Saurian Exorcisms

NILEのフロントマンにして、バンドにエジプトや中近東風味をもちこむKarl Sanders。彼が94年に発表した2ndソロが3枚目の作品のリリースに合せてNapalm Recordsより再発。
NILEの中近東フレーバーは彼によるもの。エジプトを始めとする中近東音楽への深い造詣が生んだ前作はメタルの範疇を超え幅広く評価された作品だったが、今作もまた中近東の音楽に根ざした作品。民族音楽ではなく、あくまでも現代的な感覚に溢れたサウンドでトライバルな要素も目立つが、エジプト神話から古代中近東の歴史と伝統性までに深くインスパイアされていることが猛烈に伝わってくる。NILEからデス・メタルの要素を全て抜き取り深淵さを加えた作品。

On his solo debut, 2004's Saurian Meditation, longtime Nile guitarist Karl Sanders got to focus mostly on his fascination with all things Middle Eastern. But on his solo sophomore effort, 2009's Saurian Exorcisms, Sanders takes it to a whole other level. If you're a Nile fan expecting a few extreme metal detours, you're out of luck, I'm afraid. This is an album of Middle Eastern sounds from start to finish -- in fact, you don't have to know diddly about extreme metal to appreciate this disc, just an admirer of authentic-sounding world music, evidenced by such standouts as "Contemplate This on the Tree of Woe" or "Shira Gula Pazu." Impressively, Sanders pulls a Prince and plays all the instruments here himself -- acoustic guitars, guitar synth, keyboards, drums, percussion, and such uncommon instruments as the baglama saz and a glissentar, as well as (along with another chap) providing vocals/chants. Although some consider extreme metal to be a one-dimensional style, Karl Sanders proves that he's an exception to the rule, throughout Saurian Exorcisms. ~ Greg Prato