Anaal Nathrakh
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Anaal Nathrakh are a British metal band formed in 1999 who fuse industrial and death metal elements onto an underlying black metal style. They are signed to Season of Mist.
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.
The band originally started as a raw black metal band, but with the release of Domine Non Es Dignus, they shifted toward a blackened death metal sound, with emphasis placed on grindcore influences. Through the use of distorted samples, sound effects and programmed drums, much of their work also falls into the industrial metal category, though they use no keyboards in their work.
They do not publish their lyrics, but from the titles and information they have given in interviews, their work seems to revolve around apocalyptic themes, the nature of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." However, based on what little can be gleaned from interviews and titles, they do seem to differ from most other bands in the style of their interpretations.[citation needed]
Their most recent album Hell is Empty... And the Devils Are Here was released through FETO Records in October 2007.
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.
Anaal Nathrakh have been given positive reviews for their live performances. 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
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 20th October, held in Leeds, England.
FETO Records announced it's first Obliteration Festival, to be held in London, England on May 2nd 2008, with Anaal Nathrakh as the headliners. Another upcoming appearance is scheduled for Hellfest Europe in June. The band is also confirmed to play Maryland Deathfest in May of 2008.[1]
Band members
- Irrumator (Michael Kenney) (Frost, Mistress, Exploder, Professor Fate) - Bass, guitar, drum programming
- V.I.T.R.I.O.L. (Dave Hunt) (Benediction, Mistress) - Vocals
Additional live members
- Ventnor - Second guitar
- Shane Embryonomous Embury (Napalm Death, Lock Up, Venomous Concept, Unseen Terror, Brujeria) - Bass
- Danny Herrera (Napalm Death) - Drums
Past members
- Leicia - Bass (1998 - 2000)
- Nicholas Barker - live drums (ex-Cradle of Filth, ex-Dimmu Borgir)
Discography
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External links
- Official website
- Official MySpace
- Official forum
- Interview with Kenney and Hunt at ME Metalhour
- Review of Hell.. at ME Metalhour
Notes
- ^ "Maryland Deathfest VI - More Bands Announced: Anaal Nathrakh, Blood Duster, Disfear". SMNnews.com. Retrieved 2007-11-25.