I caught up with Soulfly and Nile on From The Amazon To The Nile Tour at The Masquerade in Atlanta. Local support was provided by Mosura and Anger Within in front of a good Friday night crowd on the Hell stage.
After the early death and thrash metal onslaught brought on by the locals, Nile took the stage for what ended up being one of the most memorable shows I’d witnessed by them. I have seen Nile on numerous occasions — most recently with Overkill in 2017 — but Friday night’s show was by far the band at their best, with everyone clicking and the crowd really getting behind the atmospheric, mystical, riffs and chants that the band are renowned for.
Karl Sanders and company proved once again why they are the kings of mythological death metal with every solo, drum fill and chorus hitting the crowd like a brick wall — on point, precise, and filled with emotion. What I absolutely love about Nile, aside from their legendary riffs and artistic direction, is the appreciation and love for the audience that they display at every show. Seeing the band constantly acknowledge and spur on their audience and Karl Sanders hanging out and shaking hands with the crowd after the set absolutely made my night. Back on the stage, the band played some of my all time favorites including Kafir, What Should Not Be Unearthed, and the magical The Fiends Who Come to Steal the Magick of the Deceased, before closing the night out with the brutal Black Seeds of Vengeance.
There are very few bands I can think of that could top Nile’s performance on the night, but Soulfly managed to do just that. After a somewhat lengthy setup time, Max Cavalera and his entourage kicked right into Prophecy with the crowd chanting the chorus: “This-is-the-PROPHECY!” over and over again in ecstasy. Next up came Living Sacrifice with Max Cavalera inviting the crowd to form a circle pit (which they happily obliged). Other gems from the setlist included the groovy Seek ‘n’ Strike, and signature closer Eye For An Eye. Devastating riffs, big breakdowns, tribal and warfare soundscapes, and most importantly kickass stage show all embody the experience that is a Soulfly show. Add to that Nile and an enthusiastic crowd packed into a mid-sized venue, and you have one of the most exhilarating tours to hit North America this summer.
9/10
