1) Nile is an American de… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists with this name;
1) Nile is an American death metal band from Greenville, South Carolina, United States, formed in 1993. Their music and lyrics are inspired by Ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern mysticism, history, religion, and ancient art, as well as the works of H.P. Lovecraft. Nile formed in their hometown of Greenville in 1993, from the ashes of a previous band, Morriah, in which Karl Sanders played since the 1980s.
The majority of Nile's music is written by vocalist/guitarist Karl Sanders. It combines traditional and technical death metal. Nile's music is also characterized by its extreme complexity and speed – for which the band has received acknowledgement from many music fans and journalists – and its extremely "heavy" riffing, due to Nile's guitar and bass tunings, which are normally Dropped A tuning.
Much of the lyrical content is based on Sanders' interest in Egyptology and other ancient Middle Eastern cultures, such as Mesopotamia. H.P. Lovecraft also seems to have an enduring influence upon Nile's lyrical themes; the word "Nile" and the title of Nile's first full-length album can both be found in the same sentence of Lovecraft's short story "The outsider". Lengthy sleeve notes are included with the albums Black Seeds of Vengeance, In Their Darkened Shrines, Annihilation of the Wicked, Those Whom the Gods Detest, At the Gate of Sethu, and What Should Not Be Unearthed, explaining the inspiration or source for the lyrics of each song.
2) Nile (born as Jenee Denenne Grevious on February 11) is a trip-hop artist hailing from Ohio. Her father is French, and her mother is Blackfoot Indian. She has an album called ‘Born’, which was released on September 13, 2002 on the Independiente label.
She’s not like a bird. But she does sing to lizards. Welcome to the wonderful world of Nile.
Birth, journey, spirituality: these are the key words in Nile’s story. Think Billie Holliday with a Lauryn Hill attitude and just a hint of Bristol; via Miami, Atlanta, LA and Ohio. Born to a Blackfoot Indian mother and a French father in Ohio, Nile was christened with the poptastic real name of Jenée Grevious. She chose Nile because "I’m an Aquarius and so Nile stood out for me. Plus it’s easier to say."
The youngest of four brothers and five sisters, Nile’s introduction to music began as a baby, sitting atop her mother Bobbie’s piano while she played to the family. "I would say my Mom would be my biggest inspiration," says Nile. "Outside of all the artists in the world, she was the unforgotten one because she was my route to music." Hence the track Bobbie on Nile’s debut album. This early musical induction was bolstered by her Baptist church upbringing. "I sang in church since I was 4 years old," Nile explains. "They called our choir the Rosebuds." This was where she first remembers discovering her taste for performing, but the Rosebud didn’t come into bloom until much later – was 21 before she started writing, "when my life started, seemingly, to get serious".
It’s also when her musical journey took a more literal turn. "Hearing the music in the wind", Nile set off on her travels. "I went to LA and didn’t find any routes of music there, so I went to Atlanta, didn’t find any there, and then I came to Miami five years ago and I kind of forced it to happen here." Hooking up with producer Andrew Darden, Nile got to work, singing each instrumental line to Andrew to put his beat to. "It’s called cooking," explains Nile.
Family, spirituality and nature rate strongly in Nile’s music. "My philosophy is spirituality," she says: "let your heart be your guide. And I think throughout all the books, the religions, the titles we get so caught up in, we forget to follow what we feel. Dictation from others can be blinding and limiting. I’m guided by my inner voice – if you lose that connection, then you lose the purpose. Every life has a chapter, and each song is the beginning of an experience. They all have purpose, they all have meaning. I had to go on a journey because music is in the wind for me. I left my family behind, my sisters, Mom, Dad. While I was going through that emotion, part of me realised how long I had been away, how much I had left my past. So I expressed that, it was in each song."
A country girl at heart then? "Absolutely. I sing to the air." But not just the air. "There are lizards in Miami. Have you ever seen them? Oh my goodness. The grounds are covered with them. And every time I play my music, they dance. The ones that sit on the windowsill, they’ll dance. And it’s amazing, it’s like music for the universe, it’s not just for me: it’s for everybody. The birds’ll sing to it. Like Sesame Street. So that’s when I knew I was on the right track: the animals have a good connection."
