ALBUM REVIEW: Anaal Nathrakh – Endarkenment

British Industrial Black Metal juggernauts ANAAL NATHRAKH are back with their 11th album. Out via Metal Blade Records on October 2nd.

Raging guitars blister into fruition atop a mountainous onslaught of blastbeats and dishevelled screeching, this certainly sounds like Anaal Nathrakh. Fearsome and grooving with a cacophony of eeriness, the dystopian structure of the opening song kicks into an operatic and chilling chorus that leaves a haunting impact as the vitriol erupts back into more slaughtering assaults. It is evident the world falling into an age of depravity and selfishness has proved inspirational, the opulence fuelling their misanthropic Black Metal crafts into glorious new territories. The bands utilisation of far more melodic ideas has grown over the last few record to the dismay of some and joy of others. I personally feel that Anaal Nathrakh have jumped from strength to strength, if you don’t enjoy it, then the old album are still there.

Convulsing through more claustrophobic slabs of concrete riffing and unrelenting drums, the vocal performance accompanying the ruthless instrumental execution has been an art VITRIOL has clearly mastered over the years, fine-tuning his howls and expanding his cleans to a suitably dark and unforgiving art that beautifully works with Mick’s instrumental debauchery. With no respite, the brutal and industrial Black Metal delves further into an abyss of self-scolding introspection that questions tyranny and the human condition without any forgiveness. “A New Kind Of Horror”, the bands previous work was utterly fantastic and this opus clearly follows it, at least sonically but rather than lyrics surrounding physical warfare, this is much more personal and yet equally as chilling in its spew of ferocity.

Grinding forth, the monolithic abyss of riffs, blasts and utterly resplendent vocals growls into a war on the mind with self-conquering musical discipline and a totally genuine approach to everything. While I was a huge fan of the previous work, I feel this album has even more sincerity and finer detailing that shows a rapid and ravenous growth from the duo. The musical diversity is huge while retaining that Anaal Nathrakh savagery that has been adored by many for a long time and at this rate will stay that way. Now just because they have retained a barbaric approach, do not be fooled into thinking there has been no progression. The riffs are stronger, the drums more intricate and the vocals more ethereal. Be prepared for one hell of a ride through torment, tyranny and trepidation that is meditative in nature and yet so damned crushing.

Anaal Nathrakh clearly want you to ask questions about existence on this thought provoking opus of absolutely phenomenal Industrial Black Metal that is as memorable, catchy and stunning as it is haunting, malignant and unforgiving. A claustrophobic juxtaposition of all their previous works has culminated in one of the most marvellous, obliterating and fierce releases yet from this Extreme Metal powerhouse. -8.5/10