I absolutely love Rivers of Nihil’s new video for “Where Owls Know My Name”. It popped up on my feed a few days ago, and I thought it was brilliant from the get-go. It’s got a sick late 80’s, early 90’s VHS aesthetic, and the costuming is straight from the 60’s. The visualizer in the background pulls everything together, adding a retro psychedelic feel that keeps your eyes entertained.
A touch that I particularly appreciate is the creature that appears throughout the video, sometimes in the background behind an amp, sometimes standing in full view, but always around; as if their presence holds some vital importance that’s just out of the reach of explanation.
What separates this video the most is perhaps how much fun the members are having and how much they seem to be feeling the music. Their writing has always felt inspired, and this track is no different. It’s almost as if, by not being so serious and just having fun, they’re letting the depth of the music speak for itself. The video is wonderfully silly, but the music still has all the imbued emotional charge, both in lyrics and composition. Nothing can distract or take away from the fundamental heaviness and skillful craft that creates this piece.
Be sure to pick up a copy of their 2018 album Where Owls Know My Name.
