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Nile - In Their Darkened Shrines



8.6 | 583 votes |
Release date: 2002
Style: Brutal death metal, Technical death metal

Owners:

792 have it
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01. The Blessed Dead
02. Execration Text
03. Sarcophagus
04. Kheftiu Asar Butchiu
05. Unas Slayer Of The Gods
06. Churning The Maelstrom
07. I Whisper In The Ear Of The Dead
08. Wind Of Horus
09. In Their Darkened Shrines I: Hall Of Saurian Entombment
10. In Their Darkened Shrines II: Invocation To Seditious Heresy
11. In Their Darkened Shrines III: Destruction Of The Temple Of The Enemies Of Ra
12. In Their Darkened Shrines IV: Ruins

Top 20 albums of 2002: 11

Additional info
Released via Relapse Records.

Staff review by
Herzebeth
Rating:
8.6
Nile is actually a very original band, their music is a mix of Brutal Death Metal with Technical approaches, plus some melodic environments added here and there, few bands manage to make hybrids sound cool, Nile is one of those bands, now let me review one of their most popular albums, "In Their Darkened Shrines"

Read more ››
published 29.07.2005 | Comments (15)

Guest review by
Auntie Sahar
Rating:
10
What more can be said of Nile that hasn't been said already? They have the distinction of being one of the most creative, most original, most consistent, and most technically accomplished death metal bands to emerge in the past twenty years. Also, I think that they may be second only to Opeth in terms of how well they combine brutality with an epic, atmospheric feel. And In Their Darkened Shrines is, in my opinion, the band at their absolute best.

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published 28.07.2011 | Comments (8)

By the will of the hallowed Re, I, Wennefer, the inspired forth - speaker of Memphis, doth proclaim the 20th anniversary of Nile's In Their Darkened Shrines.

A groundbreaking tome from the Nineteenth Dynasty, this work could easily be interpreted as representing the artist at his absolute peak. Bold, invigorated, and propelled by a seemingly unstoppable forward momentum, delighting in the lust of the conquest. Authoritative and firm in its writing, yet also quiet, contemplative, and eerily inviting. In Their Darkened Shrines was and remains a seminal work from this period, that would serve as a lightning point of reference to other artists and scribes of the Land of the Pharaohs, both at its contemporary date as well as further along, into the various Dynasties that succeeded it.

Begin your study of this legendary text, and rejoice unto the halls of Amenti that we have been blessed with its passing down to us from the Heavens.

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Comments

Comments: 22   Visited by: 984 users
31.08.2010 - 21:14
Rating: 9
Deadmeat
Necrobutcher
I have not completed the listening of this album yet; i am on the begining, i should say, but I have already been AMAZED by the amazing riffing on that. it is magnificent. it is just awesome. execration test and wind of horus are the best songs imo till now!
what i just dont like is the fact that it contains 9 songs and 3 -i'd call them interlude/instrumental songs. some of them have some moments when they are DM but i find it boring to listen to 6 non-DM minutes in a Nile album...

EDIT: this album rocks, i'd easily call it a Masterpiece and has probably the best music ever created by NILE. it would be a 10 "hands -down" but now it is a 9 because of the not needed interludes...
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Υou've sold your human essence to the cold world of dead and empty things... You're SOLD!
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23.08.2011 - 04:08
BeastOfMetal456
Account deleted
Written by Deadmeat on 31.08.2010 at 21:14

I have not completed the listening of this album yet; i am on the begining, i should say, but I have already been AMAZED by the amazing riffing on that. it is magnificent. it is just awesome. execration test and wind of horus are the best songs imo till now!
what i just dont like is the fact that it contains 9 songs and 3 -i'd call them interlude/instrumental songs. some of them have some moments when they are DM but i find it boring to listen to 6 non-DM minutes in a Nile album...

EDIT: this album rocks, i'd easily call it a Masterpiece and has probably the best music ever created by NILE. it would be a 10 "hands -down" but now it is a 9 because of the not needed interludes...

Actually I enjoyed those interludes as much as the DM songs. Great balance between brutality and oriental stuff. Great album. I agree about the riffing being amazing
I heard only once, all the tracks are good, but the best are "Execration Text" and "Unas".
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10.05.2012 - 21:54
serega25

This album is masterpiece . The ancient Gods of Egipet are fans of Nile.
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13.03.2014 - 22:26
Zap
Guest
I think I'm starting to prefer this one to Annihilation... They're both so fucking insane though.
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12.05.2014 - 23:45
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
I do enjoy that Candlemass homage. I always forget about it until I hear it.
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13.05.2014 - 01:40
Lit.
Account deleted
Nah, that's always gonna be Annihilation Of The Wicked.

Never particularly cared for this album, even prefer Those Whom The Gods Detest to it. The last bunch of songs are good shit, though.
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13.05.2014 - 19:02
Zap
Guest
Written by Guest on 12.05.2014 at 23:45

I do enjoy that Candlemass homage. I always forget about it until I hear it.

Same here, haha. I also always forget what band they were referencing until I hear the Candlemass song...
Written by deadone on 13.05.2014 at 01:38

Written by Zap on 13.03.2014 at 22:26

I think I'm starting to prefer this one to Annihilation... They're both so fucking insane though.

