The American band ONE WITH THE RIVERBED belongs among those groups capable of combining the rawness of black metal with deep atmosphere, melancholy, and cinematic emotionality. Their music blends post-metal, ambient, doom, and shoegaze moods, creating a sound that exists somewhere between fragile dreaminess and crushing intensity. It was already clear from their 2018 EP “Solace“ that this was far from an ordinary black metal band. Their debut “Absence“ (2021), and especially their latest album “Succumb“, definitively confirmed their artistic vision. “Succumb“ in particular received strong acclaim within underground circles thanks to its layered songwriting, dynamic shifts, and ability to connect extreme metal with an emotional post-metal expression.
The band comes from Kalamazoo, Michigan, an area surrounded by nature and landscapes near Lake Michigan, something that is strongly reflected in their music. The members themselves admit that nature, nostalgia, impermanence, and human existence are among their main sources of inspiration. Line-up: Jared Koons – Vocals, Lisa Bridenstine – bass, Bryan Neterer – Guitar, John C. Scott – Guitar, Jimmy Velty – Drums.
Hello, thank you for the opportunity to conduct this interview. To start, I’d like to ask about your musical roots and how you actually got into black metal?
As a band we have a huge variety of influences: ambient, singer-songwriter, hardcore, black metal. We wanted to create music that featured soundscapes, melodicism, and ambient passages while remaining true to our metallic roots. This is what led us to our current sound.
Are there several like-minded bands of the same genre in your area, or are you more of an exception?
Kalamazoo, Michigan has an extremely diverse music scene. No two bands are the same but the community is strong.
The name of your band, ONE WITH THE RIVERBED, is unusual and very interesting. How did it come about that you chose this particular name?
Our band name wasn’t something we had from the beginning. We were already writing and shaping our first release before landing on it. When we finally sat down to figure it out, ‘One with the Riverbed’ felt like the right fit. It reflects both the emotional weight of our music and the idea of physically becoming part of the earth through decay, and the constant movement that we strive to feature in our music.
I really like how your music is raw yet atmospheric at the same time. Your latest album “Succumb” is a great listen. Looking back after nearly two years, how do you evaluate the record? Does it still represent your vision of how ONE WITH THE RIVERBED should sound?
We’re proud of our efforts on “Succumb“. Our vision of the band continues to evolve over time and Succumb is a necessary interval in our journey as a band.
I would say your music is an ideal mix of brutality and tenderness. It’s clear that you handle these contrasts very well. Is this one of the most important aspects of your songwriting?
This is definitely a main focus for us. We want our music to move across different landscapes while being thematically consistent.
How do the fragmented moods present in your music translate into your lyrics? What inspires you the most in this regard?
Our lyrics are often presented objectively. Some of our themes include nostalgia, temporality, and the human condition.
You live near Lake Michigan. Personally, I really like nature, and I’m sure I would enjoy it there. Is nature a source of inspiration for you?
Nature is a huge influence for us, and that’s part of why a black metal influence runs throughout our music.
None of your releases have come out under any label. Why is that? Or are you intentionally following your own path and not looking for record labels at all?
We’ve been fortunate enough to have some label support. “Absence“, our second album, was released via Snow Wave Records. Succumb was released through Dusktone. However, on our next record we are currently planning on doing a self-release.
From the recordings I receive, I get the impression that there is a fairly strong black metal scene across the United States. However, black metal used to be more of a European domain. Do you see it the same way? Are the tastes of American listeners changing, for example?
To us it seems as though black metal is becoming more prevalent in the United States. Through touring we’ve been able to connect with some great bands.
Do you have sufficient media support in your region? How is the genre you play received by fans of extreme metal? After all, when people think of the USA and metal, many primarily imagine hardcore or death metal bands.
We’re often found on bills with extreme metal bands as well as shoegaze bands. We enjoy playing with various types of bands.
In what formats are your releases available? Can your music be purchased in Europe as well, or do fans have to contact you directly?
“Succumb“ is currently available on cassette and CD. “Absence“ is available on CD only. People will need to contact us directly for purchases. We’re in the process of shifting our inventory.
I have to really compliment you on how your website and social media are presented. Everything is clear and easy to access. Is this form of presentation also important to you when it comes to moving the band forward?
Thanks. We like to be as straightforward as possible with our presentation.
Should your live shows offer something more than what can be heard on your recordings? Or is it more important for you to reproduce the studio sound as closely as possible on stage?
Our live shows are mostly live recreations of our recorded material. We don’t deviate much from the studio sound.
Is it within your possibilities to come over here to Central Europe and play a few shows? How appealing is that idea to you? Do you have such ambitions?
Currently, no. If it’s ever within the realm of possibility for us we’d love to perform anywhere outside of the United States.
Here in Europe, America is often presented as a rather religious country. Is that really the case? How does that, for example, go together with black metal? Have you ever had any problems because of what you do? I hope that’s not a silly question… Here in the Czech Republic, about ninety percent of people are atheists.
We’ve never faced any direct adversity towards our music. There’s a space and scene for almost every style of music here.
Do you already have an idea of which direction your music should take in the future? Are you considering any changes or different approaches?
We rarely have lengthy discussions about what our next direction will be. We jump straight into writing new material and let it come naturally. Currently, we’re in the process of working on our next album.
I’m also curious whether you know any bands from the Czech Republic?
Two bands that come to mind are SHEEVA YOGA, and ██████ / nic.
ALL