An Episode that Ties Itself Together
The title will make sense as you listen. Oh, and what you get by listening are not only reviews of four sizable releases, but a live review and preview of a live review you will get in 452. Yeah…this one is loaded to the brim, so get going…
Also, as you know, live music is starting to happen, but is off to a rocky (re)start. Do you want to help support the touring and venue crews who are first getting back to work? Go to THIS PAGE to find out how you can help this podcast contribute to Crew Nation and make us review whatever you want.
Reviews:
Rivers of Nihil – The Work (Metal Blade)
Unto Others – Strength (Roadrunner)
Cognizance – Upheaval (Prosthetic)
Orbit Culture – Shaman (Seek & Strike)
Rivers Of Nihil – The Work
Unto Others – Strength
Cognizance – Upheaval
Orbit Culture – Shaman
The Sideshow Podcast 
The theme of the albums I’ve listened to over the past three months is:
band releases good album but not as good as their previous album. This applies to:
Quicksand – Distant Populations
Between The Buried And Me – Colors II
Iron Maiden – Senjutsu
Carcass – Torn Arteries
Unto Others – Strength
All of the above albums would get a rating of a 4 from me. But all of those bands previous albums would get a rating of a 5 from me. The only recent album that I would give a 5 to would be The Work by Rivers of Nihil. I can understand the shortcomings that Brian speaks of it, but for me every once in a while an album comes around at the right time that is in the same headspace as me. For much of this year I’ve wanted to listen to music that is diverse and different from what I’ve previously heard. The Work fits that bill for me. Rivers of Nihil pushes the boundaries of what they had defined as their sound on previous albums, straying away from Fallujah-inspired tech death and into something so diverse that it can only be called their own. Give me heavy and light on the same album. Give me harsh vocals and clean vocals. Throw in a guest vocalist for even more contrast. Give me a different sonic palette that could include a piano, a saxophone, and a theremin. Give me a hint of nostalgia for my youth by incorporating a part of a song that sounds like Guns n’ Roses. All of that adds up to something that I keep wanting to go back and listen to over and over again.