Lizards and the birds notwithstanding, Nile’s sources of inspiration are nothing if not eclectic. Alongside musical legends Billie Holliday and Bob Marley, she names Malcolm X, Alfred Hitchcock and a pre-war English mountaineer as her heroes. "There is a guy who climbed Mount Everest," explains Nile; "and his name was Mallory. He inspires me. He disappeared believing in something he wanted to achieve. It’s the same with Alfred Hitchcock, the way he puts his art into the camera: making movies with the heart." It’s that mixture of craft and devotion that is all too lacking in many contemporary stars, but which Nile has in bucketfulls.
But above all, Nile believes in the soothing quality of music: whether it’s in Koko Pelli – an old native American term referring to the magical musician that spreads the love of sound throughout the universe - or Hyde, her own dose of instant karma: "I was hurt, you know? A little boyfriend/girlfriend thing. And I just said you know what? I’ll just leave you to the insects. They’re gonna get you! And I really felt that, and soon as I finished singing it, I’m like OK, I’m fine now. No more grievances."
No wonder Jenée Grevious changed her name.
Unas Slayer of the Gods
Nile Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tremble the Stars
Quake the Bones of Aker
Those Beneath Take Flight When They See
Unas Rising
The Akh of Unas Is Behind Him
The conqueror Are Beneath His Feet
His Uraei Are on His Brow
The Words of Unas Protect Him
Unas This Bull of The Heavens
ThatTrusteth With His Will
Living On Utterances of Fire From
The Lake Of Flame
Unas That Devoureth Men and Liveth on The Gods
Behold Amkebu Hath Snared Them for Unas
Behold Tecber Tep F Hath Known Them and
Driven Them Unto Unas
Behold Her Tbertu Hath Bound Them
Behold Khensu The Slaughterer of Lords
Hath Cut Their Throats for Unas
Behold Shesemu Hath Cut Them Up For Unas
Unas Hath Ingested Their Spirits
Hath Feasted On Their Immortality
He Hath Consumed their Shadows
Unas The Slayer of the Gods
Unas The Sekhem Great
The Sekhem of the Sekhemn
Unas The Ashem Great
The Ashem of the Ashemn
Behold Orion
Unas Riseth
Unas Hath Taken Possession
of the Hearts of the Gods
Unas Feedeth on their Entrails
He Hath gorged on their Unuttered Sacred Words
He Hath Assimilated the Wisdom of the Gods
His Existence is Everlasting
Behold The Souls of the Gods are in Unas
Their Spirits are In Unas
The Flame of Unas in Their Bones
Their Shadows are With their Forms
Unas is Rising
Hidden Hidden
[Unas was the ninth and last Pharaoh of the 5th Dynasty. He is said to have lived from 2375 to 2345 B.C., but some Egyptologists date him as far back as 5330 B.C. The internal structure of his pyramid is known for incorporating several innovative features, but is most recognized for the inclusion of vertical lines of hieroglyphs on the walls of the vestibule and burial chamber. When Maspero opened the Unas pyramid in 1881, he found texts covering these stone walls to be extremely difficult to decipher, because of their archais characters, forms, and spellings. These were magickal/religious texts, designed to ensure the safe passage of the Pharaoh into the next world. They are known today as the "Pyramid Texts." According to these texts, Unas became great by eating the flesh of his mortal enemies and then slaying and devouring the gods themselves. Those gods that were old and worn out (Egyptian gods aged and died) were used as fuel for Unas's fire. After devouring the gods and absorbing their spirits and powers, Unas journeys through the day and night sky to become the star Sabu, or Orion. While this is certainly not the first reference to cannibalism in Old Kingdom texts, what is notable is the method by which the Pharaoh Unas achieves deification and immortality; by turning on the gods, slaying and then devouring them, and thus ascending to the heavens to become the star Orion. The concept was remarkable to Maspero, who found the idea to be of "absolute savagery." Maspero seemed to be reeling from a confrontation with a symbolic revival of pre-dynastic cannibalistic rites - which are suggested, according to Maspero, by the gnamed and disconnected bones found in certain early graves. Professor Petrie suggests that at the original said festival, the tribal king appears to have been sacrificed and devoured, so that his people might derive from his flesh and blood the