In truth, this interview virtually didn’t occur. Our dialog with Adam Biggs, bassist and now vocalist for progressive pummelers Rivers of Nihil, has been within the works for months. After bandmate and former participant character Brody Uttley directed the frontman in direction of the Kill Display arcade’s neon glow at first of 2025, plans had been made to hyperlink up at a U.Ok. cease throughout their European tour in March. Due to notoriously dodgy venue wi-fi, nevertheless, the one spot within the constructing that provided any type of service ended up being—of all locations—the mens’ room. Sparing our visitor the indignity, our chat was placed on pause till the group returned dwelling. Scheduling conflicts continued to come up and with mere days left earlier than heading out on a headliner throughout the U.S., the co-nerds lastly caught up with Biggs—calling in from the again of a van parked in a shopping mall parking zone. Fortunately, a minimum of, the wi-fi was higher.
It’s removed from an unusual expertise shared in earlier installments of this column, however Biggs is an extremely busy man. Because the profile of the band grows following the discharge of their latest self-titled LP, balancing music with household life could make FromSoft appear like Cookie Clicker. Regardless of this, gaming continues to be not simply current, however an important a part of the equation each creatively and emotionally. Together with his Nintendo Change in hand, the lengthy stretches of time touring from stage to stage, metropolis to metropolis, nation to nation provides our topic the prospect to show off the skin world and tune into the expansive pixelated lands which have held quick to his creativeness for years. His digital days are totally different, not over, and we admire him taking what little time he has to share his digitized notion.
Searching for a bit of additional DLC from this dialogue? Remember to decide up the most recent situation of Decibel (dB250/August 2025) to study what position storytelling performs within the bassist’s appreciation of contemporary day video games.
What was your first gaming expertise?
I’ve been enjoying video video games technically since earlier than I can keep in mind as a result of my older sister had an NES in the home. She bought it I feel earlier than I used to be born or after I was just a little child. There was at all times a recreation of Tremendous Mario occurring in the home and it was one thing that I bought instantly drawn to. It was a household factor—we might simply cross the controller round and see what number of goombas we might stomp out.
Was it a typical household incidence for you or was this simply once you had been actually little youngsters after which she type of grew out of it?
There have been some occasions, however as soon as we bought into the Sega Genesis period, my dad and mom positively didn’t contact it. My sister would play some Sonic [the Hedgehog] on occasion, however that was principally my factor. As soon as we stepped right into a second era of video video games, my dad and mom simply misplaced curiosity completely. [Laughs] It was good occasions, hitting the video retailer, renting something I might discover on Genesis. That was a great variety of years. However yeah, video video games turned completely my factor for probably the most half in the home round that point.
Was there a selected first title that was like, “That is my recreation”?
It’s exhausting to say as a result of after I bought a Genesis, I may need been 8 years outdated, 9 years outdated perhaps. I used to be in on all of the hype. I used to be like, “Sonic the Hedgehog, Mario however sooner, blast processing? Let’s go!” A number of that instantly didn’t enchantment to my dad and mom. They had been like, “This hedgehog has manner an excessive amount of angle. I’m far more snug with plumbers leaping on mushrooms and stuff.” [Laughs] Which, for some purpose, it is sensible.
What have you ever been enjoying currently and what are the video games that you simply usually favor to play?
Currently currently, I’ve not been enjoying a lot in any respect as a result of I reserve most of my gaming time for after we’re on tour. At dwelling, I’m working, I’m with my youngsters, squeezing in observe time late at evening after all people goes to mattress. There’s not a lot time for video games occurring till we get on the highway and every part’s settled, after which I can veg out and play Change for hours. On that final European run we did, I bought actually sick at one level which was horrible, however I used to be simply in my bunk enjoying Change consistently. I performed via whole runs of some video games. I feel I performed Batman: Arkham Metropolis and Arkham Knight on the Change. [Sarcastically] That Arkham Knight port is gorgeous on the Change. [Laughs] It’s perhaps one of many worst operating video games I’ve ever performed in my life, however it’s nonetheless enjoyable in some way. I similar to Batman loads and I like that recreation.
