Anaal Nathrakh

Anaal Nathrakh

Anaal Nathrakh is a British extreme metal band from Birmingham, United Kingdom. Formed in 1999, it is a duo centred on Mick Kenney, known as Irrumator, and vocalist Dave Hunt, known as V.I.T.R.I.O.L. The band is primarily a studio-based project, although it also performs live with session musicians.

Style and name

The band works in black metal and grindcore, with its sound also incorporating industrial and death metal. Its early material is influenced by Norwegian black metal acts including Mayhem, Burzum and Darkthrone. The name comes from the Irish phrase “anál nathrach”, meaning “serpent’s breath”, which appears in the incantation in John Boorman’s film Excalibur.

Career and releases

Anaal Nathrakh begins by recording two demos in 1999, later compiled and issued as an album. Its debut full-length, The Codex Necro, appears in 2001. Domine Non Es Dignus follows in 2004 on Season of Mist, and Eschaton arrives in 2006 with guest performances from Shane Embury of Napalm Death and Attila Csihar of Mayhem.

In 2007 the band releases Hell Is Empty, and All the Devils Are Here on FETO Records, with guest vocals from Joe Horvath of Circle of Dead Children. Its association with Candlelight Records follows, and In the Constellation of the Black Widow includes a guest appearance by Zeitgeist Memento of Repvblika. Further albums include Passion and Vanitas in 2011 and 2012, Desideratum in 2014, The Whole of the Law in 2016, A New Kind of Horror in 2018, and Endarkenment in 2020.

Members and associated work

Mick Kenney handles guitars, bass, programming and production, while Dave Hunt writes lyrics and provides vocals. Kenney also works in other projects including Born to Murder the World, Make Them Die Slowly, Mistress, Monkeys Are Machine Guns, Fukpig, Professor Fate, Suffer Well and Kordhell. The band’s lyrics and overall presentation are known for bleak, apocalyptic themes and a highly aggressive style.