Anaal Nathrakh

Infobox musical artist
Name = Anaal Nathrakh
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
Genre = Industrial metal Black metal Technical death metal Blackened Death Metal
Years_active = 1999—present
Label = FETO Records
Season of Mist
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.anaal-nathrakh.tk www.anaal-nathrakh.tk]
Current_members = Mick Kenney
Dave Hunt

Anaal Nathrakh are a British metal band formed in 1999 who fuse industrial, grindcore and death metal elements onto an underlying black metal style. They are signed to [http://www.feto-records.com/ FETO records] .

The name comes from Merlin's Charm of Making in John Boorman's "Excalibur" (1981). Given Michael Everson's [http://www.evertype.com/misc/charm.html 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 melodic 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They do not publish their lyrics, but from the titles and information they have given in interviews, their work seems to revolve around apocalyptic themes, the nature of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.", also "When the lion devours both dragon and child", a direct reference to one of the first passages in Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra

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 as one of the headliners of the Maryland Deathfest in May 2008. [cite web |url=http://www.smnnews.com/2007/10/04/maryland-deathfest-vi-more-bands-announced-anaal-nathrakh-blood-duster-disfear/|title=Maryland Deathfest VI - More Bands Announced: Anaal Nathrakh, Blood Duster, Disfear|accessdate=2007-11-25|format= |work=SMNnews.com]

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 (NoG, Exploder) - Second guitar
*Misery (Exploder, Mistress) - Bass
*St. Evil (Theoktony) - Drums

Past members

*Leicia - 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=

External links

* [http://www.anaal-nathrakh.tk/ Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/anaalnathrakh Official MySpace]
* [http://forum.4qradio.com/viewforum.php?f=22 Official forum]

Notes