sifting through the comments for music recommendations

[@CamelliaFlingert]

indeed

[@gibreel461]

Commented before as a Tool fan, this was a band that had passed me by, thanks for the introduction....my reaction was the same as yours, incredible track. Thank you

[@omegawolfd]

Nice! you should do "The Silent life" next Great band!

[@lucacox3589]

Yeah life is my favourite RON song

[@talivaldisozols1649]

My favorite by far! It evokes a very specific emotion you don’t often get from metal songs.

[@petergjata1498]

Yeah, and also Subtle Change

[@joshuapatton8323]

I'd also add in that it would be beneficial to listen to Cancer / Moonspeak along with Silent Life, since C/M is kinda an intro to the song. It also adds a lot dynamically.

[@petergjata1498]

@@joshuapatton8323 Yeah agree

[@vedchandola9666]

6:27 "the doodies of the bass"

[@slantz49]

BLACK CROWN INITATE.. THE GREATEST MISTAKE ...PLEASE ..Kind of an obscure band ..the drummer on this track is JESSE BEAHLER...amazing heel technique on the double bass .

[@davidvarnado5155]

The clean vocals on this Rivers of Nihil album were from Andy Thomas of BCI. They're both from Reading, PA.

[@slantz49]

@@davidvarnado5155 I had no idea ...maybe that is why I like them both so much ..thanks for the information.

[@eastade]

It's a great reaction for a truly great band. You hit the nail on the head for how I describe most music I like: It's not what you say, it's how you say it. Meaning just like you said, just because you can shred a guitar, doesn't mean there isn't room for simplicity and effectiveness. Keep the reactions coming! Since you got to The Contortionist, I highly recommend Morning Song by King Buffalo, and Higher by Sleep Token.

[@righteous247]

instantly fell in love with this band. the bass note in this brings tears and eargasms my way

[@b03y]

I've seen these guys about four times. Great group of guys and so much talent!

[@-scorpionox-]

I get to see them live for the first time at the end of May and I'm so excited. Great breakdown!

[@liliIiliIilil]

I watched an interview where the lead songwriter (Brody Uttley) said that he wanted to throw in a little bit of prog rock/psychedelic influence when he was writing this album in particular and you can really hear it. He said that he was listening to a lot of his father's music at that time. He did a good job, too.

[@wesleytrott6397]

The look on his face when the sax enters is so good! A genuine "wait, what?" moment. Great song!

[@the1andonlySherlock]

Great video as usual. I'd love to see you break down 2 songs: The Art Of Dying by Gojira, and Earthborn Evolution by Beyond Creation.

[@yotambraunshtein9786]

+1 for gojira

[@dclarkmusic]

+1 for gojira

[@Lloocii]

Both great suggestions

[@simonthibault365]

Hell yeah Beyond Creation !

[@Metalton95]

+1 for Beyond Creation. Fundamental Process (their best), CoExistence, The Aura or Algorythm would be great picks to start on, too!

[@idratherstayanonimous7020]

I love how passionate he seems to be about music. I'm really hopeful i don't lose my edge as i grow older.

[@godinho.kidjoe]

BRAZIL HERE! Leprous - Castway Angels / Steven Wilson - Routine ( the most sad song i ever hear in my life ) Keep Going ! Love you ! S2

[@dclarkmusic]

Not the world’s biggest Wilson fan, but Routine is gorgeous! The guitar on the “don’t ever let go, try to let go” part is one of the most beautiful chord progressions I’ve ever heard.

[@dlxfuentes]

Backing Routine. I'd suggest watching the music video with it, it really adds to it

[@progperljungman8218]

@@dlxfuentes True One more backing up here!

[@LeoGreca]

Brazilian here too! Went to the Steven Wilson gig in London 2015, Routine made me shed a few tears...

[@kevinlopez2284]

More Gojira please! And more Devin Townsend as well! Recommended from Devin: Deadhead (also: Funeral, Bastard, & Death of Music) live at Royal Albert Hall, Higher live at Plovdiv ...How about more Dream Theater too? They have many many insane songs with instrumental virtuosity, Also: Liquid Tension Experiment's version of Rhapsody in Blue (members are from Dream Theater)

[@keluargabuleminang]

"Funeral, Bastard and Death of Music" it's gonna be a loooooong reaction video!

[@Sevndedlysins]

They did a song together! Check out Gojira - of blood and salt

[@blakeu8547]

He did deadhead at royal albert hall already!

[@seanlynar8477]

You are covering all of my favorite songs!!! Finding lots of new music through you also - never heard Opeth harlequin forest and now I can't stop listening to it. Thanks man.

[@ilyakern5877]

You will absolutely love the song 'Cockroach King' by the prog metal band Haken!

[@ryans8907]

If you do another rivers song, you have GOT TO do subtle change (including the forest of transition and the dissatisfaction dance). So beautifully composed and is the definition of how a song can take you on a journey.

