Anaal Nathrakh

Anaal Nathrakh are a British metal band formed in 1999 who fuse black metal, grindcore, death metal and industrial music. They are currently signed to Candlelight Records.

The name comes from Merlin's Charm of Making in John Boorman's Excalibur (1981). Given Michael Everson's transcription, Anaal Nathrakh means "serpent's breath".

Description

Anaal Nathrakh are typically described as black metal, despite eschewing the aesthetic of many black metal bands, dressing in a casual manner, as opposed to the corpsepaint and spiked leather clothing traditionally favored by the black metal subculture.

They do not publish their lyrics, but from the titles and information they have given in interviews, their work seems to revolve around apocalyptic themes, the nature of mortality, and misanthropy.

Anaal Nathrakh, like many black metal bands, draw much inspiration from the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche, exemplified by such song titles as "Human, All Too Fucking Human" and "Revaluation of All Values".

All of Anaal Nathrakh's music is written, recorded and produced by Mick Kenney.

Biography

Anaal Nathrakh started off in 1998 as a raw black metal band. Two demos were released in 1999 entitled, respectively Anaal Nathrakh and Total Fucking Necro. Following this, the band were signed by indie record label Mordgrimm, on which the duo's debut album was released. The Codex Necro, released in 2001, pursued the raw black metal sound the band had at this point.

In 2002, Anaal Natrakh's first two demos were compiled into a single ten-track disc entitled Total Fucking Necro. This was released by another UK underground metal label, Rage Of Achilles. 2003 saw the release, once again on Mordgrimm, of the band's first EP, When Fire Rains Down from the Sky, Mankind Will Reap As It Has Sown.

In 2004, Anaal Nathrakh released their sophomore full-length effort, Domine Non Es Dignus on French label Season of Mist.

Two years later, in 2006, the group's third album was released. Entitled Eschaton (a form of prophecy concerning the end of the world), this album was even more of a departure from the band's raw black metal roots. It placed further emphasis upon the grindcore elements of the music and added clean vocals. This album featured guest appearances by Shane Embury of Napalm Death and Attila Csihar of Mayhem among others.

The album Hell Is Empty and All the Devils Are Here was released through the band's new record label, FETO Records, in October 2007.

The latest album In the Constellation of the Black Widow was released June 29, 2009. The song 'Satanarchrist', from their demos, was re-recorded for this album.

Playing live

Anaal Nathrakh have until recently been a purely studio-based project, the band never looking to take Anaal Nathrakh to the stage. However, following a successful BBC Radio 1 live session with John Peel (as heard on the 2006 re-release of The Codex Necro), they sought to play live again, although only for special one-offs. They have stated they are not to become an ordinary touring band.

Anaal Nathrakh made their live debut at London's Underworld on December 15, 2005, as headliners for Terrorizer Magazine's 'A Cold Night In Hell' Christmas show. This was followed by another at Birmingham Edwards No. 8 on December 16, supported by Narcosis and Ramesses. Supporting them at the London show were The Axis of Perdition, Ted Maul, and Leech Woman.

They have performed at the 2007 Inferno Metal Festival, the 2007 No Mercy Festival, and their third UK show in 2007, in their hometown of Birmingham.

Anaal Nathrakh also performed live as the Terrorizer stage headliner at Damnation Festival 2007 at the Leeds Metropolitan University

2010 Tour with Napalm Death Poster

Anaal Nathrakh performed at the Hole In The Sky festival in Bergen, Norway in August 2007, as well as making an UK exclusive appearance at the Damnation Festival on 20 October, held in Leeds, England.

In 2008 the band did a small Tour which included several UK dates, Headlining the Maryland Deathfest and FETO Fest, another USA show at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood, And playing at HELLFEST in Clison, France.

On 24 July 2009 Anaal Nathrakh supported Testament in London at the Shepherds Bush Empire.

On August 8, 2009 the band performed at the Brutal Assault festival in the Czech town of Jaroměř.

On September 16, 2009 Anaal Nathrakh performed an exclusive show during the Incubate festival in Tilburg, The Netherlands.

2009 Onwards

February 26, 2009 Anaal Nathrakh announced that they were signed to record label Candlelight Records for their upcoming release of In the Constellation of the Black Widow. Commenting on the new album, V.I.T.R.I.O.L. states, "Candlelight have shown a strong belief in Anaal Nathrakh and looking at some of the acts on their roster both past and present it seems they are capable of backing up their good intentions. With their help we hope we can finally get the planet cracked in half", and "Constellation will be faster, more insidious, more ominous, more musically dexterous and wilder than ever before. The album will feature a curve ball guest appearance from Zeitgeist Memento of Mexican extremists Republika."“

Band members

• Mick Kenney (Frost, Mistress, Deliverance, Professor Fate, Fukpig) – Bass, Guitars, Drums and Production
• V.I.T.R.I.O.L. (Benediction, Mistress) (Dave Hunt) – Vocals

Additional live members

• Ventnor (Nog) – Second guitar
• Misery (Mistress) – Bass
• St. Evil Theoktony – Drums

Past members

• Leicia (RIP) - Bass (1998–2000)
• Nicholas Barker – Live drums (ex-Cradle of Filth, ex-Dimmu Borgir) (2004)
• Shane "Embryonomous" Embury – Live bass (Napalm Death, Lock Up, Venomous Concept, Unseen Terror, Brujeria) (2004–2005)
• Danny Herrera – Live drums (Napalm Death) (2005)

Discography

• The Codex Necro (2001)
• Total Fucking Necro (2002)
• When Fire Rains Down from the Sky, Mankind Will Reap As It Has Sown (2003)
• Domine Non Es Dignus (2004)
• Eschaton (2006)
• Hell Is Empty and All the Devils Are Here (2007)
• In the Constellation of the Black Widow (2009)

External links

• Official MySpace
• Official forum
• Rivadavia, Ed "Anaal Nathrakh Biography", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation
• Rivadavia, Ed "Domine Non Es Dignus Review", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation
• Anaal Nathrakh Biography & Discography at Rockdetector/MusicMight
• Azevedo, Pedro (2000) "Necro Lives: Interview with V.I.T.R.I.O.L.", Chronicles of Chaos
• Bartkewicz, Anthony (2007) "Anaal Nathrakh", Decibel Magazine

References