Band:	Nile
Album:	Annihilation Of The Wicked
Style:	Brutal death metal, Technical death metal
Release date:	May 2005

01. Dusk Falls Upon The Temple Of The Serpent On The Mount Of Sunrise
02. Cast Down The Heretic
03. Sacrifice Unto Sebek
04. User-Maat-Re
05. The Burning Pits Of The Duat
06. Chapter Of Obeisance Before Giving Breath To The Inert One In The Presence Of The Crescent-Shaped Horns
07. Lashed To The Slave Stick
08. Spawn Of Uamenti
09. Annihilation Of The Wicked
10. Von Unaussprechlichen Kulten
11. Sss Haa Set Yoth [Japanese bonus]

In such an over explored style like Death Metal it takes a really original and virtuous band to achieve success and project their name to the top of the fans' list of favourites right on their first album. But you just started to read a review about Nile, so you already know that they are unmatchable and dominate all their instruments with the most perfect chaotic precision; to expect the best is never a mistake. "Annihilation Of The Wicked" is their fourth strike, the follow up for the masterpiece "In Their Darkened Shrines", and, well, if there was a lot to be said about the past works there's probably even more to say about this one.

In many ways "Annihilation Of The Wicked" is slightly different. First, everyone knows how great Tony Laureano is and there was some concern about if the new Greek drummer would be a good replacement, the speed this band inputs in their sound is extreme and it takes a fast and agile drummer to fit in Nile. So how good is George Kollias? Exceptional. His technique may not be exactly the same, there is more double bass work, there are more blastbeats and breakdowns and the result is as appropriate as with every drummer that played in Nile previously, really intense pounding drums.

Moving to the music and the way the album is structured there are also changes, but not as significant as it may seem. What happens is that there is a less concern on creating the typical Egyptian atmosphere. We are blessed with one amazing intro, "Dusk Falls Upon The Temple Of The Serpent On The Mount Of Sunrise" and the interlude "Spawn Of Uamenti", both short, epic and acoustic passages, but, besides this, there aren't many songs filled with this influences from the beginning until the end, even in the longer tracks the Death Metal prevails stronger. Three of the presented 10 acts last for more then 8 minutes, but I would consider that "Von Unaussprechlichen Kulten" and "Annihilation Of The Wicked" are the only truly epic masterpieces of the album. "User Maat Re" sounds more like a regular but extended Nile song to me, but it also has an intense and dark atmosphere.

All the other smaller tracks are basically very technical and brutal Death Metal, full of incredible riffs and solos. Listen to "Cast Down The Heretic" or "Chapter Of Obeisance Before Giving Breath To The Inert One In The Presence Of The Crescent Shaped Horns" and you'll see nothing really changed in their way of playing Metal. For example, Karl Sanders continues growling deeper then anyone and there are still downtuned guitars and slow and midtempo parts, which is something I always admired in Nile, the way how they can make a very technical riff sound slow.

You can hear how the new and clearer production makes Nile sound less dirty but still as brutal as before; everything seems to be even more defined. There aren't more doses of melody then in any other of their albums, just enough to create some memorable hooks once in a while. Overall I would say that "Lashed To The Slave Stick" is the only song that is not as characteristic of theirs as the others, there are many groovy riffs and a very melodic middle section, but it's also possibly one of the most memorable Nile has ever made and it changes quite well to some brutal riffage around the 2 minutes, I would consider it a highlight.

"Annihilation Of The Wicked" is extremely consistent. There really aren't weak parts because Nile knows how diversify their songs without compromising their well played and brutal Death Metal style. If you have always liked Nile there are no significant reasons for you to change your opinion, this is definitely another work of which the Gods can be proud of, don't miss it!