[@crumpaliens6024]

Yes!! Definitely my favorite song on the album. Then Hollow followed by The Silent Life. The saxophone just grabs me.

[@bradonanderson7836]

Just stumbled onto your page today. Love what I'm seeing so far! Love that there are bands I've been enjoying for a while now. Hope all these awesome tracks are turning you into a metal head!

[@jctheii]

Liked before even watching , this’ll be great😁

[@trevorbook9529]

Would highly recommend checking out the music video for this one too if you get a chance! One of my absolute favorites

[@MrsBifflechips]

The band obviously, and rightly, had a lot of fun making that music video.

[@muaddib4329]

man I've listened to this record many many times and you're pointing out things I hadn't noticed. Thankful people with your skills and knowledge are out here making me a better, more active listener. Best subscription I've made this year.

[@complexdevice]

Stoked that you're covering this band. You've been knocking these picks out of the park!

[@Joolz2000]

I just came on to KZbin after hearing this band and this track for this first time ever. I was totally enthralled when I heard it. I needed to know if it was as surprisingly brilliant and as brilliantly surprising as I thought it was. Thanks for the expert and informed opinion in confirming what I thought and hoped was the case. Incredible track and thank you so much for your informed and expert analysis - As you mention at the end, we all need to hear more and more of these guys

[@henrilopes7337]

This is where I come to check out great new music, thanks brother!!!

[@alexfrank6534]

We need another visit into this great band

[@Widdly_Wah]

These dudes are from my hometown of Reading Pennsylvania. Fuck yeah

[@decepticreeperscustoms8274]

Fellow Reading area native reporting! Born and raised in Mohnton area.

[@Widdly_Wah]

@@decepticreeperscustoms8274. FUCK YEAH!

[@wj4537]

Buckethead!!!!

[@MusiCaninesTheMusicalDogs]

I don't think these guys will ever be able to write such a great tune as this one again!

[@syndicated85]

I heard this song in a Twitch stream, where a young woman was doing a drum cover live. Fell in love with song immediately and so it happens that it became my most listened tune for the year 2020 according to Spotify. If there is still a thing called "festivals" I am going to see them live next summer in Brutal Assault metal festival on Czech Republic. Awesome reaction video, had to tip a fiver for coffee ;)

[@rhaibi12]

This album is an absolute masterpiece from start to finish.

[@seanneil794]

I was just about to suggest this, the I saw the video! Haha! Great reaction video!

[@rwjedi7981]

This is the first time I've watched a reaction video and DIDN'T get the impression that the person reacting was already familiar with the subject matter. Awesome content, man. You have my subscription.

[@Aroniyun]

I'm glad you have seen this. Seeing more recent videos I had hoped.

[@pyroland1431]

Please do Mastodon - The czar

[@jonkwape3097]

Yes!

[@Softurt6843]

Agreed!

[@Miller_Time]

He did steambreather if you haven't seen it

[@pyroland1431]

@@Miller_Time i have :)

[@TheJaketyler93]

Saw these guys live in October 2019, they played the hell out of this song and their stage presence was so good

[@TheOrthoglyph]

This album is absolutely amazing.

[@meshuggah24]

I litterally just listened to this song randomly on my playlist today.

[@anksos]

Leprous - slave Death - voice of the soul and spirit crusher Opeth - ghost of perdition Riverside - the depth of self-delusion Please trust me, they will blow your head

[@jakeybball]

Edge of Sanity - Crimson parts 3-5. Swano must always be a prerequisite before Akerfeldt.

[@mikehannigan848]

How you gonna Bring up Opeth without bringing up patterns in the IVY 1+2

[@xBlueAutumnx]

Def Voice of the Soul ... Really anything from The Sound of Perseverance.

[@pukumusic]

Yes. Leprous and opeth. And Mastodon and death and Riverside

[@pukumusic]

@@jakeybball dan swano it's a total genius

[@deathcomesriffing]

How can you not love this guy?

[@sentenced03]

king crimson was a huge influence in their music. this album was a departure of sound for them as their previous 2 albums were pretty much straight forward death metal. they killed it with this release.

[@oleksandrmaliarenko824]

Really cool to see a genuine reaction of a pasionate man, you not overreact and that's superb.

[@SpielkindFR]

I've been listening to rivers of nhil since their first record. And this particular track was the first time I ever heard them use the sax. They just did it, low key and everything and I was mind blown.

[@manoflego123]

I found this song right after it came out when a metal head friend posted it on Facebook talking about the sax solo and I fell in love immediately. I almost missed the saxophone the first time because it's so well integrated.

[@Lloocii]

Another killer suggestion and you nailed the analysis too. Creative, layered, dynamic, the dissonance, the list goes on. One of the best.

