After a two year absence, everyone’s favorite Egyptian-themed death metal band from South Carolina is back with In Their Darkened Shrines. The band’s opening is strong with the one-two punch of “The Blessed Dead” and “Execration Text,” both of which deliver a relentless attack not unlike former tourmates, KRISIUN. “Unas Slayer of the Gods” is a near twelve minute epic with a variety of moods and tempos ranging from slow doom to blasting speed. “Winds of Horus” delivers frantic pacing & catchy riffs courtesy of Mr. Wade who offers up the only track not involving Col. Sanders. The title track closes out the album with a four-part mini-epic inspired by the writings of H.P. Lovecraft. Much like most of the record, each portion of the song offers a variety of peaks and valleys ranging from haunting instrumentals, blasting death metal, and epic doom metal. So despite the silliness of “I Whisper in the Ear of the Dead,” overall, In Their Darkened Shrines is a big improvement over Black Seeds of Vengeance especially in the production department. While that release was somewhat muddy, NILE’s latest offers a sharper, clearer sound,as well as lengthy, informative liner notes on each of the songs. A worthy release from one of the more ambitious bands of the genre. (Relapse)