Nile - Those Whom the Gods Detest

NILE - Those Whom the Gods Detest (NUCLEAR BLAST - LP 2009)

It's incredible how every Nile albums can impress and how they so easily can achieve the highest quality one could imagine. It's almost hard to decide, which album is my favourite, because one day I listen to "In Their Darkened Shrines" or "Annihilation of the Wicked" and think that it cannot get any better than that. And then BANG, "Those Whom the Gods Detest" proves that it is possible to at least equal the greatness of these best Nile albums. It's like there's a never-ending potential in these guys, Karl Sanders mainly, and it is an unstoppable death metal machine - which can easily be called the best death metal band of XXI Century.  

Anyway, I've just spent a whole day crushing this fuckin "Those Whom the Gods Detest" vinyl and I feel my every bone hurts, so intense is this experience. I really love this album. From start it brings some of the best Nile songs and the quality never fails to impress. For me personally the most important aspect of this album is the right balance, which Nile captured here between the technical, brutal and crushing death metal wall and these more memorable, sometimes atmospheric, parts, which always characterized Nile style. "Those Whom the Gods Detest" doesn't bring anything new to their style, it pretty much follows what the previous albums had to offer. But songwriting - which was always so awesome - here is of the highest quality, which is why every song is a pure massacre.  

RIFFS - there are some absolutely amazing riffs, in songs like "Utterances of the Crawling Dead" for instance. But I would really have to mention every track from this album, because it is filled with fantastic riffage. Vocals - I always loved how Nile mixes different kinds of brutal growls, screams, chants, etc. It is one of the most characteristic aspects of their music. "Those Whom..." is yet again perfect with the vocal delivery, as well as the lyrical concept, which is so important for Nile music. And which I always like to read about, with both the lyrics, but also their explanations, which you can find in the booklet. And finally, you can always find impressive influence from the Middle Eastern music, which perfectly fit Nile's death metal and add that atmospheric aspect to it. The title song is the best example for that on this particular album, what immediately makes it also the best song on it. What a masterpiece it is. I feel goose skin, when I hear these monumental, majestic riffs, accompanied by keyboards and chanting vocals. A-fuckin-mazing. 

I also have to give a mention the perfect production of "Those Whom the Gods Detest"... and I better end now. I can only speak in positive words about this album and Nile in general. And if you're a fan of them, you know what to expect and I am sure you love "Those Whom..." already. If you've never liked Nile, then you probably don't even read this review, so who cares... Godly band. Godly album. 

There is no god!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Standout tracks: "Kafir", "Utterances of the Crawling Dead", "Those Whom the Gods Detest" 

Verdict: 90/100