power and virtues which made him great. This practise was based on a belief in contagious magick. Bulls and boars were eaten to give men strength and courage, deer to give fleetness of foot, and serpents to give cunning. The blood of slain and wounded warriors was drunk so that their skill and bravery might be imparted t the drinkers. Similarly, Unas feasts after death on the spirits of the gods, and on the bodies of men and gods. He swallows their spirits, souls, and names, which are contained in their hearts, livers, and entrails, thus, Unas becomes allpowerful. In attempting to bring this epic-length text to song from, it was necessary to make some minor concessions, firstly, that every version I have at home of the text is translated somewhat differently, and thus there is not any singularly definitive versions; and secondly, that it would just not be possible to include every last line from the original text. That would probably necessitate a song inconceivable in length. As it is, in concise song lyric form, "Unas Slayer of the Gods" weighs in at about 12 minutes plus - and that is using what would be considered only the bare minimum essential lines for the development and presentation of the main aspects of the text. For those interested in reading the entire work, there are several versions readily available online or by ordering from a local bookstore. I typed in "Unas Slayer of the Gods" in a couple of search engines and was astounded at the number of results that came back.]
The lyrics of Nile's song Unas Slayer of the Gods are directly based on the ancient Egyptian text known as the Pyramid Texts, which were found on the walls of the burial chamber of Pharaoh Unas. These texts are a collection of spells and rituals designed to guide the Pharaoh into the afterlife, and they describe the various challenges he must overcome in order to achieve eternal life. Unas is depicted as a powerful figure who has conquered both mortals and gods, and who has consumed their flesh and spirits in order to gain their power. The song presents Unas as a fearsome and ruthless figure, who is capable of shaking the stars themselves and who has assimilated the wisdom of the gods through his cannibalistic practices.
Line by Line Meaning
Poureth Down Water From the Heavens
The powerful Unas is compared to water, flowing down from the heavens.
Tremble the Stars
Unas is so powerful that even the stars themselves tremble in his presence.
Quake the Bones of Aker
Unas is capable of shaking the very foundations of the earth, as represented by Aker, the earth god.
Those Beneath Take Flight When They See
Even those beneath Unas, such as spirits and lesser gods, are afraid of him and flee at the sight of his power.
Unas Rising
Unas is a rising power that cannot be stopped.
The Akh of Unas Is Behind Him
The powerful force of Unas's spirit is behind him, driving him forward to his goals.
The conqueror Are Beneath His Feet
Those who would stand against Unas are crushed under his feet and forced to submit to his power.
His Gods Are In Him
Unas has absorbed the power of the gods, making him even more powerful than they once were.
His Uraei Are on His Brow
Unas is adorned with the powerful serpent gods, showing his divine status.
The Words of Unas Protect Him
The magical words of Unas help to protect him from harm and ensure his safety.
Unas This Bull of The Heavens
Unas is compared to a powerful bull, ruling over the heavens with his strength and might.
ThatTrusteth With His Will
Unas's strength lies not just in his physical power, but in his incredible will and determination.
Living On Utterances of Fire From the Lake Of Flame
Unas is so powerful that he can survive on the fiery utterances from the Lake of Flame, a symbol of his incredible strength.
Unas That Devoureth Men and Liveth on The Gods
Unas is a god among men, devouring them for strength and living on the power of the gods themselves.
Behold Amkebu Hath Snared Them for Unas
Unas has complete control over all those who would oppose him, as represented by the snare of Amkebu.
Behold Tecber Tep F Hath Known Them and Driven Them Unto Unas
Unas is so powerful that even those who would oppose him are driven to him by the forces of Tecber Tep F.
Behold Her Tbertu Hath Bound Them
Unas has complete control over his enemies, as symbolized by his power to bind them with the magic of Her Tbertu.
