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Nile - Those Whom The Gods Detest

Published October 12 2009


*
=Staff's pick

Kafir!
Hittite Dung Incantation
Utterances Of The Crawling Dead
Those Whom The Gods Detest
4th Arra Of Dagon*
Permitting The Noble Dead In The Abandoned Towers Of Silence
Kem Khefa Kheshef*
The Eye Of Ra*
Iskander D´hul Karnon


Genre Death Metal
Karl S./Dallas T-W
Vocals
Tracks 10
Karl Sanders
Guitar
Runningtime 56 Min.
Dallas Toler-Wade
Guitar
Label Nuclear Blast
-
Bass
Release 06 November 2009
George Kollias
Drums
Country USA
-
Keyboard
Similar artists Cryptopsy

Those Whom The Gods Detest is the sixth full length album from the american death metal band Nile. I am going to start right away saying that this band is completely new to me so my reflections below are without comparisons to anything previously released from them. Nile combine technical and traditional death metal, and are gathering the major part of their influences and inspiration from egyptology and their music also contains parts of egyptian instruments. They are among many considered one of the most unique and creative death metal band there is.

The vocals are something that really appeals to me, since it is a mixture of heavy and raspy growls while still being very clear. Occasionally the vocals are lowered to an extreme level of brutality, although not too often so you get tired of that element but just enough to make it a good and spicy ingredient and it creates dynamic and maintains the interest for it throughout the album.

Musically, this album has a very good momentum and a powerful groove throughout the tracklist but at the same time they have a harmonic flow which makes this a very enjoyable listening. I personally think there are a few too many slow parts but I realise and appreciate that that is because of their chosen musical theme and is needed to build the atmosphere and the dynamic needed for an experience above and beyond average.

The opening track Kafir! is pretty much standard death metal but there are some really nice and heavy riff parts. There are also some changes in tempo that fits very nicely, but if you are in the mood for straight forward and grinding death metal, this might not be your primary choice. The last couple of minutes are very nice with simple but effective riff work and elements of choir singing.

During the first half of the album we find two longer songs, both closing in at around eight minutes. The best one of those I think is 4th Arra Of Dagon, despite a somewhat mediocre middle section, but the last part of the song is very good. The second part of the album feels more powerful and definitely contains more speed than the first. Here we get some really heavy parts with galloping drums, some really brutal riffs and very impressive vocal work.

In conclusion, a really good album with impressive efforts both musically and vocally. The album as a whole is very good but unfortunately I find a handful of weak parts during the first half so the grade, although relatively high, stops at a modest level. Had the first half of the album been on the same level as the brilliant second one, the grade would have climbed a point or so even higher.

See also review of: Annihilation Of The Wicked

Performance
Originality
Production
Vocals
Songwriting

7

8,5

7

8

7

 
Summary



7 chalices of 10 - Tribe


Related links:

www.nile-catacombs.net
www.myspace.com/nilecatacombs