And I performed Remaining Fantasy VII begin to end within the bunk as properly. It was good to revisit that. It’s at all times good to revisit video games like that from my previous. I first performed it after I was in, like, sixth or seventh grade. It was an ongoing undertaking for a number of years. And now, I’m like, What’s the gameplay perform of this? after which simply rip it aside and go actual quick via it. The thriller of every part is just a little shaved down, however it’s enjoyable. It was positively numerous enjoyable doing that.
You’re speaking about some totally different eras of video games as properly. Do you consciously make a option to play some older stuff and a few latest stuff to combine it up?
I’ve been enjoying video games my complete life. I really feel lucky. I wasn’t born on the roots of gaming, however NES is a fairly good start line I really feel so far as the tradition of gaming at massive is worried. I’ve that perspective of, That is the roots of actually industrial dwelling gaming. I’ve gone via each period and picked out my spots of what I discover enjoyable. I really feel like because it occurs with numerous issues once you begin to get just a little older, fashionable video games have drifted from me just a little bit. There have been a complete bunch of various eras and I actually admire traditional stuff from nearly any period you could describe. The PS1 period is nice, issues like Tomb Raider and Remaining Fantasy and a complete bunch of stuff from that period. That’s huge stuff. A little bit bit later, we began moving into retro revival gaming. They began making new 8-bit video games and new 16-bit video games and that I assumed was actually enjoyable when it stopped all being about how good every part appears. They made new Mega Man video games. That actually drew me again in for some time. After I speak about gaming as a contemporary factor, perhaps with someone just a little youthful, I hear them speaking about Overwatch or Marvel Rivals, stuff like that, actually intense on-line expertise type of video games and I’m similar to, “That’s not me.” [Laughs] I’m a single-player man. It’s wonderful to see what number of totally different genres of gamer have developed through the years. Everyone performed Tremendous Mario and Tetris after I was a child, and now in case you’re a gamer, that may imply so many various issues.
Past nostalgia, what’s it concerning the PS1 period that you simply really feel these video games bought proper that fashionable gaming has type of misplaced alongside the best way?
I feel Sony and people builders on the time had been pushing exhausting to be like, “This has to be the long run.” Bringing video games right into a 3D house is only a complete different rung of the ladder. I feel it took numerous braveness and numerous thought to make gaming work in that 3D house. It’s not only a cartridge and just a little man operating throughout the display screen anymore. There’s that push to make issues extra cinematic and extra grownup. It combines on this manner that perhaps on its face it’s clunky and awkward, however I feel the video games that do get it proper, you possibly can inform the builders had been like, “What makes a recreation enjoyable to play?” and so they nonetheless protect that type of factor.
It’s type of exhausting to level at examples within the PS1 period you could fully wipe nostalgia from it and be like, “Yeah, this can be a good recreation.” [Laughs] Even in case you love Resident Evil, you play Resident Evil 1 and 2 and also you’re going to be like, “I like this recreation! These controls are…” [Laughs] I like the ambiance, I even love the story and every part, however the controls will sluggish you down. It’s that numerous occasions. However you possibly can see how by the tip of the PS1 period, you’re enjoying one thing that’s tremendous clunky like Resident Evil, however then you definately decide up Spyro the Dragon and that feels prefer it has the bones of actually fashionable platforming, they figured it out. Being alongside for that have was a extremely cool factor, I feel.
I feel that’s type of a luxurious that everyone on this name has. We bought to be there to see that transition, the place numerous youthful folks now haven’t solely existed in a world that at all times had video games, however at all times had these hyper-polished, tremendous tight [experiences].
Actually something is feasible! Like a Grand Theft Auto V, you possibly can actually journey via a complete state in a online game. That’s why I bought so into Remaining Fantasy video games after I was a child—as a result of I favored the explorative factor. After I was youthful and nonetheless on NES and Tremendous Nintendo, I used to be obsessive about [The Legend of] Zelda due to the little discoverable components. The unbridled pleasure of discovery is after they construct that world in there. It was once that there’s little breadcrumbs. You go from a Zelda factor and then you definately go to a Remaining Fantasy factor—it’s just a little bit larger and just a little bit larger. After which impulsively you’re at Grand Theft Auto and all these open world video games the place the map is big and it’s crammed with cool stuff, hopefully.
Like Baldur’s Gate 3, a recreation the place you’ll by no means have the identical expertise twice.
