Entry 407 - Anaal Nathrakh - Eschaton

 

When it comes to metal, there are various degrees of extremity and how to achieve it. There are various directions a band can take to achieve extremity. You can try to play faster than anyone else, have harsher vocals than other bands, write more intense riffs, be more noise focused... etc. One band takes all these things and does them all at once. That band is Anaal Nathrakh.

Ever since their debut record Anaal Nathrakh have continued to push out some of the noisiest, most visceral black metal ever put to record. Eschaton is their third record and was a major step up from the somewhat disappointing Domine Non Es Dignus. I found the vocals in particular to be rather lacking on the sophomore release, especially after the insanity that was The Codex Necro.

Eschaton sees a bit of a return to the debut's vocal style with a few new twists thrown in. Clean vocals are now part of the vocal palate. The harsh vocals are more contained and controlled, yet still maintain that incredibly primal unyielding quality to them. While this does take away from the chaos and overall veracity, the end result is still quite an enjoyable listen.

The music itself has taken on a more verse/chorus style throughout most of the album. The verses feature the harsh vocals while the chorus will go into a soaring clean vocal delivery. It's not on every song, but I love it when the band stops for a quarter note rest then explodes into a blast beat laden clean vocal onslaught for a chorus (see Between Piss and Shit We Are Born as a prime example). The band know exactly how to bring the listener back from the chaos of the verses into a more familiar tone with the chorus.

Is it a bit more commercial? Probably. Is it a bit easier to listen to than Codex Necro? Hell yes it is. In the end though it's another wrinkle into the band that is Anaal Nathrakh, and a fine return to form from the second album.