Anaal Nathrakh

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Anaal Nathrakh

| image = Anaal Nathrakh, Summer Dying Loud 2024 21.jpg

| caption = Anaal Nathrakh, Summer Dying Loud 2024

| landscape = yes

| image_size =

| alias =

| origin = Birmingham, England

| genre = {{flatlist|

| years_active = 1999–present

| label = {{flatlist|

}}

| associated_acts = Mistress, Fukpig, Make Them Die Slowly

| website =

| current_members = * Mick Kenney

Dave Hunt

| past_members = Leicia

}}

Anaal Nathrakh are a British extreme metal band formed in 1999 in Birmingham by multi-instrumentalist Mick Kenney and vocalist Dave Hunt. They are currently signed to Metal Blade Records. The band's name is Irish for "snake's breath" (anál nathrach) and was taken from Merlin's Charm of Making in John Boorman's 1981 film Excalibur. The band recorded two demos in 1999, which were later released as an album.

The band has released eleven studio albums, one EP, and one compilation album. The band has been praised for mixing elements of grindcore, black metal, death metal, industrial, and other genres.

History

The band took their founding cues from Norwegian black metal bands such as Mayhem, Burzum, and Darkthrone. The duo recorded two demos before delivering their first full album, The Codex Necro, in 2001,{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/anaal-nathrakh-mn0000750857/biography|title=Anaal Nathrakh - Biography & History - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819010905/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/anaal-nathrakh-mn0000750857/biography|archive-date=19 August 2018|url-status=live}} that, according to The A.V. Club, "set a standard of blackened death that still hasn’t been equaled".{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-decade-s-best-metal-1798220832|title=The decade's best metal|first=Leonard|last=Pierce|date=18 November 2009 |access-date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819051246/https://music.avclub.com/the-decade-s-best-metal-1798220832|archive-date=19 August 2018|url-status=live}}

In 2004, Anaal Nathrakh released their second full-length album, Domine Non Es Dignus, on the French label Season of Mist.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/domine-non-es-dignus-mw0000262073|title=Domine Non Es Dignus - Anaal Nathrakh - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819011210/https://www.allmusic.com/album/domine-non-es-dignus-mw0000262073|archive-date=19 August 2018|url-status=live}} In 2006, the group's third album, Eschaton (commonly referred to as the "end of the world" or "end times"),{{Cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/endtimes_1.shtml |title=BBC - Religions - Christianity: End Times |publisher=BBC Online |date=2011-07-19 |access-date=2017-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216195359/http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/endtimes_1.shtml |archive-date=16 February 2018 |url-status=live}} was released.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/eschaton-mw0000736714|title=Eschaton - Anaal Nathrakh - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819011217/https://www.allmusic.com/album/eschaton-mw0000736714|archive-date=19 August 2018|url-status=live}} The album featured guest appearances by Shane Embury of Napalm Death and Attila Csihar of Mayhem.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/anaal-nathrakh-hard-at-work-on-new-material/|title=ANAAL NATHRAKH Hard at Work on New Material|date=18 June 2007|access-date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819182323/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/anaal-nathrakh-hard-at-work-on-new-material/|archive-date=19 August 2018|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/anaal-nathrakh-new-song-posted-online/|title=ANAAL NATHRAKH: New Song Posted Online|date=14 September 2007|access-date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819182327/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/anaal-nathrakh-new-song-posted-online/|archive-date=19 August 2018|url-status=live}} The album features guest appearances from Joe Horvath of Circle of Dead Children.{{cite web |last=Freeman |first=Phil |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/hell-is-empty-and-all-the-devils-are-here-mw0000582701 |title=Hell Is Empty, and All the Devils Are Here |publisher=Allmusic |access-date=19 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819011214/https://www.allmusic.com/album/hell-is-empty-and-all-the-devils-are-here-mw0000582701 |archive-date=19 August 2018 |url-status=live}}

In 2009, Anaal Nathrakh announced that they signed to record label Candlelight Records for their release of In the Constellation of the Black Widow.{{cite web|url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/a/fr/anaalnathrakh-intheconstellationoftheblackwidow.htm|title=Anaal Nathrakh in the Constellation of the Black Widow Review - Review of in the Constellation of the Black Widow by Anaal Nathrakh|date=14 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314035130/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/a/fr/anaalnathrakh-intheconstellationoftheblackwidow.htm|archive-date=14 March 2012}} Commenting on the signing, V.I.T.R.I.O.L. stated, "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 Repvblika."[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=115097 "Anaal Nathrakh Signs With Candlelight Records"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614222648/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=115097 |date=14 June 2009 }}. Blabbermouth.net. 2009-02-25. Retrieved 2011-10-13.