I prefer In Their Darkened Shrine - it's the pinnacle of their career IMO.

Still not sure, but I've been listening to this one a lot more than I used to I might agree with you now.
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13.05.2014 - 23:37
psykometal
A staff guy...
Written by Guest on 13.05.2014 at 01:40

Nah, that's always gonna be Annihilation Of The Wicked.

Pinnacle of their career with George Kollias, yes. Pinnacle of their entire career, no. This album is definitely the pinnacle of their entire career.
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~Zep, Database and Forum Moderation~

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13.05.2014 - 23:39
Rating: 9
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
^ Naaaaaah.

Better drums here.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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28.08.2015 - 00:52
Rating: 10
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
The peak of their career and a crucial album in the evolution of death metal
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I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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13.10.2017 - 04:06
VIG
Account deleted
I prefer this to AotW all day long. It feels more varied.

One of the few technical and "brutal" dm bands I like.
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12.08.2019 - 16:32
Rating: 9
Neronino

Perfect combination between Egyptian elements and death metal. Nile always doing this kind of stuff, but this album finds a perfect balance to make it exotic, brutal but still melodic. None of those features are overstep the boundary. Not too brutal, not soft, enough exotic but still extreme that blows your mind. Everything just belong to the right place, combined together to create a great atmosphere makes you imagine the ancient empire, the desert. So its always fun and enjoyable while listen to. One of the best death metal album ever made. 10/10
My favorite songs are Unas Slayer Of Gods and the In Their Darkened Shrines Quartet.
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11.06.2020 - 19:04
ickoriss

The best Nile album. I have nothing but praise for this tech-death masterpiece.
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31.01.2021 - 04:59
Rating: 9
JavierPaper

Very great album!
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09.10.2021 - 02:28
Rating: 9
F3ynman2000
Nocturnal Bro
I really liked this mix of brutal, technical, and melodic death metal with some Egyptian-vibes
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23.12.2021 - 19:12
Alakazam
spendin' cheese
Summing this up now to confirm this album features my favorite drumming I've heard. Tony Laureano did something special that made everything he hit with such a surprising factor boosted apart from the professional norm beatsticks. With that said this record has been an ever-increasing personal one that is up there for being the best, most listened-to death metal piece to me. It's the element of Egyptian darkness to Elvenefris' adaptation in light.
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I may not have the largest collection but I certainly have the absolute best

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10.07.2022 - 14:35
Rating: 9
F3ynman2000
Nocturnal Bro
Listening again to this and Annihilation Of The Wicked, trying to decide which is better.

I think Darkened Shrines captures the atmospheric approach the best as it's filled with slower instrumental sections (Unas, Whisper, Horus, Shrines I and IV), while Annihilation captures the brutal, technical, fast death metal best.

I guess it depends on the mood I'm in. Most of the time I prefer Annihilation's fast approach. The songs flow nicely from one to another, not giving you a chance to breathe. Darkened Shrines starts off with fast songs, but keeps getting slower with long song after longer song. It makes for a great atmosphere, but I need to be in the right mood so it can keep my attention - kind of like funeral doom. That said, both albums are of course masterpieces... and their debut isn't far behind!
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10.07.2022 - 23:13
gavdann

Written by F3ynman2000 on 10.07.2022 at 14:35

Listening again to this and Annihilation Of The Wicked, trying to decide which is better.

I still think Amongst the Catacombs of Nephren-Ka is their best. I freakin' love that album.

Black Seeds of Vengeance is also good but after that they tried to get too fast and too technical for my liking and as a result less memorable and less enjoyable.
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28.07.2022 - 08:24
Rating: 8
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Written by F3ynman2000 on 10.07.2022 at 14:35

Listening again to this and Annihilation Of The Wicked, trying to decide which is better.

I can't decide either I think Annihilation Of The Wicked is the more consistent album, and I like how the album flows with the short Middle Eastern inspired interludes, whuch you get more of on that, but at times the guitarwork just gets little too technical for my taste. I would have preferred more simple melodic riffing tbh, and I feel like I would have preferred some of the songs to have been a wee bit shorter, but in terms of musicianship, Annihilation Of The Wicked is not only their best, but one of the best in technical death metal ever imo. And I have to admit the album has really grown on new over time.

On the other hand, I prefer the sound on this one, their is a deeper tone and darker atmosphere, and the guitarwork is a tad more simplified than Annihilation Of The Wicked, I find myself not having to concentrate as much on here and the majority of the songs are kept relatively short, so I find it slightly more enjoyable for the most part, there are just a couple of songs that don't quite do it for me. And of course my favourite Nile song "Unas Slayer Of The Gods" features on this album
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22.08.2022 - 19:28
Rating: 8
Opethian

It just hit 20 years the other day. What a gem and also my introduction to Nile! Followed up by a legitimate masterpiece in 'Annihilation Of The Wicked!"
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22.08.2022 - 20:15
A Real Mönkey

A good album to be sure, but Annihilation of the Wicked is and always will be better.
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"Change the world. My final message. Goodbye."

~Last words of Harambe, seconds before he was shot, according to child he shielded from gunfire
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24.11.2023 - 02:42
This is peak Nile for me. This album has the best atmosphere of their discography and manages to combine that with their trademark brutal technicality to a higher level than anything else.
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