The Band

Nihilitia is a power trio comprised of vocalist/bassist Sara Hussain, guitarist Chris Thomas and drummer Brad Sheppard.  The impetus of the band’s formation was a simple Craigslist posting.  Hussain, having grown tired of the lack heavy bands in D.C., began looking for like-minded partners-in-crime.  In Thomas and Sheppard, Hussain found competent collaborators and kindred spirits.

Each member came to Nihilitia on a very different path.  Take Sara Hussain for instance.  Weaned on a steady diet of noise-rock including the likes of Unsane, Shellac, and Big Black, Hussain’s blistering dual-pronged attack takes cues from a decidedly abrasive lineage. 

Chris Thomas, on the other hand, finds his roots in jazz.  From the melodic phrasing of Miles Davis and Stan Getz to the avant-garde fare of Albert Ayler and Charlie Parker, it’s jazz that Thomas cites as the most significant force in the development of his guitar playing, inspiring his “less is more” approach. Drummer Brad Sheppard is the metal-head of the group.  His thunderous attack of the kit is inspired by behemoths ranging from down-tempo titans like Sleep to death metal kings At the Gates.