Skip to content
October 2026 issue out now
Pick up a copy
Advertise
Home
Features
Reviews
Concert Photos
Shows
Issues
Community
About
In The Whale Drummer
2 stories
Features
INTHEWHALE Gets Real on Vanishing Point
What sets Eric Riley and Nate Valdez apart from other heavy acts isn’t their musicianship (though it is excellent) but their ability to translate unflinchingly raw moments into music. Starting with INTHEWHALE’s last EP, Dopamine, the band’s tone shifted from the sophomoric humor of their earlier releases to brutally honest explorations of the darker moments of life. These explorations continue on Vanishing Point. The band wrestles with pharmaceutical addiction, suicidal ideation and gentrification. The pain and anger is palpable.
Gabe Allen · Dec 4, 2021
Features
Drum As You Are: Eric Riley Throws Down The Beat As A Black Musician In Metal
Even with all the fun Eric Riley has thrashing onstage with his longtime friend Nate Valdez, there is always that one drunk person who has to point it out: a black guy in a metal band!
Valerie Vampola · Jul 4, 2020