Behold Khensu The Slaughterer of Lords Hath Cut Their Throats for Unas
Unas has destroyed all those who would stand against him, as enacted by the powerful Khensu, the Slaughterer of Lords.
Behold Shesemu Hath Cut Them Up For Unas
Unas has defeated his enemies with such force that even their bodies are cut up and made to serve him, as depicted by the power of Shesemu.
Unas Hath Ingested Their Spirits
Unas has absorbed the spirits of his fallen enemies, adding to his own incredible power.
Hath Feasted On Their Immortality
Unas has consumed the power and immortality of his enemies, making him even more invincible.
He Hath Consumed their Shadows
Unas's power is so great that he has even taken the shadows of his enemies, symbolizing his complete domination over them.
Unas The Slayer of the Gods
Unas has managed to overpower even the gods themselves, making him the Slayer of the Gods.
Unas The Sekhem Great
Unas is considered to be a god among gods, with incredible power and strength.
The Sekhem of the Sekhemn
Unas has surpassed even the greatest of the gods in power and strength, as demonstrated by his title of Sekhem of the Sekhemn.
Unas The Ashem Great
Unas is considered to be of incredible spiritual purity and power.
The Ashem of the Ashemn
Unas's spiritual purity and power have surpassed even the greatest of the gods, as shown by his title of Ashem of the Ashemn.
Behold Orion
Unas is compared to the constellation Orion, indicating his incredible power and position in the heavens.
Unas Riseth
Unas's power continues to grow, as he rises above all others.
Unas Hath Taken Possession of the Hearts of the Gods
Even the hearts of the gods themselves belong to Unas, underscoring his tremendous power and dominance.
Unas Feedeth on their Entrails
Unas feeds on the very essence of his enemies, gaining even more power and strength in the process.
He Hath gorged on their Unuttered Sacred Words
Unas has consumed the sacred words of his enemies, giving him even more spiritual and magical power.
He Hath Assimilated the Wisdom of the Gods
Unas has absorbed the wisdom of the gods themselves, making him incredibly knowledgeable and wise beyond measure.
His Existence is Everlasting
Unas's power is so great that it transcends time itself, making his existence eternal and everlasting.
Behold The Souls of the Gods are in Unas
Unas has completely overtaken the souls of the gods themselves, showcasing his incredible power and domination over all.
Their Spirits are In Unas
Unas has absorbed the spirits of the gods, making him even more powerful and invincible.
The Flame of Unas in Their Bones
Even the bones of the gods contain the power and flame of Unas, underscoring his unstoppable might.
Their Shadows are With their Forms
Even the shadows of the gods are subject to Unas's power and control, highlighting his complete dominance over all things.
Unas is Rising
Unas's power continues to grow and rise, indicating his inevitable domination over all things.
Hidden Hidden
The true depths of Unas's power are shrouded in mystery and shadow, making him an even more enigmatic and imposing figure.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel San
Best song ever released by Nile. Pure and absolute masterpiece!
Michael Santangelo
saw them play this song live a few days before the album came out. Best set of death metal I've ever seen.
Blake Procter
"HIS EXISTENCE... IS EVERLASTING!!!!" Even after all these years, that still gives my spine shivers.
Justin Widle
UNAS FEEDITH UPON THEIR ENTRAILS...
HE HATH GORGED UPON THEIR UNUTTERED SACRED WORDS!!
HE HATH ASSIMILATED THE WISDOM OF THE GODS!!
HIIIIIIS EXISTENCE, IS EVERLAAAAAASTING!!!!!!!
Morbid Angel
Yes!!! That's my favorite part😈
Pat Version
I fall through the fucking bedrock every single time
corbeau
@Morbid Angel 5:27 my favorite part ;)
Domination as a whole is higher up my list, by the way - omg pete Sandoval was a beast, too bad he converted...
J Stig
Another year, another spine shiver. Still giving me chills in 2022
KIMetal
Hard to believe humans composed this. . . . it's that great.
Aaron Silva
They didn't.