Egyptian-themed technical death metal icons Nile are back with their eagerly anticipated eighth studio album, What Should Not Be Unearthed. Following 2012's At the Gate of Sethu, the new record is a powerful addition to the South Carolina band's consistent and revered catalogue. What Should Not Be Unearthed is massively heavy, featuring a barrage of crushing riffs, double-bass blasts and Nile's quintessential Middle Eastern sounds. Opener "Call to Destruction" is a whiplash-fast banger, showing that Karl Sanders and company haven't slowed down despite their years.
Blazing riffage and machine-gun drumming feature throughout the release, but they're showcased particularly well on tracks "Liber Stellae - Rubaeae," "Evil to Cast Out Evil" and "Rape of the Black Earth." Cuts like "In the Name of Amun" and "Ushabti Reanimator" provide a bit of a breather, featuring some mid-paced grooves and the band's classic use of unique instruments, which complement the album's theme of the origin of ancient Egypt. Intelligent and musically complex throughout, What Should Not Be Unearthed highlights the skilful musicianship and thought-provoking concepts that Nile have come to be known for since their 1993 inception.
(Nuclear Blast)Blazing riffage and machine-gun drumming feature throughout the release, but they're showcased particularly well on tracks "Liber Stellae - Rubaeae," "Evil to Cast Out Evil" and "Rape of the Black Earth." Cuts like "In the Name of Amun" and "Ushabti Reanimator" provide a bit of a breather, featuring some mid-paced grooves and the band's classic use of unique instruments, which complement the album's theme of the origin of ancient Egypt. Intelligent and musically complex throughout, What Should Not Be Unearthed highlights the skilful musicianship and thought-provoking concepts that Nile have come to be known for since their 1993 inception.
