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An apt description of this album for anyone already familiar with any of Nile’s previous work is more of the same. Yet by more of the same I do not mean that there is no change or progression, just that the progression is in the form of even further refinement, a sort of refinement of the original sound of the band that has been present on each successive album. Nile seem to be a band that had a very definite vision from the outset and have been continually working towards that vision through all of their releases. While in many if not most cases the early work of a band represents the essence of their creativity and later releases a degraded version of that original genius, in Nile’s case an early album like “Amongst the Catacomb’s of Nephren-Ka” seems to have the main purpose of preparing the way for more recent material like “Annihilation of the Wicked” or 2002’s “In Their Darkened Shrines.” With the theme of ancient Egypt, the apparent musical trend towards greater control and gravitas is quite fitting.
Things get started with a nice elaborately titled Oriental sounding acoustic intro before “Cast Down the Heretic” begins. This song is Nile at their absolute best. Fast and precise percussion and riffing create ancient and unyielding themes, soundscapes dark and grim against which is presented an account of fanatic and violent cultic practice. It also features some of the best soloing of their career, making it an ideal example of their strengths. Following this are a variety of different song types and lengths. There are three songs coming in at around nine minutes (“User-Maat-Re,” “Annihilation of the Wicked” and “Von Unaussprechlichen Kulten”). Nile is very good at crafting songs of this length, each of the three on this album having their own unique progression and feeling. This of course does not mean that the shorter songs aren’t equally varied and engaging. The best examples of these are “The Burning Pits of Duat” and “Lashed to the Slave Stick,” the latter having an almost groove-like (but nonetheless very aggressive) beat, the type of experimentation that would greatly advance the death metal scene if pursued more regularly.
The steadily growing power of Nile continues on, fulfilling what is perhaps the most important role of extreme metal: using musical virtuosity and concept to bring to the listener the experience of foreign and terrible world views. Here it is the divine oppression of Egypt, whose life was that of her gods and endless natural cycles, something that the band understands very well.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Dusk Falls Upon The Temple Of The |
| Serpent Of The Mount Of Sunrise |
| 2. Cast Down The Heretic |
| 3. Sacrifice Unto Sebek |
| 4. User-Maat-Re |
| 5. The Burning Pits Of Duat |
| 6. Chapter Of Obeisance Before Giving |
| Breath To The Inert One In The |
| Presence Of The Crescent Shaped Horns |
| 7. Lashed To The Slave Stick |
| 8. Spawn Of Uamenti |
| 9. Annihilation Of The Wicked |
| 10. Von Unaussprechlichen Kulten |
: 52.04
| Buy other Nile albums |
