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Album Reviews : Nile – Vile Nilotic Rites

By on November 2, 2019

Losing an influential member of a band can have a massive effect and one which can influence record sales, turnouts at shows during tour cycles and disrupt the dynamic within the process for an album. Dallas Toler-Wade was part of Nile during their most successful period and brought them towards a more mainstream audience resulting in such albums as In Their Darkened Shrines, Annihilation of the Wicked and Ithyphallic.

It’s been four years since “What Should Not Be Unearthed” and much has happened in the Nile camp. The departure of Dallas Toler-Wade and the recruitment of Brad Parris on bass and vocals as well as Brian Kingsland on guitar and vocals. Much of what Nile has churned out over the years has gone through a rigorous writing and production process with Vile Nilotic Rites being no exception.

In true Nile fashion, the album begins with an assault to the senses in “Long Shadows of Dread” which was the first track that was released prior to the full release date. Relentless riffage from the depths of Ancient Egypt, beyond humanly possible blast beats and powerful vocals, giving the listener no mercy. The next track “Oxford Handbook of Savage Genocidal Warfare” clocks in at just over 3 minutes and is full of intricate guitar work and blast beats which are among the craziest heard from drummer extraordinaire George Kollias (no small feat by any means)

The title track “Vile Nilotic Rites” is among the standout tracks on the record. The evocation of ultimate chaos and despair through ancient Egypt can be imagined through the barbaric arpeggio riffs and harmonised tremolo guitars.

“Seven Horns of War” the longest track on the album is a particular favourite given how epic it actually is. A band using orchestral ideas to further encapsulate the listener into the ancient times of Pharaohs, Pyramids and slavery is masterful and absolute genius. “That Which is Forbidden” starts off slower compared to a lot of the previous material, but builds up. Reverting back to the band’s original sound on this one it creates a more primeval and ancient tone.

“Where is the Wrathful Sky” needs to be commended for the implementation of flamenco guitar which gives it a more middle eastern folk flavour which I know Karl Sanders has always been a fan of given his both solo albums have this heavily.

It takes special kind of musicians to craft a Nile album and this one is no different to what the band has been producing since 1993. Another performance from George Kollias for the ages and the writing of Karl Sanders knows no bounds. The addition of the new members provides a new angle on what they are capable of and can only be a good thing for the future. Like a well-oiled machine, it shows no signs of letting up and can almost be considered a reinvention of their brand of chaotic yet intellectually epic death metal.

Band: Nile
Album: Vile Nilotic Rites
Year: 2019
Genre: Technical Death Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast
Origin: USA