Keeping it Brutal with Karl Sanders

"True heaviness and dark spiritual musicalities don’t depend on Marshall stacks, big drum kits and big walls of sound"

For metal purists, some bands shine for the technical skills of their musicians, and while some people may not see a need for face-melting solos and 8-string guitars, others consider them a necessary element in a genre that, sometimes, risks oversimplifying itself and turning into a harder version of pop.

In the realm of death metal, bands such as a Nile and Meshuggah have made a name for themselves, in part, thanks to the immense abilities of their members, who've proven that skills are not limited to progressive bands like Dream Theater and Symphony X. And in the case of Nile, it is Karl Sanders, its founder and main composer, who's responsible for bringing the band to its current level of success. Having recently released a new album, "At the Gates of Sethu", Nile will soon embark on a European tour, after taking a break from the European festivals where the band devoted itself to bring some of their "Egyptian metal" to the masses.

It is in one of these festivals, the Bloodstock Open Air, where we meet with Karl.

Note: When I said "hi" to Karl, he immediately mentioned that he had just finished an interview with someone who didn't even know his name, which explains our odd start.