Ithyphallic
Nuclear Blast
This is Nile. Most people (most metal people anyway) know Nile. For the uninitiated, they play American death metal that is thematically and lyrically inspired by ancient Egypt. They play faster than hell and they have a penchant for using non-traditional instruments. On their album The Catacombs of Nephren-Ka, they employed some human-skull drumming. They are death metal legends who, much like Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel, have actually achieved a modicum of mainstream success. In short, Nile is very good.
Ithyphallic is the first album Nile made for Nuclear Blast, their new home after leaving long-time label Relapse. Coincidentally, Ithyphallic debuted in the high 100s on the Billboard chart and Nile played the second stage of the 2007 Ozzfest. I’m just sayin’…
Nile has outsmarted itself this time. The band has long been criticized for being nothing more than fast. While Ithyphallic is certainly a fast record, the arrangement of the songs and the individual instruments haven’t been sacrificed to the speed gods. Karl Sanders’ lead playing has never sounded better and this Nile line-up isn’t stepping all over each other like on Annihilation of the Wicked. In short, Ithyphallic is every bit as good as Nile’s classic Black Seeds of Vengeance.
Nile – Ithyphallic
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