I heard that was actually good, and I performed the primary two on PC after I was a child. I didn’t have numerous PC video games, however Baldur’s Gate was considered one of them. That recreation again within the day blew my thoughts, simply having to open this large booklet filled with CDs. For those who go right into a city, you must put in this disc and stuff. I used to be horrible at it as a result of I didn’t perceive hardcore RPG mechanics, however it was just a little too grownup for me on the time. I’ve thought-about testing Baldur’s Gate 3, however it’s not on the Change in all probability. [Laughs] I’d deal with myself to a Change 2 when that comes out. Perhaps they’ll port a few of these extra fashionable issues over.
[At the time of this interview,] you’re gearing as much as hit the highway with Holy Fawn, Inter Arma, and Glacial Tomb. Do you typically run into any avid gamers? We all know of a minimum of one nerd that you simply’re going to be sharing the highway with.
Oh yeah. There’s positively dudes on the market with their Steam Decks able to go. Individuals are far more hardcore about their gaming on the highway than me. [Vocalist] Sean Zatorsky from Dååth was on the final tour and he’s bought all of the devices. He had the Steam Deck, he had every part able to go, ported onto any TV and he had all these things hacked. He’s like, “I can play any recreation on the planet!” I’m like, “Dude, that’s superior.” [Laughs] That’s just a little hardcore for me. On the finish of the day, I’m nonetheless that NES child. I wish to plug in a recreation after which have it run. I’m type of a grumpy outdated man on the subject of, “I’ve to to obtain a patch?!” That doesn’t make sense in my head.
Do you could have any video games that you’ve got lined up for this tour that you simply’re excited to dive into?
I used to be truly going over my library of video games final evening and didn’t actually see a complete lot new to understand onto. I’m going to need to determine that out. I’d play some extra Remaining Fantasy simply to maintain that prepare rolling. I haven’t performed Remaining Fantasy VIII in a really, very very long time, and I do know that that they had an up to date model that they launched. I’d decide that up and play 75 % of it and understand that the sport’s not good like I do each time after I play that recreation. [Laughs]
Ooo, these are preventing phrases!
Yeah, properly, come at me, as a result of that recreation’s not that good. [Laughs]
As an actual query although, is {that a} traditional modus operandi earlier than you exit on tour? You undergo the library otherwise you test latest releases and type of queue up three, 4, 5 video games for a tour?
Generally I’ll get the itch and I’ll be like, I ought to look into what’s on the market that I is perhaps fascinated with catching up on. I’ll perhaps queue some issues up if I’m within the temper. It won’t be three or 4 video games, it is perhaps only one. I keep in mind a yr or two in the past when [The Legend of Zelda:] Tears of the Kingdom got here out, I used to be like, Yeah, I suppose I’ll try this. I’m certain that can occupy loads of my gaming head house. And it did. [Laughs] I purchased that earlier than we went to Australia and it positively helped me get via a few 14-hour flights and an all-day restoration session in a resort room, in order that was good.
So, if there’s a giant, high-attention title popping out, do you decide that up and say, This will likely be excellent for 2 weeks later after we’re on a airplane?
I want I stored up with stuff just a little higher. I simply don’t have that a lot religion that newer video games are going to at all times curiosity me. I’m at all times looking out for re-releases of older video games that I like. I’ve seen folks simply be like, “What’s with all these re-releases? It’s simply firms benefiting from folks!” And it’s like, I’m folks. [Laughs] I’ll re-buy the video games I like over and over simply to play them in a brand new context. I’ve been dying for [SquareEnix] to place out a port of Dragon Quest VIII on Change and I’ve performed that recreation a ton of occasions on PS2 and Nintendo DS. I’m similar to, Why can’t I play this on Change? However new new video games, I feel there’s a pair issues that I’m wanting ahead to. It’s uncommon that issues grasp me, however I’ll at all times take note of a brand new [FromSoftware] title popping out or one thing like that.
Are you going to be choosing up [Elden Ring:] Nightreign?
