British Necro metal duo Anaal Nathrakh have released the promisingly titled “The Whole of the Law” on Metal Blade records. Looking over the bio posted on the Metal Blade website, I’m not really seeing any particular knowledge of or sympathy with Thelemic religious philosophy. I guess the titles just the predictable attempt to give a spooky air to proceedings by referencing our Prophet who was after all pronounced the “Wickedest man in the world.”
Anaal Nathrakh was created for one purpose – to be the soundtrack for Armageddon, the audial essence of evil, hatred and violence, the true spirit of necro taken to its musical extremes. Since 1999, the band has gained a reputation for embodying precisely these things, with a history including not only the release of eight albums and an EP to rapturous acclaim, but collaborations with such legendary figures as Attila Csihar (Mayhem), Shane Embury and Danny Herrera (Napalm Death), Nick Barker (Testament, Dimmu Borgir), Joe Horvath (Circle of Dead Children), Sethlans Teitan (Watain) and so on. This, alongside appearing on BBC Radio 1 at the personal behest of sadly missed icon John Peel, headlining a stage at the renowned cult Inferno Festival in Norway as their debut international live appearance, countless placings in “best album of the year” polls and album of the month awards in the press and cover appearances on leading magazines such as Terrorizer…Anaal Nathrakh‘s status as one of the leading lights in extreme metal is undeniable.
Uniquely hallmarked by breathtaking musical ferocity, inventiveness and breadth, married with mercurial, intensely misanthropic and sharp intelligence, Anaal Nathrakh‘s sound is imbued with a palpable sense of menace that is virtually unmatched in metal. Comments from respected publications include “terrifyingly heavy and fierce” (Decibel), “a master class in extreme metal” (MetalSucks), “…a thrill ride of horrors” (Pitchfork) and “You’ve been warned. Prostrate or be conquered” (LastRites). Of their live performances, “Anaal Nathrakh leave no room for dissention or ambivalence when they hit the stage. And when Dave finally shouts out that immortal quote about humanity’s inevitable downfall, you fucking feel the boot slam down on to your neck” (Terrorizer), “Anaal Nathrakh’s performance was undoubtedly one of the most powerful and intimidating examples of controlled anarchy you’re ever likely to see” (Pitchfork). The band have gone on to play many of the most prestigious metal events out there, including Roskilde in Denmark, Hellfest in France, Inferno in Norway, Scion and the Maryland Deathfest in the USA, Summer Breeze in Germany, Bloodstock in the UK and many more with great success.
Since last album Desideratum, Anaal Nathrakh have scaled new heights, including their first headline coast-to-coast North American tour and announcing their first headline shows in Japan. And now it’s time for their new opus, The Whole of the Law, to be unleashed upon mankind. A sandblasting assault similar to the experience of a demented ocular surgeon operating on your head while riding a rollercoaster through hell, The Whole of the Law marries all of Anaal Nathrakh‘s trademark ferocity and against-all-reason-catchiness with a reinvigorated sense of focus and insane hatred. Simultaneously fresh and their most mature creation to date, The Whole of the Law is Anaal Nathrakh at the very height of their twisted powers.
