The kings of the Egyptian underworld are once again back with their next monolithic pillar of death metal that is nothing but bone crushing!
When it comes to brutal technical death metal Nile is up there as one of the pioneers. Formed in 1993 in South Carolina & bringing a different taste to the genre with their individual vision of incorporating ancient Egyptian mythology & history into their lyrical content. Also using the phrygian scale to bring that middle east sound to their already brutal style to create something so different.
Now with their tenth album “The Underworld Awaits Us All” the band have taken the next step in their constant evolution to bring what I think is one of the best the band have created to date.
Opening track “Stelae of Vultures” draws you in very quickly with its grand opening section before unleashing in a fury. Right from the bat this feels like the most intune & precise version of Nile to date.
The death metal legend himself Karl Sanders (Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards) is really spearheading the album, arm in arm with longtime drummer George Kollias. This duo have been the backbone of Nile for sometime & are untouchable when it comes to the songwriting chemistry. Filling out the rest of the albums lineup is 2017’s addition Brian Kingsland (Guitar, Vocals), Zach Jeter (Guitar, Vocals) & Dan Vadim Von (Bass).
The following track “Chapter for Not Being Hung Upside Down on a Stake in the Underworld and Made to Eat Faeces by the Four Apes” which wins this years award for best song title, was the first single released in anticipation of the album & it really shows the progression has has made in the last few years.
Feeling like the band have turned everything up a notch, just the guitar riffing alone is some of the most complex, angler but also melodic in the band’s history. Nile has always walked that perfect line for me, being one of the best technical metal bands but also having riffs that bring a lot of groove & personality to the fold which is a hard & very rare feat to do.
But within this track & the album as whole they have really strived to make every riff memorable, stand out & catchy as hell. In tandem the vocal approach on the album meets the brutality of the guitars but it’s the best performance from all three vocalists across the board. Mostly with Brian Kingsland handling the majority of vocals now has the ability to give one of his most venomous but clear & precise recordings within his tenure in Nile.
One of the standout tracks comes early, “Naqada II Enter the Golden Age” in a whole is a true showcase of what the band has always done best. Using multiple tempo speeds, dynamics & elements to craft a track that bludgeons you to death. Over the track it slowly climbs you higher then hits you with this epic soaring lead section from Karl Sanders, feeling like you are winning this battle of climbing said pyramid.
As you reach the very top & at the perfect moment they drop this simple but so infectious groove that just repeats. As Brian Kingsland sings “We’ve Got to Cleanse The Black Earth” a chorus of voices join him, just elevating the grand scale of the song to the highest degree. It honestly gave me chills the first time I heard it. Such a superb moment.
“Under the Curse of the One God” feels like a nice continuation of this track. Also a true showcase of just how elite of a drummer George Kollias truly is. He might be one of the most technical drummers to ever live but his flair helps add so much to the band. In a slower downtempo section of this track his simple but effective use of tom work really gives that deep sound & grooves with the guitar lick. But also on dime the track picks up its speed again and so does George so effortlessly.
When you head to the later half of the album to the title track “The Underworld Awaits us All” is a close to nine minute triumph worthy of its title. Start off playing with these sweeping guitar sounds that have your head bouncing around, and even taking to a quieter brief moment with some eerie spoken sections before the band drops out to these grand & larger than life guitar lead sections that really encapsulate everything Nile is about. Heavy middle sounds mixed with fil score like textures. As it builds the band introduces brutal elements back into the song & once again builds it back up. Some of my favourite moments in Nile songs are when they incorporate “breakdowns” the track gives you that.
Even with its longer run time they keep you on the edge of your seat & bring in those earlier elements like ripping leads & chorus choir vocals to fill out these spaces that feels like they are made to perfectly fit those sections.
“The Underworld Awaits Us All” truly feels like a masterpiece that Nile has painstakingly agonised over to create these beautiful yet brutal moments in these monolithic tracks that will stand the test of time in the desert. Nile never slacks or falls short when it comes to album releases but this album truly feels like a monumental album from the group & will be seen as a true highlight in the band’s already gorgeous catalogue.
Review: Joseph Mitchell
The Underworld Awaits Us All is out via Napalm Records on 23th August 2024
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“Revenge of the Underworld Tour” USA Co-Headliner 2025
w/ co-headliners Six Feet Under
w/ Psycroptic & Embryonic Autopsy
January 7, 2025 – Nashville, TN @ Basement East
January 8, 2025 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
January 10, 2025 – Orlando, FL @ The Abbey
January 11, 2025 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room
January 12, 2025 – Tampa, FL @ Orpheum
January 13, 2025 – Charleston, SC @ Music Farm
January 14, 2025 – Greenville, SC @ Radio Room
January 15, 2025 – Greensboro, NC @ Hangar 1819
January 17, 2025 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
January 18, 2025 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium Underground
January 19, 2025 – Albany, NY @ Empire Live
January 20, 2025 – Mechanicsburg, PA @ Lovedrafts
January 21, 2025 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving Underground
January 23, 2025 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater
January 24, 2025 – Columbus, OH @ The King Of Clubs
January 25, 2025 – Flint, MI @ Machine Shop
January 26, 2025 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Elevation
January 27, 2025 – Joliet, IL @ The Forge
January 29, 2025 – St. Louis, MO @ Red Flag
January 30, 2025 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts
January 31, 2025 – Ft. Wayne, IN @ Piere’s
February 1, 2025 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
February 2, 2025 – Minneapolis, MN @ Skyway Theater
February 4, 2025 – Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater
February 6, 2025 – Las Vegas, NV @ Sinwave
February 7, 2025 – Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory
February 8, 2025 – Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Roseville
February 10, 2025 – Portland, OR @ Bossanova Ballroom
February 11, 2025 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
February 13, 2025 – Berkeley, CA @ Cornerstone
February 14, 2025 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Catalyst
February 15, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA @ 1720
February 17, 2025 – Phoenix, AZ @ Nile Theater
February 18, 2025 – Farmington, NM @ Lauter Haus
February 20, 2025 – Dallas, TX @ Haltom Theater
February 21, 2025 – Austin, TX @ Come And Take It Live
February 22, 2025 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
NILE Festivals:
May 22-25, 2025 – Baltimore, MD, USA @ Maryland Deathfest XX
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