One With The Riverbed/Succumb/Dusktone/2024 Full Length Review

 

  One  With  The  Riverbed  are  a  band  from  Kalamazoo,  Michigan  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  atmospheric  form  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Succumb"  which  will  be  released  on  October  25th  by  Dusktone.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  atmospheric  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a r aw  feeling   and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Synths  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style,  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  some  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  this  recording  One  With  The  Riverbed  goes  for  more  of  an  atmospheric  style  of  post  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  death,  loss  and  nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  One  With  The  Riverbed  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Infested"  "Purified"  and  "Sunlight".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7gkWzUTZbQ  

One With The Riverbed Interview

 

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

Question 1: We had played in other bands together throughout the years and we were all part of the same music scene. We eventually came together with a similar vision regarding what kind of music we wanted to play. 

2.You have a new album coming out this summer, musically how does it differ from your previous full length and demo?

Question 2: Our writing process for Absence was similar to that of Solace, but we were more intentional this time around. We were still getting to know each other musically during the Solace writing sessions, so a lot of our decisions were quick and based on whatever felt right at the time. With Absence, though, we really wanted to push ourselves and take our writing/playing to another level. Our goal was to create an album that surprised and challenged us while also staying true to our sound.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?

Question 3: Lyrical themes include exploring the relationship between death and nature, the conflict between humanity and society, and the cyclical nature of life and death (death becoming a vessel for new life, for example).

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'One With The Riverbed'?

Question 4: The band name stems from the concept of becoming part of the earth after death and being recycled into new life. The name serves as a visual of how we perceive our music and also signifies the new life stage we are all in as a result of being in this band.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

Question 5: We met an artist by chance at a conference who shared a similar artistic vision. We were very excited to collaborate with someone who was able to so fully capture the vibe of the album. 

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Question 6: Our favorite performances always take place in intimate settings. We love house shows and feeling the energy of having people in our faces. Our performances are music-centric. We do not talk between songs; we bridge the set together with ambient samples and noises. 

7.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of post black metal?

Question 7: We have noticed listeners from different parts of the world and it is so humbling. It’s a very pleasant surprise. Funnily enough, someone from Turkey actually ripped one of our songs from Solace and posted it as their own (different title and band name, of course) a few years ago. That was a wild experience. 

8.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Question 98 We are always trying to write new material. Our goal is to continue pushing ourselves forward. We don’t ever want to release the same album twice. 

9.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Question 9: There is so much diversity in our musical tastes and influences. We all grew up listening to heavier music, though, and that definitely shines through. Some of us are classically trained in music while others are not, too, and this gives us a variety of perspectives and ideas to work with. 

10.What are some of your non musical interests?

Question 11: Just as we have a wide range of musical tastes and influences, we also have a number of hobbies aside from playing music. A few of us are into visual arts and one of us builds instruments. This band, though, is our shared connection.

11.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Question 11: Thanks for your time! We’re excited to share Absence and make more music.

https://onewiththeriverbed.bandcamp.com/releases

https://www.facebook.com/onewiththeriverbed/

One With The Riverbed/Absence/Snow Wave Records/2021 Full Length Review

 

  One  With  The  Riverbed  are  a  band  from  Kalamazoo,  Michigan  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  dissonant  form  of  post  black  metal  with  some  elements  of  doom  metal  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  Snow  Wave  Records.

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  stringed  instruments  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  clean  playing  also  brings  in  elements  of  post  rock.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  post  hardcore  style  shouting  and  death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  songs  also  bringing  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast parts.

  Influences  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  the  riffing  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  dissonant  structures,  when  synths  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  touches  of  ambient.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  death  and  loss  themes.

  In  my  opinion  One  With  the  Riverbed  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  dissonant  mixture  of  post  black  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Carcas"  and  ""Sanctuary".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/3sBUye6zovw