The quartet's musicianship has been honed to a fine point thanks to an unrelenting touring schedule over the past few years, including headline tours of the U.S. and EU/UK, as well as touring with Cattle Decapitation, Carnifex, Lorna Shore, Between the Buried and Me, and touring with titans of progressive death metal Cynic, Beyond Creation, and Dååth.
Life on the road for Rivers is a treat for fans and band members alike. For the most part, it's very mellow, with a lot of laughs and a lot of ball-busting. Andy (Guitar, Vocals) and I have been friends for over 15 years, and Jared (Drums) has been in the fold since 2017, says founding member/guitarist Brody Uttley. Founding bassist Adam Biggs became the band's new lead vocalist/bassist in 2023, which upped the ante and led to the release of the self-titled album Rivers of Nihil (2025). Traditionally, a self-titled record can signal a return to basics and/or a fresh beginning, and in 10 powerful songs, it's clear that both those factors are in play. I feel like these songs are the perfect blend of all our albums, with all the fat cut away, says Uttley.
River of Nihil has riffs, big choruses, the prog, the solos, the sax and now it will have Aotearoa New Zealand
Local tip
He tīwhiri mō te rohe
Look for the basement entrance inside St Kevin’s Arcade, next to Albert Hu Watches. Check the event listing for set times, ticket availability and age restrictions before heading in.
Getting there
Te huarahi ki reira
Whammy Bar is in the basement of St Kevin’s Arcade at 183 Karangahape Road. Karanga-a-Hape Station is a short walk away, buses stop outside the arcade, and paid street parking and car parks are available nearby.
For more transport information, check out our Getting Around page.
More info
He pārongo atu anō
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