Nile
Ithyphallic ()
Wydane przez Nuclear Blast RecordsRok wydania Kraj USANapisał Wouter7
Coming two years after the critically acclaimed "Annihilation Of the Wicked" Nile's latest slab of Egyptian inspired brutal technical death metal is a solid, generally unadventurous affair that will safely cement the band's position in the upper echelon of the genre. "Ithyphallic" doesn't take any concessions in brutality, precision or epicness yet one can't shake the impression that Nile played it safe for their debut on Nuclear Blast Records. 'Papyrus Containing The Spell To Preserve Its Possessor Against Attacks From He Who Is In The Water' – the album's roll-out single – sets the tone perfectly with its lethal whirlwind of technical riffing, avalanche style drumming by George Kollias and the vocal interaction between Dallas Toler-Wade and Karl Sanders. 'Laying Fire Upon Apep' is a blistering assault that leaves little to the imagination. 'As He Creates, So He Destroys' is standard Nile and only the chant towards the end forms the highlight of this cut. 'What Can Be Safely Written' is indeed safely written as this track doesn't deviate from the known Nile formula; a good track, but never adventurous in any daring form. "Ithyphallic" is generally not quite the speedfest as "Black Seeds Of Vengeance" or "In Their Darkened Shrines", but its more controlled pace does result in material that enhances the epic scope this kind of music needs. Toler-Wade and Sanders share vocal duties and it's clear that Toler-Wade has honed his craft as his vocals are unusually clear and enunciated for usual death metal standards. In comparison to the Relapse Records albums "Ithyphallic" suffers from slightly unspectacular artwork. All critics aside, this is a good and consistent album for those getting to know Nile with this record. Those who loved the band's previous outings might not be all that excited about "Ithyphallic" more controlled and generally slower paced nature. Good album, but not quite the 'be all, end all' many of us thought this would turn out to be.
www.nile-catacombs.net
