Mortification & Nile

By James Casey
 Catalyst
Send comments to:
catalyst@wildcat.arizona.edu


[Picture]

Wildcat File Photo
 Arizona Daily Wildcat


Triumph of Mercy

(Metal Blade Records)

Nile

Amongst the Catacombs of Nephren-Ka

(Relapse Records)

Mortification

Triumph of Mercy

(Metal Blade Records)

I just killed my family, what do I listen to? If I'm a good Christian I'd probably pick up a copy of Mortification's latest release and hope for an adrenaline-charged dose of redemption. If not, I would casually place a copy of Nile's latest in my stereo and hess out to the evil melodies of South Carolina's darkest death metal band.

Mortification is a funny bunch. The members hail from Australia and are a rare breed of Christian metal. I'm not really sure how I should categorize them - they sound like death although I was under the impression that death is for evil people. I remember hearing Stryper in the '80s - they were Christian glam metal and I didn't like them. Christian music is stupid, why anyone would want to listen to stuff that your parents recommend is beyond me. I like Satan and he likes me.

Nile is also a strange collective. They are in some kind of strange ancient Egyptian sect and, judging from the album title, worship the evil God Nephren-Ka. I like religious sects that are weird. Nile is extremely brutal in their stab at this genre of metal. One track, "Opening of the Mouth" has some lovely lyrics. "I did clean your bones with iron hook and chisel/I did scrape your flesh and separate your bones for you." Charming lads, definitely a moral standard for the youth of today.


[Picture]

Wildcat File Photo
 Arizona Daily Wildcat


To try and describe the styles of both Mortification and Nile is fairly hard. So I won't. The Mortification cover is extremely likable, especially because of the noble-looking angel on the cover who appears to be protecting the Christian hessian. Nile, on the other hand, has definitely not used its marketing skills well. Hieroglyphics are not evil. If I were them I'd have a hunk of rotting brain on the front. Inside the album Nile show telltale signs of trying too hard to be scary: the thank you note is headed "Evil Thanx from Nile to:" Pllbbtthhh! Mortification scares me more than Nile, and one of their songs is called "Visited by an Angel." I am especially fond of Mortification's inner art - there's an angel hovering above a sign that clearly states "Crush Hatred, Love Others." In conclusion it can be clearly seen that Mortification is what is wrong with kids these days, and that Nile is most definitely a suitable role model. Rock out, bra.