On August 23, 2024, Nile released their 10th studio album, “The Underworld Awaits Us All“, via Napalm Records. Eleven tracks in total, filled with tonalities influenced by the East, core and cohesive elements of the band’s musicianship, primitive storytelling derived from the influence of The Book of The Dead, and the addition of gospel singers to top it off. Who here is amazed that Death Metal can still be this epic after 40 years of existence?
A month before the release of their 10th album, it was announced that Nile would embark on a six-and-a-half week tour titled “The Revenge of The Underworld Tour 2025” with Six Feet Under, Psycroptic, and Embryonic Autopsy. Here is a deep dive into the Worcester, MA, edition of this tour that took place on January 18, 2025, at the Worcester Palladium.
It is important to note that the tour stop in Worcester, MA, was originally supposed to take place at the smaller venue upstairs. A few days before the show happened, it sold out and was subsequently moved to the bigger showroom. One extra band was also added to the lineup.
The Last King
Hailing from New Hampshire, Technical Death Metal/Core band The Last King was the first opening act to kick things off. Formed in 2014, The Last King has established an elaborate Death Metal style. While keeping their roots technical, the band has innovated their sound by also blending core progressive and melodic elements. Before the announcement was made of their addition to the show lineup, their guitarist Brett Horton announced his departure, and therefore, the band decided to continue as a four-piece. Below is a short video clip demonstrating their performance’s initial vibe and ambiance.
The Last King has released five studio albums to date, including an instrumental. They started their set with the track “Nescience,” which is from their third full-length album, “The New Age,” released in 2021. Their set also contained songs from their latest full-length album, “Culling From Gods,” including the title track and the single “Signs Of The Goat.” One highlight differentiating them from the other performers stems from the inclusion of heavy breakdowns, which is very prominent in the Deathcore music style. The technical instrumentation, aggressive high-pitched vocal patterns, and carefully constructed breakdowns left the crowd energized and ready with anticipation for the next band, Embryonic Autopsy. Despite being an opening band for this tour, the crowd’s overall attendance was significant, demonstrating the importance of local support in the Extreme Metal scene.
Embryonic Autopsy
Hailing from Chicago, IL, Embryonic Autopsy delivers a type of Death Metal that is very reminiscent of the early 90s but with a Brutal Death Metal edge. To put things in perspective, take a moment and think of the Swedish Death Metal band Hypocrisy, but imagine their frontman Peter Tägtgren emulating Brutal Death-style gutturals. Intriguing right? Embryonic Autopsy’s fearless leader, Tim King, is no stranger to the uprising of the early Death Metal scene. His newly reformed band Oppressor released a notable and classic full-length album, “Solstice Of Oppression,” in ’94. They also performed for the very first time in twenty-five years at the 2024 edition of Maryland Deathfest.
In 2022, Embryonic Autopsy released their debut full-length album “Prophecies Of The Conjoined.” Their second full-length album, “Origins Of The Deformed,” would be released two years later. Their set contained an even split between both albums. Many songs from the band contain references to alien/human hybrids, mainly in the embryonal stage. The opening two tracks, “Regurgitated and Reprocessed” and “Dripping In the Vaginal Nectar,” set the overall pacing of their performance. Barbaric and animalistic in nature is not an understatement when describing Tim King’s ferocious and inhuman vocal screeches, mixed with the chaotic and incessant drumming style of Marco Fimbres. Their ending track, “Cauterized Womb Impalement,” was the perfect ending to their performance. Think of the underlying message as “It is in the grotesque we trust.”
Psycroptic
Formed in the late 90s, Australian Technical Death Metal band Psycroptic would perform after Embryonic Autopsy. What are the words that come to mind when thinking of Psycroptic? The answer can only be RIFFS, RIFFS, and more RIFFS. For live shows that occur in North America at the moment, Origin vocalist Jason Keyser has replaced Jason Peppiatt, who has been the vocalist of Psycroptic since 2005. Their overall set for the night was well-balanced, mainly focusing on the last two full-length albums, “As the Kingdom Drowns,” released in 2018, and “Divine Council,” which was released in 2022. It is safe to say that anyone watching Psycroptic perform can see a complementary connection between brothers Joe Haley, who is the guitarist, and David Haley, who is the drummer.
It is as if the drums and guitar are conversing with one another, dancing between the lines of technicality and groove. As their set progressed, there was an apparent shift in atmosphere when they performed two of their most well-known tracks, “Ob(Servant)” and “Rend Asunder.” The crowd went into a frenzy, many of whom were crowd surfing one by one in a continuous and upbeat fashion. A glorious sight to see.
Six Feet Under
Six Feet Under is a Death Metal band from Florida, formed in ’93, with roots planted in the early and rising Death Metal scene, contributing to its evolution and identity in today’s modern world. Two-thirds of the band, Chris Barnes and Jack Owen, were founding members of Cannibal Corpse. The band has greatly impacted the legacy and longevity of old-school Death Metal. It has been over ten years since Six Feet Under has performed in the United States, and it goes without saying that the anticipation emanating from the crowd was enormous. They started their set with the track “Torn to the Bone,” a classic from their debut album “Haunted,” released in ’95.
Known for his signature monstrous guttural, low growls, and high-pitched squeals, Chris Barnes had the crowd shaken. One also can’t forget the catchy and groovy rhythms of Jack Owen. In 2024, Six Feet Under released their latest album, “Killing For Revenge“. Most of their set consisted of tracks from their debut album. A highlight of their performance would be their rendition of two Cannibal Corpse classics, “Hammer Smashed Face” and “Stripped, Raped and Strangled.” To have the opportunity to hear those classics performed by the original Cannibal Corpse vocalist in a live setting today is an extraordinary experience.
Nile
Nile, an Egyptian-themed Extreme Metal band founded in ’93, performed as the headline act. Their contributions to the metal scene are extensive, ranging from their technical expertise to their artistic and elaborate portrayals of ancient Egyptian mythology found in their lyrics. The band also has an extensive discography with ten full-length albums, including their latest, “The Underworld Awaits Us All. During the beginning of their set, Nile started with the tracks “Stelae of Vultures” and “To Strike With Secret Fang,” building up the aggression yet easing into the track “Sacrifice Unto Sebek.” One couldn’t help but notice the overall pacing of their set. The flow from the vigorous drumming styles of George Kollias is paired with the aggressive and intricate riffs emanating from Karl Sanders and Zach Jeter. To top it off, Dan Vadim Von also glorified the crowd with his harmonious bass lines. If that’s not enough, how does each band member, with the exception of George Kollias, share vocal duties? A sight not often seen.
Nile is also known to have complex song titles. Consider the track title “Chapter for Not Being Hung Upside Down on a Stake in the Underworld and Made to Eat Feces by the Four Apes” as a reference. In closing, Nile ended their set with the performance of the track “Black Seeds Of Vengeance.” In unison, the crowd would repeat and chant the words in a powerful decree, “Black Seeds Of Vengeance,” with fists in the air, with an appetite for revenge seen through their eyes. The Revenge Of The Underworld.
