Anaal Nathrakh - Desideratum (2014)

As Reported from sputnikmusic.com, Despite loads of heavily distorted guitars and snarled vocals, everything on Desideratum sounds extremely crisp, though whether this is a good or bad thing is up to the listener. While the drums here are programmed, the sharp double-kick and tom work is at least believable – think Hellhammer’s work on In Sorte Diaboli – and this allows the percussion to stand out and drive the songs. The keyboards and samples on tracks like “A Firm Foundation of Unyielding Despair” add a cold-hearted industrial element, backed by processed vocals set far back in the mix. The fit is a surprisingly good one, as Kenney’s drum work already sounds like an unstoppable machine. For what it’s worth, all of this clockwork does tend to detract from the human element of Desideratum, so fans wary of overly-polished “modern” production may find the album to be a little short on personality.

As for song-to-song variation, Anaal Nathrakh does a decent job of mixing things up. Proper opener “Unleash” rages with call-and-response tremolo guitar riffs and pounding backbeat percussion, and also introduces the first of several infectious vocal hooks. “Monstrum in Animo” turns up the intensity with layered screams and relentless blast beats, while “The One Thing Needful” opts for a more intelligible melodic approach. Hot on the heels of “Idol” comes the album’s most metalcore track in “Sub Specie Aeterni,” whose wailing guitars and fill-heavy drum work could probably infiltrate All We Love We Leave Behind and at least get inside the front door. So while Anaal Nathrakh is working with elements we’ve heard before, the band’s propensity to use a slightly different selection for each song certainly adds to Desideratum’s overall listenability.

The album as a whole runs a curt forty-one minutes, which (mercifully) alleviates ear fatigue considering the overbearing nature of Anaal Nathrakh’s music. Desideratum is a largely air-tight affair that relies on its precise execution and broad palette in equal turn, both of which are hallmarks of Hunt and Kenney’s experience as they churn out another in a string of solid albums. Fans of Anaal Nathrakh’s previous work will likely find Desideratum a satisfying, if somewhat more approachable, entry in the band’s catalog, and that combination is also likely to earn the group another boost in the size of its audience. Pick this up if you’re in the market for some sure-footed brutality, as Anaal Nakrath seem to have found a groove as one of extreme metal’s better crossover acts.

Tracklist

1. Acheronta Movebimus
2. Unleash
3. Monstrum in Animo
4. The One Thing Needful
5. A Firm Foundation of Unyielding Despair
6. Desideratum
7. Idol
8. Sub Specie Aeterni (Of Maggots and Humanity)
9. The Joystream
10. Rage and Red
11. Ita Mori

If you like it, please buy it on their official website/merchandise. 
Anaal Nathrakh - Desideratum (2014)

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