“Nile” continues to deliver their own unique blend of crushing death metal with an ancient Egyptian theme on their ninth studio album “Vile Nilotic Rites”.
As the name implies, the band is closely tied with Egyptian and Mesopotamian history, featuring heavy influence in both their lyrical subjects and the inclusion of traditional Middle Eastern scales and melodies – an unexpected theme for a band from Greenville, South Carolina.
Nevertheless, founding member and vocalist/lead guitarist Karl Sanders’ impressive armada of riffs and blistering leads with a penchant for Egyptology have earned “Nile” a prominent spot in the death metal community.
This album picks up where 2015’s “What Should Not Be Unearthed” left off – minus the inclusion of longtime vocalist/rhythm player Dallas Toler-Wade, who left the band in 2017 due to fatigue from extended touring.
For the previous seven albums, vocals were split between Toler-Wade and Sanders; “Vile Nilotic Rites” is the introduction of new guitarist and vocalist Brian Kingsland. Kingsland’s expressive vocal style breathes new life into the album, and better polish on the vocal production allows Sander’s lyrics to shine in bold choruses and verses.
The title track “Vile Nilotic Rites," “Long Shadows of Dread” and “The Imperishable Stars Are Sickened” feature dynamic growls and vocal work accompanied by grandiose lyrics covering the end of times and ancient evils.
Adding to the epic scale of these songs are authentic elements of ancient Egyptian culture.
Frantic riffs and hyper-technical drum blasts are often punctuated with deep gongs, bells or choral chanting, creating a fascinating juxtaposition between the modern and ancient worlds of music - “Revel In Their Suffering” and “We Are Cursed” inserts bursts of choral tensions amidst claustrophobic guitars, and “Seven Horns of War” features a whole warband of drums and war horns marching the song onwards.
“Where Is the Wrathful Sky” and “Thus Sayeth the Parasites of the Mind” bring back the traditional baglama saz instrument with graceful plucking.
Drummer George Kollias continues his inhumanly precise and aurally assaulting drumming, carrying songs at breakneck speed with intricate footwork and rhythmically impressive cymbal fills.
His highly technical playing falls in perfectly behind Sander’s chaotic and brutally virtuosic riffs that are unafraid to slow into mid-tempo breakdowns.
“Snake Pit Mating Frenzy” and “The Oxford Handbook of Savage Genocidal Warfare” take their place alongside some of the most technically challenged playing in the “Nile” discography, while “Revel in Their Suffering," “Long Shadows of Doom” and “The Imperishable Stars Are Sickened” take a chunkier, groove-oriented approach with crashing cymbals and methodical vocals.
The production on “Vile Nilotic Rites” is on par with the previous “What Should Not Be Unearthed," save for clearer vocals and some tidying of the guitar tone.
Sander’s razor-sharp guitar tone still bites through the mix, but the high end is cleaned up and the drums sit lower in the mix with a satisfying weight.
Unfortunately, talented new bass player Brad Parris is hard to discern among the mix, but Sanders’ and Kingsland’s dual drop-tuned guitar attack are deep enough to cover the low end. The vocals also benefit from a cleaner mix.
After 16 years and nine studio albums, “Nile” prove that they can still hang with their contemporaries.
“Vile Nilotic Rites” continues their high standard of excellence and modernizes many aspects of the band, with the new members bringing in some fresh new techniques and sounds – and cements its spot as not only an impressive “Nile” record, but one of the best death metal albums of 2019. 4/5
Photo Courtesy of Nuclear Blast.
