Anaal Nathrakh - Desideratum - review
Anaal Nathrakh - Desideratum - review
Tracklist
01. Acheronta Movebimus02. Unleash
03. Monstrum In Animo
04. The One Thing Needful
05. A Firm Foundation Of Unyielding Despair
06. Desideratum
07. Idol
08. Sub Specie Aeterni (Of Maggots And Humanity)
09. The Joystream
10. Rage And Red [feat. Niklas Kvarforth]
11. Ita Mori
A review by
ScreamingSteelUS October 10, 2014
The instrumental "Acheronta Movebimus," perhaps best described as the sound of Stalaggh violently escaping an underground Soviet laboratory, builds the tension until the appropriately-entitled "Unleash" snaps it like Gwen Stacy's neck. The gates open, and floods of deathly nathrakh-ing pour out like a sea of burning oil. Desideratum plays out more like Vanitas than like Passion or In The Constellation Of The Black Widow, but at its heart (or whatever swirling mass of unnatural black ooze it has in the place of a heart), it is the same Anaal Nathrakh we have come to know and fear. It's unstable and visceral grindcore, bleak and soul-chilling black metal, and an assortment of supernaturally wicked shrieks mixed with alien precision into a vile, pestilent assault of evil noise.
As for the fleshy bits surrounding the heart, Gore Tech, purveyor of breakcore/dubstep/insert-loud-and-grisly-genre-here, adds his own brand of embellishment from time to time, which heightens the impression of industrial influence. His occasional input (as on the outstanding "A Firm Foundation Of Unyielding Despair") sets Desideratum apart from the rest of Anaal Nathrakh's catalogue and suggests a largely-untapped gold mine of potential further down that same road. While some might object to any further experimentation with an electronic bent (which, after all, is not exactly consistent with the black metal and grindcore roots of the band), more expansive applications could achieve a most intriguing WHOURKR or Igorrr effect.
Igorrr and Anaal Nathrakh. Now THAT would be a diabolic collaboration for the history books. Speaking of diabolic collaborations, Niklas Kvarforth's presence has inspired some consternation, to say the least. Morbid prognosticators can breathe easy, for the Shining frontman's appearance does not spell doom for the 'thrakh. He's no Rainer Landfermann, but the man knows how to reproduce the sound of someone being violently torn apart from the inside - and when it comes to Anaal Nathrakh, that's all that counts.
Desideratum is Anaal Nathrakh at their best. With absolutely devastating songs like "The One Thing Needful," "Rage And Red," and the title track, this album will leave your eardrums bloody and beaten on the sidewalk of hell.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 10 |
| Songwriting: | 9 |
| Originality: | 7 |
| Production: | 8 |
Written on 10.10.2014 by
Written on 10.10.2014 by
Dull Music for Dull People Comments
Comments:
18
Visited by
494 users
|
Posts: 750 |
Loading...
|
|
Posts: 469  |
Posts: 469
I like the Spider Man reference (Gwen Stacy), though I must admit I did have to look it up.
Loading...
|
|
Posts: 3645  |
Posts: 3645
This review's great, some really funny lines  It'll probably be an enjoyable album.
---- I hate bonus tracks
Loading...
|
 Posts: 6101 |
Posts: 6101
Lookin' forward to this!
---- ~Zep, Former Database and Forum Moderation~ 
Loading...
|
|
Posts: 275  |
Loading...
|
|
Posts: 3554  |
Loading...
|
| Posts: 6695 |
Posts: 6695 Written by PocketMetal on 10.10.2014 at 09:30 Written by Alondate on 10.10.2014 at 13:27 I have set myself up dangerously.
---- "Earth is small and I hate it" - Lum Invader I'm the Agent of Steel.
Loading...
|
|
Posts: 249  |
Posts: 249 Written by ScreamingSteelUS on 10.10.2014 at 15:11 you're in good company
Loading...
|
 Posts: 756 |
Loading...
|
 Posts: 2437 |
Posts: 2437
Since i love AN, i just checked your previous review ratings and wow your 9,4 creates really high hopes now for this album!
---- Υou've sold your human essence to the cold world of dead and empty things... You're SOLD!
Loading...
|
|
Posts: 65  |
Loading...
|
 Posts: 3565 |
Posts: 3565
The title track is an abosolute MONSTER. Reminds me of "When Humanity is Cancer" and is definitely a highlight.
---- Kick Ass, Die Young Less is More Stay Pure Stay Poor Music was my life, music brought me to life and music is how I will be remembered long after I leave this life. When I die there will be a final waltz in my head that only I can hear.
Loading...
|
|
Posts: 93  |
Posts: 93
Loving the dubstep moment in Acheronta Movebimus. More ''electronic'' in both style and feel than previous albums, all the way through. They manage it well though, unlike M***** A**** on that last thing they did. Nonetheless, some people won't like the overproduction - the same people as didn't like it on Vanitas I expect. Personally, I do. I sense remixes on the horizon. All in all for me, at least as good as Vanitas. How much better will tell with time, but for now fuckyeah
---- Yeah. No. Wait, what was the question?
Loading...
|
|
Posts: 153  |
Posts: 153
"Overproduction" - such a misused word by neanderthals who find faults in being able to actually hear each instrumental layer. Nothing is more overrated than the "lo-fi" (aka. people who haven't learned proper recording techniques) mentality. I think the production captures the essence of Anaal Nathrakh's sound exquisitely - the only small wish I have is for the vocals to come up louder at a few points in the mix.
Loading...
|
 Posts: 5161 |
Posts: 5161 Written by MelancholiaC on 07.11.2014 at 19:17 Because there's surely nothing in-between overproduction and lo-fi bedroom production. We're just all Illdjarn fans, we appreciate music only when it's inaudible. And we understand nothing to Anaal Nathrakh. You can make a clean record without turning it into this clinically decontaminated and weak version of what Anaal Nathrakh used to be.
Loading...
|
 Posts: 40071 |
Posts: 40071 Written by Ilham on 07.11.2014 at 21:09 QFT btw this is by far Anaal Nathrakh's weakest album to date. Both in the song writing department and the production department. The production makes it totally lifeless and soulless.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
Loading...
|
| Posts: 5161 |
Posts: 5161 Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 07.11.2014 at 21:21 I haven't listened to Vanitas and Passion, so I agree with you for now. Whether I would find Vanitas and Passion better or worse wouldn't change the fact that this is very average by Anaal Nathrakh standards.
Loading...
|
| !J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted |
Hits total: 11899 | This month: 18