I doubt it. I didn’t play Elden Ring in any respect. I simply by no means had time to take a seat down at a console reliably to play one thing that huge. I’ll get round to it will definitely. I’ve seen lots of people hating on it, however I feel that Duskbloods recreation appears fairly fascinating. Bloodborne is considered one of my all-time favourite video games and that appears reminiscent. I’ll be enjoying that and making an attempt to make tedious lore connections to each different FromSoft recreation similar to anyone else I’m certain.
Happening the YouTube rabbit gap, seeing all of the conspiracy theories.
See you quickly, VaatiVidya. [Laughs]
[Rivers of Nihil guitarist] Brody [Uttley] had talked about that there was a tour the place all of you bought hooked on Vampire Survivors. Have you ever since kicked the dependancy?
Oh yeah, I can’t even have a look at the app anymore. There was simply a lot downtime on that individual tour. We’d be sitting in inexperienced rooms and all people’s head is down taking a look at their telephones. I’d simply stroll within the inexperienced room, I’d have a look at all people and I’m like, “What’s up?” And all people would simply go, [looking down] “…Surviving.” [Laughs] And that turned the factor: “Yo dude, you surviving?” And all people can be like, “Yeah man, I’m surviving.” There was numerous disgrace hooked up to it, it’s simply unhappy. It was enjoyable, however it bought to a degree the place I’m similar to, Why am I doing this? I don’t know. I gained’t do it once more, however yeah, it was an fascinating time for this band. We’ve by no means been so united in any type of online game factor earlier than.
Don’t get me incorrect, I [Michael] assume it’s a superb recreation. However fortunately early on—I feel I put perhaps 8 hours or one thing into it—I used to be in a position to discern [that] that is actually a recreation about watching numbers go up. That’s all it’s.
Yeah. As soon as you determine your little sample of the upgrades and the weapons and you’ll simply recreation it so to simply stroll round in a display screen filled with enemies that simply dies. It’s enjoyable and type of satisfying in that old-school Dynasty Warriors type of manner, in your telephone the place you’re simply smacking down hordes of enemies however then after some time it did turn into thoughts numbing. I’m like, Perhaps as an alternative of enjoying this recreation I ought to do one thing higher with my time.
You’ve not too long ago taken over vocal duties for the band, you’re about to launch a brand new album, you’re a father of two and also you’re a husband. You will have numerous shit occurring in your life. Why is it vital so that you can maintain video video games as a part of that life?
It’s a factor that I’ve at all times had round. There have been occasions in my life the place I’ve bordered on doing it an excessive amount of and it’s distracting from extra urgent issues. However I’ve realized that it type of has turn into a part of my course of as a musician to a level. I really feel like I owe numerous my musical talent to that chill vibe. I’m hanging out, I’ll play some video games after which I become bored with that, [so] I decide up my bass and I observe some stuff. A number of the creative course of occurs in that state of enjoying—no matter you’re doing that’s pleasant to you. To commute between these two issues, once more, perhaps I’ll hit a wall with the video games after which I’m going over and observe after which perhaps that’ll catch on for a very long time, or perhaps I’ll hit a wall after which I’m going again and I’ll play no matter I used to be enjoying there.
In relation to a degree the place you already know you’re gonna need to be within the studio quickly, each second I’m spending enjoying video video games at the moment, up to now I’ve guilted myself and been like, I ought to simply be training. However now, I do know I want this to decompress or else I’m gonna be bleeding a stone so far as the music stuff goes. It’s helped me to type of regulate that spotlight span factor and sit back, principally.
Would you then say that not directly gaming turns into a part of that inventive course of if just for the truth that it provides you that outlet to return again to enjoying a music with recent ears?
Yeah. The larger the music factor will get, the extra stress will get added to it and the extra enjoyable will get subtracted. I really feel like interspersing enjoying a recreation after which training, it takes just a little of that stress off and it takes me again to the fundamentals of, I’m right here, I’m enjoying, I’m having enjoyable. That’s once you get the perfect creative output. There’s something to be stated about actually placing numerous stress on your self and squeezing it out, which is able to occur additionally. However within the informal occasions main up, I discover it extra vital to not simply stress myself out for days at a time.
Within the course of of creating a report, I’ve discovered that I often will hardcore dive right into a recreation. Generally it’s both a extremely lengthy one or a extremely tough recreation. I feel after we had been making The place Owls Know My Title, within the weeks main as much as studio time I used to be enjoying Zelda II: [The Adventure of Link] loads, an extremely tough recreation. However training Owl songs after which enjoying Zelda II—I beat Zelda II with just a little assist from some save states—now I type of assign that album with that recreation just a little bit. I really feel like there’s at all times been that occurring.
