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Nile’s Egyptian-ness is no longer merely a shtick. After 16 years, , Middle Eastern tonalities are now so deeply ingrained in Nile that they seem inevitable. In metal’s mongrel tradition, guitarists like Kirk Hammett and Dave Mustaine mixed blues, classical, and Middle Eastern licks, sometimes within the same solo. Not so in Nile, who compose and arrange with meticulous single-mindedness.
Permitting the Noble Dead to Descend to the Underworld
Yet that focus has matured enough to become multi-dimensional. Vocalist/guitarist Karl Sanders alludes to this in the liner notes to Those Whom the Gods Detest (Nuclear Blast, 2009). Nile’s older style of writing set ancient Egyptian (and occasionally Lovecraftian) texts as faithfully as possible to music. Now Sanders is playing with text, and the results are magic. (He explains how the ancient Egyptians believed speech to have magical power.) “Kafir” subverts Islam’s “There is no God but God” mantra by subtracting the last two words; the title track blasphemes by adding “not” to holy language. It’s thrilling to hear metal work on another level than just guitars.
Still, guitars are paramount in metal, and here they are unparalleled. Nile have figured out that “Lashed to the Slave Stick” is their most memorable song because it doesn’t move at warp speed. Now songs mix blasting with chugging, and drill refrains into the brain. “4th Arra of Dagon” may be the heaviest thing I’ve heard this year. The band has also learned to balance high end with low end. “Permitting the Noble Dead to Descend to the Underworld” jabs with precision in the lower register, then floats an insistent, squealing motif overhead. “Less is more” is never something I thought I’d associate with Nile.
Since Nile records are so relentless, I tend to respect them rather than enjoy them. But for the first time since Black Seeds of Vengeance, I am giving into one. The production is much to credit. It’s clean and powerful, but not over-polished. Drummer George Kollias doesn’t sound so robotic now and sometimes sounds almost funky. The result is that I can sink into this record. Like good science fiction, it takes me to another place, namely, hellish pits of torment in chambers below the pyramids. Actually, they’re not so hellish because they come with great reading material. Karl Sanders’ liner notes are still the best in the business. They’re voluminous, informative, insightful, and humorous. Perhaps the best way to get people to buy CD’s is to provide something substantial to read inside.
Buy:
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Nile is a band that I want to like more than I do, so hopefully this record makes my dreams come true.
Cosmo, what are your thoughts on Ithyphallic? I didn't care for it at first, but I was listening to it recently in anticipation of the new album and I kind of like the stripped down production more than I remembered. I think it adds some humanism to the strong technical chops, especially on Papyrus. I would also politely suggest that Annihilation of the Wicked is more memorable than Slave Stick, the riff is classic.
I am still working my way through the new album – I am spending more time with it simply because I enjoy the liner notes so much.
This is definitely their best since Black Seeds of Vengeance. I've had it on repeat since I picked it up on Monday.
I have to disagree with you about "Lashed to the Slave Stick," I think "Unas, Slayer of the Gods" is Nile's most memorable song.
This new album is fucking amazing on every level. It rivals In Their Darkened Shrines for adrenalized blasting Egyptodeath.
Robert, I put Ithyphallic on the other day and literally almost fell asleep to it. It just doesn't have that spark. Also, the lack of liner notes is galling. Sanders does explain that absence, though, in this record's liner notes.
Best album for Nile in forever. I am absolutely loving this one.
About Sanders explanation of the lack of liner notes on Ithyphallic, seems a bit defensive. Either way, I am glad they're back because I think they do much to compliment the noise.
Best $14 I've spent in a long time. Fantastic album.
Lashed to the Slave Stick is by far their most memorable track. I've listened to all of their albums for a few times, but I can't recall a thing from them except this track and the songs from their 1994 demo. Nile is great music to have in the background while doing something.
You should write a post about the best cd booklets you've ever seen, or the best liner notes: my vote goes to Enslaved's Monumension album.
Lashed to the Slave Stick may be one of Nile's most memorable songs, but only because it breaks with the crushing technical relentlessness of most of their other material. It's as close to a sing-a-long-classic as Nile can get. On Ithyphallic – being overall somewhat of a disappointment – it was
This is in the running for best album, easily comparable with In There Darkened Shrine and Annihilation of the Wicked. The album starts with a fury, the slows up a bit and get doomy then ends in a tour de force. The most intense and fascinating 55 minutes of music this year.