From The Vault - NILE Part 2 of 2

In Part 1 of this post I presented some pictures of Nile while touring for Amongst The Catacombs Of Nephren-Ka. Here now is Nile live on November 9, 2010 at Brick By Brick in San Diego soon after the release of Black Seeds Of Vengeance.

Click on any of the pictures to see more photos of Nile in 2000 (16).

Nile seemed to take a huge leap forward with their stage show in 18 months, maybe it was the fact that they were eager to play new material. Whatever the case, the band was relentless in delivering a brutal, crushing show. I missed the openers for this show, which I believe were Impaled and Incantation.

From The Vault - NILE Part 1 of 2

Death metal kings Nile played Station 4 in St. Paul last week, so here's the first of two posts of some old pictures of the band. First are pictures from March 28, 1999 at the Granada Theater in Lawrence, Kansas that had them opening for Stuck Mojo. A strange billing for sure, but Nile had just wrapped up one the final tours in support of their earthshaking debut album Amongst The Catacombs of Nephren-Ka. The band was slated to drive across Kansas on their way home so the promoter added them since Stuck Mojo lacked a national support band.

Click on either of the pictures to see more live photos of Nile from 1999 (8).

Nile went over better with this crowd than you might expect, and they ripped the place up before Stuck Mojo took over. I interviewed Nile mastermind guitarist Karl Sanders before the show, too. He certainly seemed road-weary, but he was extremely kind and really went out of his way to make me feel at home as we chatting in the RV. Pictures going this far back were taken on a old crappy camera so excuse their low-budget nature.

Album Review - NILE

This post got delayed a little, but better late than never...

Nile – At The Gate Of Sethu

Nuclear Blast, July 2012

7/10

On their seventh album, Nile has deviated somewhat from their usual style of death metal and stirred up some controversy in the process. Most of the complaints I’ve heard center around the heavy use of a shouted or barked vocal style in place of the typical death growl. Longtime fans will certainly find this to be a shock, and I can sympathize with any disappointment. However, it’s not something that ruins the album and actual helps some of the songs sound more brutal. Everything else you expect form Nile is otherwise here – blinding, technical riffs, massive drumming, and a touch of Middle Eastern sounds. After an acceptable start to the album, things kick into high gear on the third song, “The Inevitable Degradation of Flesh”, followed by “When My Wrath Is Done” which features some some, epic parts. A brief interlude is next, then “The Gods Who Light Up The Sky At The Gate Of Sethu” completely levels everything with a crushing rhythm layered underneath a simply guitar melody. This is clearly the best track of the album, and the remainder settles back in suitable but unremarkable fashion. At The Gate Of Sethu isn’t Nile’s best (a tall order considering their remarkable catalog), but it’s not the botched album that you may have been led to believe. If you’ve been put off by this release I’d urge you to give it another listen; fans of Nile will certainly want to have this.

Nile performed a two-set show Saturday, March 16 at Station 4 in St. Paul with support from Face Of Oblivion, Daigoro, and Beauty Of Decay.

In Concert This Week - March 14, 2013

Tonight, Thursday, March 14 is a night a local metal at Station 4 in St. Paul with Prophets Of Aether, Solar Slaughter, Odin, Compassion Dies, Pademic, and Monster Of Creation.

One of the oddest billings I’ve seen in a while is Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band with Kid Rock at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on Friday, March 15. Both artists are on their own headlining tours, and this is only one of two dates (the other being in Fargo on Saturday, March 16) where they are on the same bill as co-headliners. According to Ticketmaster the St. Paul show is nearly sold out. Local hard rock band Throw The Fight is having a 16+ release party for their new EP The Vault that same night at Station 4 in St. Paul with 3 Pill Morning, Aeous, and Forever Waiting.

South Carolina’s ancient-worshipping death metal masters Nile will play a two-set 16+ show with Face Of Oblivion, Daigoro, and Beauty Of Decay at Station 4 in St. Paul on Saturday, March 16. That same night, hard rock bands Buckcherry and New Medicine play a 21+ show at the Medina Entertainment Center in Medina. Buckcherry is currently out as direct support to Kid Rock, but this stopgap headlining show is taking place while Kid Rock plays two headlining shows with Bob Seger.

Rap/punk rock weed lovers Kottonmouth Kings bring their entertaining show to Mill City Nights in Minneapolis for a 16+ show on Sunday, March 17 with Killa Capone, Bobby James, and Lazy J.

Detroit hardcore band Tides Of War returns to town on Wednesday, March 20 for an all ages show with support from Athen’s Grace, Encryptor, A Moment In Time, and In Search Of Solace.

Abigail Williams Cancels Nile Tour

Candlelight Records recording artist Abigail Williams has announced on their Myspace page that they have cancelled their support slot for Nile on their current tour. Drummer Ken Meyers was recently injured, and this is the recent for the tour cancellation.

The Nile tour will still bring support bands Immolation, Krisiun, and Dreaming Dead to Station 4 in St. Paul on Saturday, January 23.

Nile Guitarist Karl Sanders Offers Private Lessons Before St. Paul Show

Karl Sanders, guitarist and founder of Nile, is offering private guitar lessons at all stops on their upcoming US tour, including a performance on Saturday, January 23 at Station 4 in St. Paul. Lessons cost $100 per hour, and will take place at Station 4 before the show. The cost of the lesson also includes admission to the show and the opportunity to watch Nile's soundcheck. Additional details, including reservation information, can be found on Nile's Myspace page.