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Anaal Nathrakh
The Codex Necro


3.5
great

Review

by br3ad_man USER (164 Reviews)
May 9th, 2005 | 67 replies


Release Date: 2001 | Tracklist


Taking cues from likeminded black metal bands such as Burzum and Marduk, Anaal Nathrakh create some wildly vicious black metal. Though the sound is very black metal, using typical riffs and below par production, the sound of this band is possibly even more brutal than the most extreme death metal bands such as Cryptopsy. With thick guitar riffs, insane speeds of drum programming and stomach churning distorted vocals, this could well be a historical band.

Anaal Nathrakh:

V.I.T.R.O.L. - Vocals
Irrumator - Instruments

Anaal Nathrakh are different from the 'tr00' style of black metal. While still retaining vomit inducing vocals, fast blastbeats and a slightly low standard of production, Anaal Nathrakh are definitely black metal. At the same time, however, these guys give the corpse paint a rest and play music that is definitely more brutal than the blackest of black. Laying somewhere in between Varg Vikernes' animal-like scream and Fenriz's stomach churning deep choking sounds, vocalist V.I.T.R.O.L. creates extremely sickening vocals. With the drum machine turned up to 11 and set to the fastest speed possible, instrumentalist Irrumator handles all of the musical duties for Anaal Nathrakh. His guitar riffs, while sounding slightly recycled are nonetheless very black and very heavy. The main highlight of the album, however, is the drum programming. It becomes obvious after hearing the first few tracks of this album that Irrumator is a very talented bloke, especially in the area of drum programming.

There is an issue with this band. While they make some of the fastest, heaviest and most insane music in the realm of black metal, their songs often seem to lack substance. Once a listener hears one song, that is it, the rest of the album is full of similar heavy and fast riffs and insane drum programming. There is nothing behind any of the songs that requires anything to be heard more than once to be discovered. The vocals are the same sickening, distorted throaty scream throughout and it is often hard to distinguish between songs as the riffs are vocals aren't very different at all. For a listener looking for diversity, Anaal Nathrakh aren't the band to find it in. It the heaviness and brutality that make this band and those two factors make them a good band. It is obvious that Anaal Nathrakh aren't trying to make the ultimate black metal album, but rather to push the capabilities of bands in the genre. This album is no classic from Emperor or Darkthrone, but any fan of fast and extreme music would find this a worthy addition to their collection. While this band aren't making the most grim music, with their slightly industrial sound, Anaal Nathrakh could well be the future of black metal, as soon as they start writing songs with a little more substance and meaning. Dark, heavy, thick, fast and apocalyptic, this is the sound of the end of the world.

Pros

- Pure insanity
- Irrumator knows his instruments
- A new view of black metal

Cons

- Not much substance
- Could be seen as 'heavy and fast for heavy and fast's sake'
- No diversity; rather boring after a while

Reccomended Tracks

When Humanity Is Cancer
Pandemonic Hyperblast
Incipid Flock

FINAL RATING: 3.5/5



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Comments:Add a Comment 
Dancin' Man
May 9th 2005


719 Comments


I like this album a lot. Actually, I like these songs a lot. The album gets a bit repetitive for my tastes. Nicely done review.

Apocalyptic Raids
May 9th 2005


810 Comments


I don't know the album, although their level of brutality makes me want to check them out. Well written review also, those track by track ones annoy me.

br3ad_man
May 10th 2005


2126 Comments


It's worth checking them out because they're just so fast and hard. If you're going to listen to one song, I reccomend "Cataclysimic Nihilism".

iliketoplaydrums10111
May 12th 2005


128 Comments


How do you pronounce their name?

Dancin' Man
May 12th 2005


719 Comments


I always did it
An-all Nath-Rack but I suppose watching Excalibur or whatever movie it is where the words are spoken would tell you.

br3ad_man
May 12th 2005


2126 Comments


That's how I pronouce it too.

Happymeal
May 14th 2005


330 Comments


I have their other album and not this one, but I'm thinking they both sound the same. Some crazy stuff right here. It's a bit obvious that the two are having more fun than really taking it seriously, which isn't bad at all.

Dancin' Man
May 14th 2005


719 Comments


Taking black metal seriously is one of the lamest things you can do. Ever. The music I like a whole lot but the guys who get all up in corpse paint and talk about Satan are lame. Thus, Emperor are awesome. No corpse paint (at least not after the first few albums) and better lyrical themes.

br3ad_man
May 14th 2005


2126 Comments


I agree completely. Emperor are the bomb.

LeperAffinity
May 16th 2005


2 Comments


Laying somewhere in between Varg Vikernes' animal-like scream and Fenriz's stomach churning deep choking sounds

Nocturno Culto does the vocals for Darkthrone. Other than that, good review.

br3ad_man
May 16th 2005


2126 Comments


Serious? I always thought it was Fenriz. Thanks for the correction.

Dancin' Man
May 17th 2005


719 Comments


I think Fenriz did vocals on the original demos.

br3ad_man
May 17th 2005


2126 Comments


Maybe that's what I read. It's probably just because every photo I see of him, he's never actually playing drums, he's just looking dramatic.

Dancin' Man
May 18th 2005


719 Comments


This is true. I love the picture where he has his hand open like a claw. Do you have any idea what I'm talking about? Is that every photo he is in? Yes.

br3ad_man
May 18th 2005


2126 Comments


haha, yeah, I was about to say. Which one?

94_Hours
August 30th 2005


73 Comments


Necro black metal at it's damn near finest

Shadows
Moderator
October 22nd 2005


2530 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Sorry to bump this, but I've been listening to it a hell of a lot lately. Unfortunately, Domine Non Es Digus sucks, especially compared to this. This is a very heavy side of black metal, which lots of sweet riffs and insanity. VITROL has some great vocals. My favorite songs right now are The Supreme Necrotic Audnance, Paradigm Shift: Annihilation, and Incipid Flock. When Humanity is Cancer isn't bad either. Overall I love how they took black metal and turned it into a brutal thing, and I think every song stays pretty interesting. I'm just amazed at hoe Darkthrone was a life-changing band for these guys, yet they sound nothing like them, not even the true necro black metal they set out to make.

br3ad_man
October 22nd 2005


2126 Comments


They have a release with a song on it called "When Fire Rains Down From The Sky, Mankind Will Reap What It Has Sown". Great song.

Shadows
Moderator
October 22nd 2005


2530 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

You must mean their EP, aptly titled "When Fire Rains Down From The Sky, Mankind Will Reap What It Has Sown". Long title, never heard it. I was kind of turned off by Domine, even though Codex Necro was awesome.

masada
October 22nd 2005


2733 Comments


What's with black metal bands and names that sound like "anus" or "anal"? :confused:This Message Edited On 10.21.05



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