Anaal Nathrakh

Created in 1999 with the sole purpose of providing the soundtrack to Armageddon, Anaal Nathrakh is actually a side project for Englishmen V.I.T.R.I.O.L. (aka Dave Hunt, vocalist with Benediction and Mistress) and Irrumator (aka multi-instrumentalist Mick Kenney, of Aborym, Frost, Mistress, and owner of Necrodeath Studios). Taking their founding cues from Norwegian black metal leviathans such as Mayhem, Burzum, and Darkthrone, the duo recorded two demos before delivering their first full album, The Codex Necro, in 2001. Judging from the mostly positive reviews, the wait was worth it, and subsequent efforts When Fire Rains Down from the Sky, Mankind Will Reap As It has Sown (a 2003 EP), Domine Non Es Dignus (2004), Eschaton (2006), Hell Is Empty and All the Devils Are Here (2007), In the Constellation of the Black Devil (2009), Passion (2011), Vanitas (2012), and Desideratum have advanced Anaal Nathrakh into ever more technical and diverse — but always vicious and nihilistic — black metal realms, and have yet to disappoint.