Anaal Nathrakh released their sixth full-length album, Passion, in 2011,[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=154418 "Anaal Nathrakh: New Song Available For Streaming"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304223144/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=154418 |date=4 March 2011 }}. Blabbermouth.net. 2011-02-23. Retrieved 2011-10-13. and their seventh, Vanitas, in 2012. The band finished recording for their eighth full-length album, Desideratum, in February 2014, and released the album on 28 October 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=12949|title=Anaal Nathrakh - Desideratum (staff review) - Metal Storm|publisher=Metal Storm|date=24 October 2014|access-date=1 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708152848/http://metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=12949|archive-date=8 July 2017|url-status=live}} Desideratum was the band's first album release since signing to Metal Blade Records in June of the same year.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/anaal-nathrakh-signs-to-metal-blade-records/|title=Anaal Nathrakh Signs To Metal Blade Records|date=24 June 2014|access-date=24 June 2014|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702055741/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/anaal-nathrakh-signs-to-metal-blade-records/|archive-date=2 July 2014|url-status=live}}

The band's ninth album, The Whole of the Law, was released on 28 October 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/anaal-nathrakh-to-release-the-whole-of-the-law-album-in-october/|title=ANAAL NATHRAKH To Release 'The Whole of the Law' Album in October|date=18 August 2016}} On 20 May 2018, it was revealed that they were going to release their tenth studio album, titled A New Kind of Horror. The album was released on 28 September 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2018/07/18/anaal-nathrakhs-new-track-takes-the-band-forward/|title=Anaal Nathrakh's New Track Takes the Band "Forward!" - MetalSucks|date=18 July 2018|access-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721014459/http://www.metalsucks.net/2018/07/18/anaal-nathrakhs-new-track-takes-the-band-forward/|archive-date=21 July 2018|url-status=live}}

In early 2020, the band recorded their eleventh album, Endarkenment.{{cite web|url=https://www.mickkenney.com/discography|title=Mick Kenney's official homepage - discography|date=9 June 2020|access-date=9 June 2020|archive-date=15 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815170253/https://www.mickkenney.com/discography|url-status=usurped}} The album was released on 2 October 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.metalblade.com/anaalnathrakh/|title=Anaal Nathrakh|website=Metal Blade Records|access-date=16 August 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.deadpress.co.uk/news-anaal-nathrakh-detail-eleventh-album-endarkenment/ |title=NEWS: Anaal Nathrakh detail eleventh album, 'Endarkenment'! |last=Morgan |first=Tom |date=2020-08-08 |website=DEAD PRESS! |access-date=2020-08-16 |language=en-UK |archive-date=8 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208004333/https://www.deadpress.co.uk/news-anaal-nathrakh-detail-eleventh-album-endarkenment/ |url-status=dead }} Metal Hammer named it as the 31st best metal album of 2020.{{cite web |title=The 50 best metal albums of 2020 |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-50-best-metal-albums-of-2020/2 |website=Metal Hammer |publisher=Future plc |access-date=March 12, 2021 |date=January 8, 2020}}

Musical style

File:Anaal Nathrakh official logo.jpeg

Critics have said that the band fuses elements of symphonic black metal,{{cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/anaal-nathrakh-to-release-a-new-kind-of-horror-album-in-september-forward-single-streaming|title=ANAAL NATHRAKH To Release A New Kind of Horror Album in September; "Forward!" Single Streaming|last=bravewords.com|access-date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820005730/http://bravewords.com/news/anaal-nathrakh-to-release-a-new-kind-of-horror-album-in-september-forward-single-streaming|archive-date=20 August 2018|url-status=live}} black metal, death metal, grindcore, and industrial.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-codex-necro-mw0000408739|title=The Codex Necro - Anaal Nathrakh - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819051142/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-codex-necro-mw0000408739|archive-date=19 August 2018|url-status=live}}