Do you could have a recreation assigned to [Rivers of Nihil]?
It was just a little totally different as a result of we recorded this album over a number of totally different classes and it took a extremely very long time, so I performed numerous totally different stuff. Unusually sufficient, I suppose I performed Remaining Fantasy II throughout that point, which is all people’s least favourite Remaining Fantasy recreation however the pixel remasters had simply come out on the Change. I used to be like, what? I’m going to present this an trustworthy shot. And I type of favored it. I favored that recreation greater than I assumed I’d—greater than I remembered from after I was youthful and performed it on the PS1 Remaining Fantasy Origins assortment. I do know I’ve talked about Remaining Fantasy loads on this, however it’s type of a giant sequence in my private canon. I performed that and Remaining Fantasy V from the pixel remaster, so the self-titled [album] I feel has that behind it just a little bit.
While you’re enjoying these video games, although that’s the downtime from training or writing or engaged on a report, do you ever end up in the midst of an encounter or one thing, you press the pause button and be like, That is precisely what I wanted for that music, type of a unconscious factor? Or are these two completely totally different halves of the mind, so to talk?
It’s not even nearly a recreation, however it’s a good house [where] I can simply type of clear my thoughts whereas I’m enjoying a recreation. I’ll be singing the songs in my head on a regular basis. Even now, they’re consistently enjoying again and again in my head. I really feel like the quantity of familiarity with a chunk of music, the higher you’re going to have the ability to carry out it or write it. So yeah, I’ll have these a ha! moments if I’m enjoying and I’m simply fascinated with a music. Perhaps I’ll think about one thing new or that factor that I wanted to do comes up in my head. However typically it doesn’t. Generally I’m similar to, Yep, I’m going via this complete dungeon now with only a fully clean thoughts, not fascinated with music in any respect, and typically that’s what’s wanted.
Rivers’ music showcases quite a lot of influences past what folks would contemplate conventional steel. Brody had talked about that the PS1 period was significantly vital to him when it comes to musical improvement. Are there any composers or soundtracks that you simply really feel are musically vital to you or has gaming at all times simply been extra concerning the down time?
I’m in all probability not going to interrupt the mould with anyone too obscure, however Nobuo Uematsu is a large deal to me. The Remaining Fantasy VII soundtrack was a giant musical second for me as a child. I don’t keep in mind a soundtrack to something. Perhaps a pair motion pictures—like, the Batman theme was a factor that caught in my head and the Jurassic Park theme from motion pictures after I was a child. However Remaining Fantasy VII was the primary online game exterior of Mario and Zelda the place I’m like, This can be a complete sweeping epic, the place motifs are returned to and reimagined and characters are being constructed with this music. It’s the best idea album ever, simply the best way that the music tells the story of the sport higher than even numerous the dialogue does more often than not. That positively [was] an enormous inspiration on what I admire in music. I like that to issues like Remaining Fantasy or Dragon Quest, the place it’s these actually sturdy musical experiences with this sprawling world to discover.
I heard it stated someplace: It’s not that I like knights and zombies and preventing monsters all that a lot—I imply, I do like that stuff—however I similar to video games with extra. There’s extra to it: you could have this complete world to discover, there’s 1,000,000 various things occurring, there’s a narrative, there’s all this epic stuff. I’ve at all times thought of that with music, too. Progressive music simply appeared like music with extra, and steel music collectively and all of that. That larger, sturdy expertise from video games, that I feel helped inform what we do musically on the finish of the day, too.
This can be just a little bit extra of a stretch, however Rivers’ lyrics tackle far more of a philosophical, metaphysical method—not your normal gory demise steel material. You’re mentioning numerous these very sprawling narratives, like Remaining Fantasy, like Zelda. Do you assume any of that fantastical factor from video gaming has factored into that lyrical content material or is that simply coincidence?