[@SpiderJerusalemJr]

Amazing video as always! Some suggestions: Unexpect - The Quantum Symphony Between the Buried and Me - Extremophile Elite Mastodon - The Motherload Beyond Creation - Omnipresent Perception Maybe I'll be one of those people persistent enough to have all my wishes granted! :D

[@MarshTheDarsh]

Good gravy, I've been hoping for this one!!!

[@keaganjohnstone9063]

Seen them live. super nice guys and they play extremely tight live

[@alexfrank6534]

So stoked!! I was begging and begging but you grew so fast and I know you are swamped! Glad you got to this! Thank you 🙏 😀

[@KeyOfGeebz]

Yep, it was you - I just had to because you hung around :)

[@alexfrank6534]

Well thank you again man! Really made me happy as hell! I’m also super happy you enjoyed them.

[@chucktaylor6939]

So glad you picked up on the sick bass on this song and shouted it out.

[@richardburgess7198]

I got this the day it came out and became insanely obsessed.

[@Aetheretic]

I'm really loving experiencing music with you man, even if it's songs I've already heard before hahah! I love your energy and I love the looks you give when something in the music makes you feel something, or you hear something unexpected or something beautiful that catches you off surprise. It's really a trip. I think I subbed to you 2 weeks or so ago when I saw one of your videos pop up on my feed (thank you KZbin algorithm), and I've been loving listening to music with you. The insight you give is really cool, and although I know a lot about music myself and know a lot about what you talk about , I'm not a producer by any means, and that stuff that you point out is very interesting to me. Anyway, I watched your reaction to your newest reaction to Opeth - Isolation Years when I woke up today, and I'm stoked your listening to them, they're my absolute favorite band, so it's fun watching you dissect them. I should probably comment on that video, but this song (great band by the way, and the rest of the album is killer too), made me think about a couple other Opeth songs you definitely need to check out! The song Deliverance from the album Deliverance, and The Moor from the album Still Life. Speaking of Still Life, Serenity Painted Death would be great too actually, it has an absolutely beautiful guitar solos near the end of it that's one of my favorites of all time, or even Moonlapse Vertigo would be a great one too. It would absolutely make my day if you reacted to a couple of those songs. I hope you see this comment, and cheers from Canada Eh! Hahaha Keep em' coming man!

[@jorgeriveramarin891]

This band rules, man. I'm glad you took the time to offer your expertise as to why! It was a very enlightening video about a truly great album!

[@Luemm3l]

where owls know my name is a really great example of how to interweave progressive bits with some exotic instrumentation and progressive song structures. The predecessor "Monarchy" was a lot more straight, but had also some really great melodies as well. I recommend either Circles in the Sky or Sand Baptism.

[@christianlefler9260]

Beautiful song

[@vinman109]

This album is a masterpiece in many ways. Excellent video by Geebz, as usual! Keep it up good sir!

[@kurtstevenson6288]

I watched this video a few days ago but had to come back today because of your reaction at 11:18. That's what it's all about.

[@aaronaustin7760]

Never heard of this band, but I'm loving it. Thank you!

[@LuStrangerIV]

It's been stated Several times already, but the Entire Album as a Complete Work is Brilliant.

[@dokidokideathproof]

The entire album flows so well, there are certain melodic phrases throughout its entirety as it's a concept album of an immortal man on earth who has out lived everyone. You gotta listen to it from beginning to end brother.

[@mebbin]

Great band. Their song "A Home" is another good one to consider. Also, The Unimaginable Zero Summer by Wilderun is my recommendation. Theater metal for the mind. Cheers Geebz!

[@nicholasbrassard3512]

Holy crap, how have i not heard this before? This is sweet! Ty :D

[@Nephzi]

Got to see them with Ne Obliviscaris and Caligula's Horse when they came to Australia was such a great concert and cheap as hell for the quality of bands on the lineup

[@tannerbundy1204]

That must have been incredible!

[@DennisJ55]

Geebz you should react to some Camel songs. Imo they are one of the most underrated prog rock bands of all time. Lady Fantasy and Nimrodel are masterpieces. They are from the same album (Mirage 1974) and it's without a doubt one of the best albums in this genre. Criminally underrated when you consider how much more famous King Crimson is and they are both from the 70s.

[@francescodedominicis5559]

Up up up!!!

[@NewGoldenAgeOfTerra]

Yes, big former Camel fan here. "Former" only in the sense that I was once fairly obsessed with their music but they stopped generating new stuff, other bands came along, and also my taste has changed a bit in the intervening years, but I still appreciate them. Good music remains good forever.

100% agreed

[@zoso219]

Camel is tied with Yes for me as far as top Prog Rock goes

[@patriciapandacoon7162]

I literally JUST last night dropped a comment on your "taking a break" vid asking you to do this, I feel so stupid for not seeing this before. I haven't even started the video and I'm so hype to see how you react to this lol