At the Gate of Sethu

As I have said before, I appreciate the production of Nile albums continually getting better. In the past they always were really muddy sounding. Even though they still have some improvements to make production wise, this is on par with the sound production of the previous 3 albums. In addition, they have liner notes and GREAT artwork with this release too. This is my favorite artwork of any of their releases thus far. The packaging of Nile albums, and the artwork adds to the shear awesome experience of listening to this great band.Death metal like this can be an acquired taste for people, including those who already listen to metal. I enjoy all types of metal, but after listening to some of everything that there is to offer over the years, the technical ability and unique sound of Nile never fails to amaze me. They are better live than they are on record, because actually seeing them destroying their instruments on stage is something out of this world. They have some of the most impressive gear and electronics I have ever seen. They are comfortable at what they do and it shows!!Stand out tracks to me are track 2,3, 6, and 10. I like the Nile songs that mix some of the catchy grooves and choruses in with trashing and insane riffing. There really isn't much else to say about Nile in general that hasn't already been said. The track by track analysis others have wrote are accurate. If you are new to death metal, or want to listen to the best in the genre, Nile is one of the best. Sit back with some headphones on and turn it up really really really loud.

I was introduced to Nile with their 2002 release 'In Their Darkned Shrine' and since then have anticipated each release with anticipation & HUNGER!! So what have the Egyption Death Metal Gods delivered this time? Its still contains that Nile signature: Extreme Drum work by George Kollias, Fast Paced (Guitars) Heart Pounding, Deep Guttural vocals by Karl Sanders & Dallas Toler WadeAt the Gate of Sethu is exactly what i had predicted and proud to say, Its showing Nile move forward and they did it like a Magician pulls a Rabbit out of a Hat, no struggle, no double take. This may not be ' Album of the Year', but its still the same Nile that delivered 'Annihilation of the Wicked' (One of my favorite albums ... Period!)At the Gate of Sethu 4.5 / 5 well executed and bound into becoming a Death Metal Classic! .... For fans of 'Face Melting/Ear Bleeding/Crapping in Your Pants' Metal' ;PSUPPORT Nile!

I've been a Nile fan since 2000/2001The first Nile record I heard was Black Seeds of Vengeance. So of course it holds a special spot in my heart.These guys keep producing amazing death metal. Release after release, it's always my top album of the year.Sethu is no different. It's hard to believe, but it might be my favorite Nile album.People whine about the production, but I absolutely love it. It's incredibly clear, I can hear EVERYTHING that the band is playing.One of the things I've always loved about Nile is how catchy their material is. Sethu is that and more. Brutal as all get out, still blistering fast, and some amazing solos.Like Those Whom The Gods Detest, there are some seriously killer riffs, Sethu even more so.Sethu seems to combine the old school Nile sound, with the new. Maybe that's why I enjoy it so much.

I hated this album on the first several listens. I was convinced Annihilation of the Wicked was the best. After literallly hundreds of hours later, I probably stand corrected.Nile is almost a genre unto itself. So many queries as to what band is similar..... None that I can find.Rejoice in the glory. I pray that every new release is as diverse even in its external similarity.Buy this one without remorse. A cursory listen makes it sound homogenous but we all know what the Nile monster is..... anything but.

Nile deliver another vicious album. Here we see shorter songs, a diverse mix of vocal styles, and a cleaner production quality (which I like...shoot me). As is typical with Nile, we're treated to a healthy dose of grinding, technical, mind-numbing brutality tastefully interspersed with eerie, grotesque sounding interludes. They're sticking to a formula, but the formula hasn't gotten old (for me at least). It may just be there best yet. Depends on who you talk to, but regardless, a 5 star effort.

Technical and musical. Love this album, great from start to finish and on repeat.

Because this will melt your face. Yet again Nile has not disappointed. It has the same feel as all of their other albums but is distinctly its own. If you like death metal and want to feel like the ground is splitting and you are going to be dragged down to the underworld, buy this record.

4.5 stars !!!!!

When a band like Nile release a new album, one can't help but be excited for all the joys said album is bound to bring. At The Gate Of Sethu is Nile's seventh album and still Nile reign on high as princes, nay Kings of Technical Death Metal mastery. The drumming is blisteringly fast, the guitars are super quick and the vocals are fantastic. With that, I'll get into the review.The vocals on ATGOS feel and indeed sound completely different to anything Nile have previously released. The deep growls are more inaudible than before, what was once super scary growls have become more low rumbles. Usually this would be a bad thing, but the atmospheric quality this brings is nothing short of brilliance, and luckily, you can still hear the lyrics. Other vocals on this album took me by surprise, probably best portrayed in the single 'The Fiends Who Come To Steal The Magick Of The Deceased.' On this single, we first hear the low growls I spoke of, then we hear another surge of vocals that I can only describe as Thrash meets Death Metal. Very raspy, and very rough, and not something Nile have done for a good few years, but a new breath of fresh air is always welcome when listening to Metal. We also get some clean vocals in this single, admittedly it's only four words long, but it's a powerful and sweetly haunting passage that really rings through. I can only wish that this clear vocal was carried on into other songs on the album.Next up is the musicianship. Nile are top musicians, and the song-writing complements the technical complexity to extreme limits. The final result of how it sounds is unbelievable. The drumming is quick and precise... as are the guitars. Typical Nile.Once again, Karl Sanders also treats us fans to liner notes alongside the lyrics in the booklet, showing us his inspiration musically and lyrically for each and every song. Which as always gives a lovely depth and intrigue to the album, and is most appreciated. One thing I will state very clearly, is the artwork! It's some of the best Nile have shown us, it's all very dark and haunting. The digipak packaging also comes with an embossed cover with a murky silver tint to it all. Strangely beautiful.My only negative to this album are the bonus tracks, two instrumental versions of a couple songs from the album are all you get unfortunately. But I think I can look past that.For me, a brilliant release that takes a valued place in my CD collection. Not Nile's best album, but it comes bloody close.8/10.

I got the album today and listened to it multiple times. Being a Nile fan for 10 years this album is another heavy addition on their impeccable discography. The album has a cleaner/clearer feeling to it (mix?) with more identifiable vocals and riffs. Ah the riffs....The riffs are just beyond brutality. With a clearer sound one can identify and feast upon the dissonant guitars and their unstoppable change of pace. Songs like 'Supreme Humanism of Megalomania' are another great example of compressed denseness - great lead guitar.Once again I really enjoyed and appreciated the CD booklet and the nice attention to detail. The side text is humorous and witty without sounding pompous (Ethno-musicological cannibalism for example!!). Little details like this plus a very nice interior art work make it worth buying a physical copy/CD rather than just getting the itunes/mp3 version (at least for me!!).If there is one thing I miss in this album is the atmospheric qualities of albums like 'Black Seeds...', that can bring diversity to the onslaught fast pace rampage of the tracks. But as a different album it succeeds massively. Different and refreshed, maybe this album is a new step for Nile to push what already is an ultra talented band into a new malign sonic mythos!!

I love this record, certainly my favourite nile together with Black seeds, its more thrashier on production and vocals, i wish they would continue like this, weirdly most of the songs are written by Sanders and Kollias and not Dallas, that for me makes it really special, very pleased overal.

I have not heard this band, but got in to them through the Nuclear Blast website. Its a very brutal and dark album with excellent lyrics based on the Egyptian Book of the dead. there are also great notes in the cd on each track, giving an insight in to the lyrics.

Great Album, AAA+++