NILE

Just to keep making metal

Sometimes I can’t to believe, which kind of lucky had this band. During five years after forming NILE was known probably only to the handful of maniacs, penetrating the deepest abyss of extreme music underground. The miracle however becomes, so when ten years ago was released via Relapse the first album of crew from Greenville, could to say about the true turning-point in the history of death metal art, for which they were exactly responsible. NILE had complete revolutionized this kind of music extreme, thank of “Amongst Of Catacombs Of Nephren-Ka” album, the boring and very often washed out from the good ideas death metal was born again. Following by this path and continuing the concept of ancient Egypt on the next albums too, NILE reached the position of one from the most important death metal acts on this earth, keeping it and staying brave like nobody else. Today, when the guys have in their discography five of full-length masterpieces and thousands of kilometers done during a lot of tours, nothing is able to let them fall from summits, cause the need for their music, what has mirrored the last European tour, is the best witness of this fact. Karl Sanders, the leader of band, agreed to answer for a few of my questions, although the playing of Quake was probably the one thing, that interested him the most for this moment. But these are the privileges of the heroes, so I understand it and have no grudge against.

-Karl, last time I have watched you in action here in Berlin during the Metalfest Tour in December last year. As now you are playing the next European tour, could you tell me what was happened between those both of tours?
Well, we did American tour, we did headlining one there, staying some on a package and then we did only few summer festivals and then we had nice vacation time, it was good.

-You visits Europe so often, so probably could you tell too which of countries like you the most or maybe which of the other countries would you like to invade? Have you got a special dream?
Of course, the one thing, which I want to do, is to go play in Egypt, it would be like a big dream.

-Playing so much times in Berlin, you have occasion to visit Pergamon, the museum of ancient history. Would you like to do it or did you maybe?
I have been in Pergamon in far back times, in fact we had the album release party at the Pergamon Museum.

-You have a family and son, so touring so intensive around the world you must to miss probably to them. Are you homesick sometimes?
Of course I am. Yeah, you can’t be a parent, you know, not have this feelings. I am daddy and I still have my daddy responsible days. I know that my son still miss me, miss his father, but it doesn’t go away just could you be on tour.

-This year we have the tenth anniversary of releasing your debut album. To this day “Amongst The Catacombs Of Nephren-Ka” stays in my opinion as one of the best death metal album of last decade, it’s still killing stuff. Since the releasing of this album in 1998, all things in your band gone forwards, being only better and better. What do you think about it and how estimates you the background?
Well, I think that the way should be. Hopefully as time goes on you are the more than what you are doing and perhaps, you know, get the more experience. So hopefully, you know, the way I see it we are playing better than ever and now that you see in 2008 is a much tighter band, much more experienced… I call as clean unconfident.

-Listening all of albums which you have created, are you always satisfied from the final effect or have you got maybe impressions like for example: “Oh, here we could to do it better!”?
We were never satisfied, every time when I listen to our new records I hear more the stuff what could to be better. I think, that is going on, it’s a natural process.

-Much of journalists asking about the influences and inspirations of the musicians concentrates themselves on the metal classics. And which of bands, not playing metal music, shaped your individuality? Do you remember yet the beginnings of your music adventure?
Sure. BLACK SABBATH, RUSH, LED ZEPPELIN… Yeah, classic stuff…

-Massive Music stays in cooperation with many of extreme metal bands from the first league. Now as you are the part of this family, what could you to tell about Mariusz and his work, that he does for you? Is it good situation?
Yeah, I am very happy. I would say, that the crew on this tour with Massive I think is one of the finest crew which we have worked with, I can say with any doubt, that Piotr, the guitar tech is the best guitar tech on the world, is amazing. He is great, I love him. Very great guy. And the rest of the team – I saw that, they were wonderful on this tour. We are pretty very happy.

-Is something what makes you angry during the traveling throughout the world and playing so much gigs?
Well, there is always sure a things on the tour that makes you stressed out, give you anger. But I think, that more important is to hear the play music and I would rather focused on that and try to… you know. Not stay angry, but stop that doesn’t really matter.

-NILE had always the changes regards the position of bass player. You had in your line-up Chief Spires, Jon Vessano, Joe Payne and now Chris Lollis, if he wasn’t replaced of course again by the next guy. Understand, that your cooperation stays so good, that the next change wasn’t happened?
Next change? Anyone change was happened. Chris Lollis is a great guy and a one that he stay, that’s the best guy we have ever heard playing a bass, so why should we have a change?

-As I have a good memory and correct bio-infos, NILE was formed in 1993, isn’t it?
-Yes, sir.

-15 years ago, so very long piece of time. What could I to wish for the next 15 or maybe even 20 years?
Ha, ha, ha! Just to keep going, to keep making metal, that’s all we want.

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