NILE is an "Ithyphallic" Greenville, North Carolina Death Metal band that is justifiably being touted as the next major league contender. Nothing if not ambitious, infusing all of their work with exclusively arranged ancient Egyptian themes, NILE have forged a reputation for precise attention to detail spanning the execution of their music, accuracy of translated texts to the expansive explanatory annotations that embellish each CD booklet. The initial quartet of frontman KARL SANDERS, bassist Chief Spires and drummer Pete Hammoura issued two demos on their own Anubis Records label.

In 1995 the five-track demo, 'Festivals Of Atonement' was issued, after which guitarist John Elhers augmented the band roster. In 1996 they followed it up with the three track demo 'Ramses-Bringer Of War', the title cut being directly inspired by Holst's seminal classical work 'Mars – Bringer Of War'. These demos lead them to a very brief business relationship with Visceral Productions who reissued the 'Ramses' demo in 1997. However, this label was to collapse before anything could be arranged and NILE were soon snapped up by Relapse Records, the band augmenting their sound with the addition of second guitarist Dallas Toller Wade after the departure of Elhers.

In April 1998 the band released their debut, 'Amongst The Catacombs of Nephren-Ka' on the Relapse label. Adding an air of mystique to the affair would be credits listing choir chants apparently by the Gyuto Drupka Tibetan Monks led by the Khamtul Incarnation of Lobsang Kampa, Damaru human skull drums attributed to Mahala Kapala and thigh bone flutes and Turkish gongs played by Drilbu Dungkar. This exoticism masked what was, in fact, a supremely brutal and ripping death metal desert sandstorm holding aloft the pulsating 'Die Rache Krieg Lied Der Assyriche', on which Sanders Egyptian obsession manifested itself in an eerie incantation.

Extensive touring followed and eager to capitalize on the success of this innovative and respected band Relapse reissued the first two demos in early 2000, entitled 'In The Beginning', being remastered and came with alternate artwork.

NILE toured North America in 2000 supported by INCANTATION and IMPALED. Unfortunately, Hammoura damaged his arm to such a degree he was unable to perform on the September 2000 'Black Seeds Of Vengeance' album. Derek Roddy of MALEVOLENT CREATION and AURORA BOREALIS stepped in for the studio duties whilst Tony Laureano took over the mantle for live work.

When released, 'Black Seeds Of Vengeance' would break NILE from the cult underground into the Death Metal mainstream putting the focus on the band as long-term contenders. The album, which had taken over a year to compose and arrange, featured a vast array of instrumentation as diverse as tablas, African choirs, Tibetan doom drums, gongs and sitars. The 2000 Hammerheart release 'In The Beginning' combines the two early mini albums 1995's 'Festivals Of Atonement' and 1997's 'Ramses Bringer Of War'.

Following European touring in early 2001 longstanding bassist Chief Spires decamped, being superseded by the DEMONIC CHRIST and DARKMOON credited Jon Vesano. A new studio album, In The Darkened Shrines', would be scheduled for September 2002 release through Relapse. American headline dates would be announced with ARCH ENEMY, HATE ETERNAL and ORIGIN slated to support. NILE would also journey to Japan to appear at the Tokyo 'Beast Fest' extreme music festival in December. The band's status had risen to such a level that US dates were being projected into January 2003 with NILE headlining over a full Metal package of NAPALM DEATH, DARK TRANQUILITY, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and Australians THE BERSERKER.

Drummer Tony Laureano joined MALEVOLENT CREATION's live roster in March for their April 2003 European 'No Mercy' festivals. NILE's live schedule intensified with September North American dates dubbed 'The Art Of Noise 2'. This run of shows saw the band allied with KREATOR, VADER, AMON AMARTH and GOATWHORE. The band would be confirmed as headliners for the 'X-Mass Festivals' European tour commencing in London on December 7th, heading up a strong billing incorporating DESTRUCTION, AMON AMARTH, DEICIDE, GRAVEWORM, DEW-SCENTED, MISERY INDEX and DISBELIEF.