Completely. Our first 4 data had been this complete interconnected story. There’s the 4 seasons factor to it, however I’ve at all times type of handled that complete story as its personal world.Particularly early on, the primary couple data are actually this imagined world. I’d type of construct this world in my head that issues had been occurring in, after which I’d attempt to write about it in a musical manner. I used to be like a bard or one thing from the olden days, writing concerning the occasions of this fictional world or making an attempt to report the occasions of it in a creative manner. Visiting a world of your personal creation or of someone else’s creation, such as you do in a online game or a film or no matter, that positively had a huge impact on how I got here up with numerous these themes. In a while it will get just a little extra private, just a little extra grownup, and I feel that’s include age. My world is much less video video games, it’s much less fantasy and it’s extra grownup actuality stuff. Nevertheless it nonetheless has the kid’s coronary heart beating in there.
So even when it’s not like, “This album is instantly the story of Remaining Fantasy IV,” however extra that these worlds type of helped inform your manner by which you then went to construct and create a world that your music exists in.
Proper. It’s my very own imagined factor after which I can write about it on this context that isn’t the identical factor. However it’s type of imagining that scene, the imagery of this fantastical world that now lives in my head. It’s impressed by all of those different huge fantastical worlds from these video games.
Within the press launch, Brody discusses the closing monitor of the album, which can be self-titled. He says, “The title ‘Rivers of Nihil’ implies this darkish nihilistic hopeless factor. However lyrically the music is definitely about letting time slip by you and never giving into the darkness.” It is perhaps proximity bias, however all of us have far much less time and are way more wired than we’ve ever been. What’s the recreation that you’d suggest to our readership as a recreation to let that point slip by and decompress?
Hmm. [Pauses] It’s powerful as a result of there’s so many choices, however I feel one of the full gaming experiences you possibly can have now are the 2 newer Zelda video games [Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom]. I feel there’s simply a lot. They’re fashionable, however they’re not overly fashionable. There’s a narrative, however it’s not beating you over the top with it. You will have that huge world to discover and also you’ll have that pleasure of discovery in these sorts of video games. I discover myself recommending these to folks loads as a result of dwelling in that world, simply leaping in, operating round that big Hyrule map, it’s very soothing. Getting up within the sky, climbing this mountain and the altering surroundings, for some purpose I discover that simply very, very satisfying.
Let’s say someone confirmed up and so they stated, “I’m an agent who represents video video games—all of them. We might love you to perhaps not essentially rating, however a minimum of inform a soundtrack to a brand new online game. It could possibly be any franchise you need.” Is there something that immediately you’d be like, “Man, I’d like to do a Remaining Fantasy or a Zelda”?
I’d discover doing Remaining Fantasy mega intimidating as a result of I do know that I’ve judged all people who’s labored on that franchise who isn’t Nobuo Uematsu very exhausting. [Laughs]
Yeah, agree.
I feel the man who’s doing the Remaining Fantasy VII Remake stuff, although [Masashi Hamauzu]—hats off. That shit’s unimaginable. It was my Spotify primary factor for, like, two years, simply that soundtrack. But when I needed to decide any… [Pauses] Hmm. I must decide one thing that wants higher music, and all I’m considering of is video games with good music. Mega Man? Nice music. Zelda sequence? Nice music. Even the newer newer Zelda video games, their method to their music is is basically awe inspiring. I don’t know. Man. I’m considering of Darkish Souls and Bloodborne, and it’s the use of music in these video games. It’s not the music itself that I feel is so good, however it’s when it is available in and when it’s not there’s so cool. Considering of the newer Doom sequence, the music is so so fucking good in these. What to enhance upon? I ponder.
What in case you might decide a style that you’d be fascinated with engaged on? What fashion of recreation would you assume is most enjoyable to attain?
In all probability one thing open world, you already know? Some type of explorative sort of factor. If I had say within the music, it must be one thing that has numerous totally different colours to it, numerous totally different moods occurring as a result of that’s type of how I wish to function. Any good RPG soundtrack goes to do one thing like that—it’s going to take you thru all of the totally different feelings, however it’s going to deliver you again to the roots of what it’s you’re doing. That’s a extremely exhausting query, however a really cool one. I don’t know. There’s so many good video games with music that I actually admire. Far be it for me to say that I’d do a greater job at any of them.
Rivers of Nihil is out now through Metallic Blade Data and will be bought right here.
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