They are mostly described as extreme metal,{{refn|{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/anaal-nathrakh-to-release-a-new-kind-of-horror-in-september/|title=ANAAL NATHRAKH To Release 'A New Kind of Horror' In September|date=18 July 2018|access-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718232203/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/anaal-nathrakh-to-release-a-new-kind-of-horror-in-september/|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/anaal-nathrakh-to-release-desideratum-in-october/|title=ANAAL NATHRAKH To Release 'Desideratum' In October|date=27 August 2014|access-date=26 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630161817/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/anaal-nathrakh-to-release-desideratum-in-october/|archive-date=30 June 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/desideratum-mw0002757698|title=Desideratum - Anaal Nathrakh - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630190349/https://www.allmusic.com/album/desideratum-mw0002757698|archive-date=30 June 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/anaal-nathrakh-premier-we-will-fucking-kill-you-music-video|title=ANAAL NATHRAKH Premier "We Will Fucking Kill You" Music Video|last=bravewords.com|access-date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820005746/http://bravewords.com/news/anaal-nathrakh-premier-we-will-fucking-kill-you-music-video|archive-date=20 August 2018|url-status=live}}|group=n}} industrial death metal,{{cite web|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/anaal-nathrakh-announces-new-album-a-new-kind-of-horror|title=ANAAL NATHRAKH Announces New Album A New Kind of Horror|date=21 May 2018|access-date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630025040/http://www.metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/anaal-nathrakh-announces-new-album-a-new-kind-of-horror|archive-date=30 June 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/hell-is-empty-and-all-the-devils-are-here-mw0000582701|title=Hell Is Empty, and All the Devils Are Here - Anaal Nathrakh - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819011214/https://www.allmusic.com/album/hell-is-empty-and-all-the-devils-are-here-mw0000582701|archive-date=19 August 2018|url-status=live}} industrial black metal, black metal,{{refn|{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/anaal-nathrakh-record-peel-session/|title=ANAAL NATHRAKH Record 'Peel Session'|date=19 November 2003}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=czwpAwAAQBAJ&q=%22nathrakh%22+-wikipedia&pg=PT39|title=Extreme Metal II|first=Joel|last=McIver|date=4 March 2010|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=9780857122247|via=Google Books}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-guide-to-getting-into-anaal-nathrakh/|title=The Guide to Getting into Anaal Nathrakh - Noisey|website=noisey.vice.com|date=27 February 2018 |access-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819051359/https://noisey.vice.com/amp/en_ca/article/8xdekk/the-guide-to-getting-into-anaal-nathrakh|archive-date=19 August 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/anaal-nathrakh-mn0000750857/discography|title=Anaal Nathrakh - Album Discography - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819011219/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/anaal-nathrakh-mn0000750857/discography|archive-date=19 August 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/passion-mw0002130735|title=Passion - Anaal Nathrakh - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819182245/https://www.allmusic.com/album/passion-mw0002130735|archive-date=19 August 2018|url-status=live}}|group=n}} grindcore,{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/anaal-nathrakh-forward-single-new-album/|title=Anaal Nathrakh Debut Militant 'Forward!' Single, Detail New Album|website=Loudwire|date=18 July 2018 |access-date=26 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817125257/http://loudwire.com/anaal-nathrakh-forward-single-new-album/|archive-date=17 August 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17319-vanitas/|title=Anaal Nathrakh: Vanitas Album Review - Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|access-date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819214223/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17319-vanitas/|archive-date=19 August 2018|url-status=live}} and blackened death metal.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=52hFCQAAQBAJ&q=%22nathrakh%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA25|title=Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal Music|first1=William|last1=Phillips|first2=Brian|last2=Cogan|date=20 March 2009|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313348013|via=Google Books}}{{cite web|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/reviews/cd-review-anaal-nathrakh-passion|title=CD Review: Anaal Nathrakh - Passion|date=9 June 2011|access-date=26 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220553/http://www.metalinjection.net/reviews/cd-review-anaal-nathrakh-passion|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=live}}

Band members

=Current members=

Mick Kenney (Irrumator) – guitars, bass, drums, drum programming, programming (1999–present)
Dave Hunt (V.I.T.R.I.O.L. [Visita Interiora Terræ Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem]) – vocals (1999–present)

=Additional live members=

Dan Rose – guitar (2011–present)
Sam Loynes (Akercocke, Voices) – guitar (2022–present)
David Gray (Akercocke, Voices) – drums (2022–present)
Dan Abela (Voices) – bass (2022–present)

=Past members=

Leicia – bass (1999–2000)

=Past live members=

St. Evil (Steve Powell) – drums (2006–2016)
Nick Barker – drums (2004)
Shane Embury – bass (2004–2005)
Danny Herrera – drums (2005)
Misery (Paul Kenney) – bass (2006–2010)
Ventnor – guitar (2005–2010)
G Rash (James Walford) – guitar (2011–2017)
Anil Carrier (Binah, No More Room in Hell, Towers of Flesh, Pernicion, The Solemn Curse) – drums (2016–2019)
Drunk (Duncan Wilkins) – bass, backing vocals (2011–2019)