The reissues of a band’s early releases means that they became hard to find as the band grew. In times when digital formats are taking over and the physical releases are becoming rare, to reissue an old release is an act of courage, especially when one thinks on vinyl forms. And this is what is offered on with this reissue of “Hierarchy”, the first release of the North American quintet RIVERS OF NIHIL. They are a spearhead on North American Progressive/Technical Death Metal scene, with classic elements of Death Metal and Grindcore on the mix (this feature is usual for North American acts of the genre), and the songs show here are full of energy and clear technical appeal, in a way that even after 14 years since its original release they didn’t lose their original shine.

Yes, their music wasn’t eroded by time, and still sounds fresh and relevant. Another feature that still is as good as on the days of the original release: the sonority. It still is clean and defines in a way that allows the hearers to understand what’s being musically expressed by the quintet, but keeping the instrumental tunes as insane and brutal as they could (especially the drums). And even the artwork wasn’t changed, it’s the same of the original release.

This EP is single-sided (in other words, all the songs are on only one side of the vinyl disc), and the musical onslaught imposed on “Chambers of Civility”, “Human Adaptation”, “Ultimate Sentience”, and “Postmortem Prostitution” is the same of the past, always with excellent technical appeal, excellent growls and screams, with combinations of traces of traditional Death Metal under the Technical/Progressive Death Metal ways of the band.

For the fans of the band, it’s clear that “Hierarchy” is a ‘must-have’ item. And maybe for those that are new to their music, it’s an opportunity to check the origins of RIVERS OF NIHIL music.