On The Download: Nile

Death metal is a difficult nut to crack. The genre’s music is loud and unbelievably fast and aggressive, while the subject matter deals, for the most part, with very dark and very brutal content. But beneath the scarier aspects of the style really lies a foundation of musicality that is quite impressive and intricate. And perhaps no other band demonstrates this better than Nile.

Formed by multi-talented guitarist and composer Karl Sanders in the mid ‘90s, they have released six albums, each one epic in scope and style, and dealing with various facets of ancient Egyptian mythology and history. Song titles range from the straightforward “The Blessed Dead,” to the devilishly complex “Chapter of Obeisance Before Giving Breath to the Inert One in the Presence of the Crescent Shaped Horns.” Needless to say, the musicianship displayed is some of the most technically proficient in any musical genre, and each member of the band can easily be classified as a true master of his respective instrument.

Nile’s newest studio effort, last year’s “Those Whom the Gods Detest,” does not disappoint, seamlessly combining ancient rhythms, instruments, religious chants and prose with today’s heavy, modern, technically oriented instrumentation. The effort also provides their clearest production yet (thanks to metal production legends Neil Kernon and Erik Rutan at the soundboard), along with some of their most advanced and melodic musical compositions.

With all this said, there are many bands that can create incredibly dynamic studio albums, but it is another thing altogether to go out and play such masterpieces live, night in, night out, in front of rabid, bloodthirsty fans. Luckily, Nile does not disappoint in this aspect either, and at their performance at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip on Tuesday, fans were treated to a monumental show.

Opening with the scorcher “Kafir,” it was clear Nile had invaded Hollywood to do only one thing — demolish their fans with their trademarked intense, brutal metal groove. Their chief weapon in the musical onslaught was clearly their drummer, George Kolias. His precise, inhuman attack is something that even when seen live seems unreal, and his fills (and Nile songs have many of these moments) are some of the most unique in the industry. Lead singer/guitarist Dallas Toler-Wade also impressed, singing complex lyrics all while playing with the accuracy of a soloist, while band leader Karl Sanders, who appeared onstage with his custom-designed double-neck Flying V guitar, moved his hands around the dual fretboards as if they were organic extensions of his arms.

Highlights of the night included a blisteringly sharp performance of the mid-paced trip to hell “Sarcophagus,” along with stand-out track “Hittite Dung Incantation” and the title track of their second album, the haunting and powerful “Black Seeds of Vengeance.”

Truly an innovative and impressive band, Nile is one that needs to be seen to be believed. Their musicianship is some of the most outstanding in the business, and their songs continuously leave metal-heads with ringing ears, sore necks, and wide smiles. Tuesday night in Hollywood was no exception.