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Rating:
The first album after changing labels is always difficult. I believe this was also the case for Nile, whom I’ve followed since the beginning of their recording career, as they immediately showcased evident distinctive qualities, primarily for the concept derived from the history of ancient Egypt and then for how those settings were replicated in the tracks.
I have always appreciated the fact that, even though they never shied away from creating a powerful and majestic sound within the death metal sphere, they managed to give it considerable variety and enriched it with structural dynamics that made them almost unique. With four works released through Relapse, they demonstrated that the combination of technique and brutality, supported by original and creative ideas, still allows for the production of sounds capable of challenging and impressing. I’m not aware of the reasons why their collaboration with the label ended, but now we find them signed with Nuclear Blast and the impression from listening to "Ithyphallic" is that they tried to consolidate their position while awaiting future developments, as if not wanting to disappoint the expectations of the new employer, but at the same time freezing the evolutionary process. This results in ten tracks that end up being even more monolithic and "mean" than what they had made us hear so far, but by doing so, losing that added value from a refined management of nuances, details, and particulars.
On the other hand, they further improved the technical/instrumental/vocal aspect and allow the tracks to be suffused with dark and sinister atmospheres (almost reminiscent of Morbid Angel) and paced or slowed breaks (never limited to linear solutions) that definitely make them interesting. As an additional note, I must highlight how "Ithyphallic" is enriched by an exceptional song, "Even The Gods Must Die", which serves to close the ceremonial through gloomy settings, granitic sounds, and pure concentrated nastiness.
Ultimately, we can say that Nile has partially moved away from their oldest roots to focus on creating a work more aligned with traditional death canons, but for this reason less rich in inventiveness, though indisputably perfect.
A bit too "normal," hence I deduct a point...!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 As He Creates So He Destroys (04:36)
At the seething and fiery center He sits upon his ebon throne Within his halls of darkness Which no man has seen and survived the vision Both blind and bereft of mind He pipes unceasingly on his reed flute And the notes that rise and fall in measured patterns Are the foundations of all the worlds Ever calculating in sound the structure of space and time Were his flute ever to suddenly fall silent All the spheres would shatter into one another And the myriads of worlds Would be unmade As they were before creation The flute of the blind idiot Both makes and unmakes the worlds in ceaseless Combinations Spinning on the woven carpet of time No creation without destruction No destruction without creation To unmake a thing is to make another Each time a thing is made Another is destroyed [solo: Dallas] The idiot god on his black throne Does not choose What shall rise into being And what should pass away He cares only to maintain His mindless unholy music of Random creation and destruction No living creature can look upon his face And endure its terrible heat And black radiance That is like the reverberating unseen rays of molten iron Which strike and burn the skin Of those who would dare Gaze into the countenance of the idiot god Never does he receive supplicants In his black halls of uncouth angles and strange doors Nor does he ever hear prayers or answer them Endlessly he pipes And endlessly he devours his own substance For his hunger is insatiable As he consumes his own wastes after the custom of idiots As the god creates So he destroys
04 Papyrus Containing the Spell to Preserve Its Possessor Against Attacks From He Who Is in the Water (02:56)
12 Papyrus Containing the Spell to Preserve Its Possessor Against Attacks From He Who Is in the Water (instrumental) (02:56)
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By Tepes
Ithyphallic is boring, so boring: what was baroque in Annihilation Of The Wicked here becomes Kitsch, what was dark becomes bland, what was superlative becomes mediocre.
If In Their Darkened Shrines could be compared to a magnificent film like Ben Hur, then Ithyphallic corresponds to the ugly and 'thrashy' Troy.
