On November 1st, 2019, NILE released their ninth full-length album "Vile Nilotic Rites." NILE formed in their hometown of Greenville, South Carolina in 1993. These kings of technical death metal have an impressive catalog of releases. Since "What Should Not Be Unearthed" was released in 2015, Brad Parris and Brian Kingsland have joined the band. Guitarist/vocalist Brian (of ENTHEAN) is the newest addition to the band, having joined in 2017, while bassist/vocalist Brad (of RED HERRING and SERPENTS WHISPER) joined in 2015. Long-time drummer George Kollias and founding member Karl Sanders round out the current lineup.

NILE keeps with the Egyptian themes and musical motifs on this album, though with a focus on the decline of civilizations and how it might parallel current civilizations. Additionally, NILE aimed to keep tracks lean on this record, cutting out solos and parts that don't fit for a more cohesive record. On this album, you will hear both brutal slowdowns and fast-paced riffs, and a light-handed use of symphonic elements.

The first track is the memorable "Long Shadows of Dread." The background gongs herald an inevitable and impending doom. These gongs complement the slowdown and the drawn out gutturals towards the end of the track. The next track "The Oxford Handbook of Savage Genocidal Warfare" also features a slowdown towards the end of the track that contrasts the freight train of riffs that is the rest of the song. Next, I will skip to the fourth track "Seven Horns of War," an 8 minute epic. Orchestration is used throughout this track, adding to the atmosphere created by the relentless drumming and riffage. The second half is a well-executed series of musical passages that transition seamlessly and buildup to the outro.

The fifth track "That Which Is Forbidden" and the seventh track "Revel in Their Suffering," are similarly straightforward death metal songs with good performances from each band member. These tracks bookend the memorably sixth track titled "Snake Pit Mating Frenzy." It's nothing too extraordinary, but it is 3 minutes of crazy frenetic riffs and drumming. The last track that stood out was "The Imperishable Stars are Sickened," another 8 minute long epic. Notably, the brief interlude in the middle of the track is a soft Egyptian-inspired melody. It starkly contrasts the pummeling heavy riff immediately following.

 Overall, I recommend "Vile Nilotic Rites" to death metal fans everywhere. This is a solid addition to NILE's discography and a thoroughly enjoyable record. Technical without the overzealous wankery associated with the technical death metal genre nowadays. Even at just over 25 years of being a band, NILE proves they are still capable of dependably crafting a good death metal record.