The Work is the fourth studio album by American technical death metal band Rivers of Nihil.

[2] It is also the last album to feature lead vocalist Jake Dieffenbach and rhythm guitarist Jon Topore before their departures in 2022.

[8] However, early 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic hit, which, combined with the new expectations of following up a successful album, took a toll on the band's mental health, which in turn was reflected in the material which, in Biggs' words, "definitely got a little hopeless".

[8] While Biggs originally planned to call the album "Static Gray", during the tour cycle for Owls he began to reframe the album around the concept of work, both as the band's new day job, but also the "emotional, financial, creative" effort that someone must make in society.

revolve around the demands and expectations of the band's audience,[9] while "Focus" explores Biggs' experience of having prescribed amphetamines as a child, and the psychological addiction that develops.