Review: Nile – The Underworld Awaits Us All
Don’t some really big crocodiles come from there or something?
2024 has been a great year for metal music so far, with heavy-hitting albums coming out from both new and old school bands alike. Yet for some reason I still often feel like there’s not enough to listen to, like there’s something missing from the musical landscape this year. I think this new Nile record may just be what I’ve been looking for. It’s been a long and difficult 5 years since Nile’s last album but now they’re back with the same style we all know and love them for; I think they’re on track to make this year one for the history books. The Underworld Awaits Us All releases August 23rd, so without further ado, let’s talk about it.
There’s no getting around the fact that Nile has been around for a very long time, and as such I initially wondered how this record would hold up historically compared to their previous work. Especially when it comes to things like harsh vocals, there wasn’t much proper training in the ’90s so a lot of the vocalists of that era simply can’t do what they used to do anymore *cough* Chris Barnes *cough*. Fortunately, it seems like Karl was able to preserve his harsh vocals all these years later, and can still perform to the same standards. Comparing the historical performance of the other band members is unfortunately not as simple given the number of lineup changes Nile has been through, but what really matters is that they were still able to put together an absolute banger of a record so I’ll give credit where it’s due. The instrumentation on this new record is nothing short of masterful; somehow they all keep up and maintain a tight sound despite playing well faster than I can comprehend what they’re doing. Some of these tracks have near constant blast beats with plenty of clinks and clanks from the cymbals serving as delicious ear candy. Layered on top of that they have heavily distorted guitars searing themselves across the mix, and of course, a fresh dose of Karl’s signature false chord vocals.
The track list starts off strong with “Stelae Of Vultures”, which as any good intro track does, sets the tone of the record; and let me say, it’s one hell of a tone to set. Starting off with a buildup from the guitars and drums Nile then drops us hard into a pit of blast beats, blisteringly fast guitar lines, and gnarly-ass guttural vocals. This continues on for most of the track with plenty of changeups, breakdowns, and even a solo thrown in there just in case all of that wasn’t enough. It’s a highly competent track that really shows off the sheer abundance of skill each member of this band has in their respective crafts.
This record contains no shortage of standout tracks but I think another one particularly worth noting is track 9, “True Gods Of the Desert.” It’s a long one coming in at just over 7 minutes long but it absolutely does not overstay its welcome. It’s groovier than most of the rest of them and has this nasty guitar tone that makes THONK sounds every time they hit a palm mute. It also has a plethora of different vocal styles going on: from cleans to gutturals to high pitched frys this track has it all—I think it’s the best single track to represent the album. It’s like a lumbering beast marching through a desert sandstorm, you don’t know what it’s going to do next but you know it’s gonna be badass. While this one is specifically worth pointing out, don’t go thinking that’s all this record has to offer; if you like one of them it’s likely that you’ll enjoy them all.
Overall this is a very solid old school death metal record and it fits seamlessly into the rest of Nile’s discography. It’s well produced, professionally executed, and has everything a fan of the genre would want. It doesn’t really do much to stand out from anything Nile has done previously so that, in my opinion, holds it back from getting five Toilets; but if you’re a fan of Nile or the genre in general, this will make for an enjoyable listen. The Underworld Awaits Us All has a lot going for it and I think it will sit well with most all Nile and Classic Death metal fans, so with that…. I feel confident giving this record…
4/5 Flaming Toilets ov Hell
The Underworld Awaits Us All releases August 23rd via Napalm Records. Listen on Bandcamp!
