The packaging of the CD is nearly as ornate as the music contained within. There are two booklets: the less threatening one contains album credits and photographs of the band in the studio; the thicker booklet features quotes from Plato, The Bible and the Egyptian Book of the Dead. I think Atlantis plays a role in there somewhere too. There are also lyrics and quotes in French and English and what must be a first for a concept album-should you want to brush up on your Egyptology-a bibliography! It's all confusingly laid out, but some perseverance will be rewarded.

So yes, the album is based on Egyptian mythology and broken into two lengthy compositions, namely the 36 minute "Act One" while "Act Two" clocks in at a mere 26 minutes. There are copious "exotic" sounds on this CD geared to conjure images of the Valley of the Kings, especially those of the Mellotron male choir variety. If I sound like I'm damning with faint praise, I suppose I am. For Nil presents a very admirable, richly rewarding textured progressive rock. Their instrumental abilities are beyond reproach and the vocals of Roselyne Berthet are quite eerie and I wouldn't be surprised if Dead Can Dance was an influence on her as well as all the band. The production is solid and overall I like what the band is doing.

Yet when all is said and done, Quarante Jours Sur Le Sinai is a somewhat chilly hour of music. Both pieces are broken down into a ridiculous 29 sections and I couldn't tell you where one ends and the other begins without watching the digital counter. In some respects, I fail to hear strong melodies and my mind tends to wander in places. But I know I am in the minority as many prog rock aficionados are enamored with Nil's endlessly intricate and admittedly well done symphonic rock. As such, my wee brain can't seem to connect with Nil's earnest scholarly approach to progressive rock. Man, I still can't believe there's a bibliography in the booklet…