In September 2003 former NILE members vocalist / bassist Chief Spires and guitarist John Ehlers joined forces in a new band called SHAITAN MAZAR. Mid 2004 found Karl Sanders donating a guest guitar solo to the track 'Xul' included on the 'Demigod' album from Polish Death Metal veterans BEHEMOTH. Drummer Tony Laureano joined Norwegian Black Metal act DIMMU BORGIR on a session basis for the duration of their Summer 'Ozzfest' dates, regular sticksman Reno Kiilerich having been unable to obtain a U.S. work visa.

During downtime for NILE in mid 2004 guitarist Dallas Toller-Wade would be acting as stand in drummer for Greenville, South Carolina band LECHEROUS NOCTURNE. Meantime, KARL SANDERS, working with singer Mike Breazeale, worked up a solo album entitled 'Saurian Meditation' for October issue. NILE drafted Greek drummer George Kollias, a veteran of NIGHTFALL, THE CIRCLE OF ZAPHYAN and SICKENING HORROR to record the 'Annihilation Of The Wicked' album. Limited edition variants of the album came packaged with Serpent-Ankh pendant, colour album poster, vinyl sticker and embroidered patch.

In February 2005 NILE severed ties with bassist Jon Vesano, inducting the MORBID ANGEL credited Steve Tucker as stand in for live work. However, Tucker's union with the band never transpired and nineteen year old Joe Payne took up bass duties in his stead. In addition, Dallas Toller Wade would assume lead vocal duties. The band forged a road alliance with SIX FEET UNDER, DARK FUNERAL, DISBELIEF, DYING FETUS, WYKKED WYTCH and CATARACT for the 'No Mercy Festivals 2005' European tour beginning in early March. The group then scheduled US tour dates for April of 2005 in partnership with headliners KING DIAMOND, Poles BEHEMOTH and THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER. This latter batch of gigs saw Krieshloff of DOMINION and LECHEROUS NOCTURNE repute occupying the bass role. Impressively, 'Annihilation Of The Wicked' debuted on the national Swedish charts in June at number 27. A promotional video for the track 'Sacrifice Unto Sebek' was shot on location in Atlanta, Georgia with director Chad Rullman.

Further gigs announced for the US with CHIMAIRA, ALL THAT REMAINS, and 3 INCHES OF BLOOD were announced but the band would then withdraw their participation citing "scheduling conflicts". Meantime, ex-NILE drummer Tony Laureano would be performing live on the European festival circuit with DIMMU BORGIR, subsequently joining another Norwegian Black Metal band, 1349.

Live work breaking into 2006 saw the band teaming up with HYPOCRISY, SOILENT GREEN, RAGING SPEEDHORN, DECAPITATED and WITH PASSION for a North American tour commencing in early January. The group then participated in the 'Extreme The Dojo Vol. 15' shows in Japan with THE HAUNTED and EXODUS in late February. NILE signed to the Nuclear Blast label in May.

Karl Sanders guested on Brazilian Doom duo AMARNA SKY's December 2006 album 'Rising Heresy', featuring on the track 'Beyond The Horizon (Legacy Of Light)'. Fresh album recordings were conducted at Sound Lab Studios in Columbia, South Carolina from February 26th 2007 with 'Ithyphallic' being mixed in April.

NILE embarked on a headlining tour of Australia in May 2007 supported by Polish technical Death Metal act DECAPITATED. The group joined the OZZY OSBOURNE headlined 'Ozzfest' extravaganza for arena dates throughout June and July across the USA. 'Off-Fest' headliners were conducted backed by Taiwanese outfit CHTHONIC. NILE's fifth studio album, 'Ithyphallic', came out on 17th July 2007 via Nuclear Blast. 

Karl Sanders's second solo album, 'Saurian Exorcisms', was released on 14th April 2009 via The End Records.

The group revealed songwriting for a sixth album had commenced in January 2009. The group started to track drums at Erik Rutan's Mana Recording Studio in Tampa, Florida on 8th June with producer Neil Kernon.