It was our honor to sit down with Karl Sanders of legendary death metal band Nile, fresh off the release of their latest album, Vile Nilotic Rites. We dove deep into the tour, the band’s evolution, and the chaos that sometimes finds them on the road.
Aldo Guzman: First off, man—how’s the tour been? How have the fans been reacting to the new album?
Karl: So far, so good. We’re about halfway through this six-week tour with Terrorizer, and it’s going really well. The new songs are going over particularly well. We’ve been playing three tracks from the new album: Long Shadows of Dread, Vile Nilotic Rites, and Snake Pit Mating Frenzy.
Aldo: Why those three?
Karl: They seemed the most conducive to the live setting—especially for fans who haven’t heard the full record yet.
Aldo: What’s different about this album compared to the last eight? This is number nine, right?
How have the new members influenced Nile’s sound?
Karl: This record is all about exploring what this new lineup is capable of. What’s our potential right now? Not ten or twenty years ago.
So I think the writing reflects that—where we are as a band today.
Aldo: The vocals really caught me off guard—in a good way. I wasn’t expecting the different voices throughout. How did you work out who does what?
Karl: When we work on songs, we just carve up the parts naturally. One guy will say, “I’ll take this,” another will say, “Let’s do this together.” We figure it out collaboratively.
Aldo: Some of those deeper sections—man, it makes me wanna punch something.
Karl: [laughs] That’s the goal. We want people to feel it—viscerally.
Aldo: You’ve been on the road a long time. What’s your worst tour experience—at least in the U.S.?
Karl: Oh man, we played this little bar and grill in Virginia around 2004. Everything was fine until this drunk girlfriend of one of the local band members wandered into our backstage area. She started with, “My boyfriend is sooo drunk,” which should’ve been a red flag.
She tried spilling her beer on my gear—twice. I snatched the bottle the first time, but the second time, she wouldn’t let go. She pulled so hard she busted her own lip open.
Next thing I knew, her boyfriend came flying out of nowhere and a full bar brawl broke out. We didn’t even get to play.
Aldo: Let’s talk influences. What other music do you listen to for inspiration?
Karl: I hear death metal all day on tour—our band, the other bands, the locals. I love it, but I need variety to stay sane.
Sometimes I turn to something completely different, like ambient music or traditional world music. When I was developing my vocal style, I listened to Tibetan monks a lot—they were very influential.
Aldo: What about that solo record you dropped?
Karl: That was about 10 years ago. Time flies, huh? But yeah, that material came from needing a creative outlet outside of Nile. If you’ve heard it, you know it’s nothing like Nile. But that contrast helps keep me grounded.
Aldo: What makes this new album stand out in your catalog?
Karl: On one hand, we stayed true to ourselves—we’re still Nile. But the new lineup brought a fresh energy and attitude.
We didn’t reinvent the wheel, but we did put a new spin on it.
If we had gone too far, it wouldn’t feel like Nile anymore. Fans expect a certain sound—and we respect that.
Aldo: That’s how you avoid a St. Anger situation.
Any tracks you’re most proud of?
Karl: Seven Horns of War, That Which Is Forbidden, and We Are Cursed.
We Are Cursed is dark—not for everyone—but for those who get it, it hits hard.
Aldo: Your guitar work is more technical on this album. How did that transition happen?
Karl: Lots of guitar lessons. Lots of hours playing.
Every town we visit has amazing players—it keeps me humble.
You can’t be “the best” overall, but you can be the best version of yourself. That’s what I aim for every day.
Aldo: How has being in Nile changed you—personally and professionally?
Karl: I’ve been in bands since I was 16. I’m 56 now—that’s 40 years.
This life? It’s all I know. I don’t remember what it’s like to not be in a band.
Could I work a 9-to-5 after this? Probably not. This is what I’ve devoted my life to. Music is it for me.
Aldo: Any albums or vocalists that specifically influenced you?
Karl: Gorefest’s False was a huge one.
And like I said earlier, Tibetan monk chanting had a big impact on my vocal approach.
I knew early on my voice wasn’t going to sound like everyone else’s. I leaned into that.
Aldo: I have to ask—what happened in Russia with Belphegor?
Karl: Orthodox Russian Catholic extremists tried to provoke us at the airport. They wanted Helmuth to retaliate so he’d get arrested—with no bail.
He showed incredible self-control. Most people would’ve lost it after being spit on.
But when I saw they were about to hurt him, I had to step in. You protect your brothers on tour—always.
Aldo: Any other shows get affected?
Karl: Yeah, a couple. Belphegor had to play an instrumental set at one show due to “anti-Christian” lyrics. Totally ridiculous.
Aldo: Thanks, Karl. It was awesome talking with you. Vile Nilotic Rites is a killer album, and Nile continues to be one of the most consistent and brutal bands out there.
Karl: Thank you.
Aldo: I’m Aldo from Capital Chaos TV. Vile Nilotic Rites is out now—check it out. We’ll see you next time.
Watch the full video interview below.
Categories: Interviews, Music, Nile
Capital Chaos TV 
Leave a comment