NILE - The Underworld Awaits Us All 2-LP (Black Vinyl)

Nile is one of the pioneering bands of the brutal technical death metal genre, alongside bands like Cryptopsy and Suffocation. However, what has always made this band special is its unique style of handling Egyptian themes, transporting you to that golden era of ancient Egypt. I discovered this band with their legendary album Annihilation of the Wicked, and from that point on, I became a devoted fan of their very unique musical style. This new release gives us a continuation of what we heard on the previous album, Vile Nilotic Rites. Five years have passed, and Karl Sanders, along with George Kollias, delivers one of the most outstanding albums of their career.

The Underworld Awaits Us All is a journey through the entire career of the band; you have that Egyptian atmosphere in most of the songs. I can highlight the song "True Gods of the Desert," which feels like touring the impressive Pyramid of Giza with those choruses that seem to be recited by Ramses II himself. It's not a very fast song; rather, it’s at a mid-pace, which adds variety to the album. However, the entire album is quite fast, as Nile has accustomed us to, with that inhuman drumming by Mr. Kollias, the infectious and technical riffs by Karl and Brian, using their very traditional scales that make it sound like ancient Egypt most of the time. Ultra-fast guitar solos by Sanders are also featured.