Yowzer, can this really be Nile’s 6th studio album?! It seems like only yesterday that I was excitedly travelling home from London’s Oxford Street with my copy of ‘Amongst the Catacombs of Nephren-Ka’ clasped tightly in my eager mitts. But no, that was 11 years ago, and my how the young (ha!) pharaohs have grown into mighty Gods over the years. I see each Nile album as a musical feast, with Mr Sanders and co. constantly leaving me floored by their effortless ability to squeeze yet more out of their instruments. Their aptitude for pushing the bar that little bit higher for all their peers in not only the songwriting and technicality stakes, but sheer unbridled enthusiasm for their art is spellbinding.
Sonically, you always know exactly what to expect with a Nile album, which is crushing Egyptian themed death metal of the finest quality. Not only do these guys put 100% into the music of every album, they also go above and beyond when it comes to researching song topics, and when the members two real loves meld into the one immense package that is a new Nile album, you know you’re in for a treat. The passion flows in constant overbearing waves, washing around you with punishing riffwork, tortured guitars and flailing licks whipping around like some unearthly ancient wraith from your speakers. The musicianship is as flawless as always, with countless nuances in the manic guitar work to be picked up on after multiple listens, or the more immediate slow eastern sections sounding very much like they’ve been lifted from the dusty ancient streets of Giza.
Did I mention the inhuman drumming of George Kolias being jaw-droppingly good? Think you’ve heard every rhythm played out? Think you’d heard the fastest beats ever? Check this guy out and prepare to mop up the drool. There are a couple of refreshing new additions this time around in the bands sound, not only in the clearer than ever production that captures each instrument perfectly in tone and level, but also in the vocal performance. Although it’s mainly based around the bitterly spat death metal growls and screams of old, this time around they’ve also slipped in some extra special ancient sounding chants (most notably in the title track of the album). This merely adds further dynamics to the already multifaceted gem that is Nile’s sound. As hard as it is to pick a stand out track from a near flawless album, I’d say my selection would be ‘4th Arran of Dagon’; not only is it one of the bands most epic tracks, but it has a slow crawling primeval feeling that only Nile can achieve. It always goes beyond gimmickry with Nile’s love of Egyptian history and mythology, and that’s one thing I think even their detractors can appreciate.
Nile have, in my opinion, never put a foot wrong throughout their career. In fact, they just seem to get better and better. Can the same be said of any of the death metal ‘originators’ that managed to get six studio albums into their careers? Well, that’s debateable. But to me at least, ‘Those Whom The Gods Detest’ shows further evidence that Nile will easily be looked back on as one of, if not THE best death metal band to have ever graced our unworthy ears.
http://www.nile-catacombs.net
