Anaal Nathrakh – Total Fucking Necro

As you know by now, Necroeucharist Productions is a Swiss underground metal label, whose catalog includes releases by many well known acts from the scene. One of the best known is a British band Anaal Nathrakh (the band’s name is Irish for snake’s breath – anál nathrach), formed in Birmingham 25 years ago. Hereby, I would also like to draw your attention to one of their latest releases; a two cassette MC box by the aforementioned Anaal Nathrakh. This compilation is entitled Total Fucking Necro, and it consists of both first demos, namely Anaal Nathrakh & Total Fucking Necro.

Anaal Nathrakh features four tracks (incl. Mayhem cover “Carnage”), taken from the first ever Necrodeath Studios recordings from March 1999. Total Fucking Necro Tape contains six songs where four of the tracks are taken from second demo Total Fucking Necro, which was recorded in Sepetmber 1999. Last track called “Necrogeddon” from a previously unreleased demo entitled We Will Fucking Kill You, recorded in April 2001. Another thing worth mentioning is that the first song on side B of Total Fucking Necro tape is another Mayhem cover, this time it’s their trademark anthemic song “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas”. One thing’s sure, they were not hiding their musical influences during the early days of their career. When trying to perform black metal, then what better influences than Mayhem, Burzum, Darkthrone etc.?! Therefore, there’s definitely more of a ’90s black metal influences audible here than on what they released later in their career.

A few words about the musical content itself; already with their early recording of Anaal Nathrakh one could hear some elements and mix of different genres, something that would become their distinctive cyber/industrial/black metal trademark sound. Thus, in their music, the band successfully combines elements of black metal, grindcore, death metal, industrial and other sub genres of extreme music. Strangely/interestingly; this blend of all different influences and genres doesn’t affect the music itself, it doesn’t sound too complex nor unlistenable for an average extreme metal fan. On the contrary, this unique blend help create an extremely dynamic and aggressive musical cocktail.

Total Fucking Necro tape is much more violent than its self-titled predecessor, but it also contains a better sense of melody. Obviously, the opening “The Supreme Necrotic Audnance” and “Satanarchist” are the prime example of this, where the band threw in a passage of beautiful melody. It feels as the band developed a more defined sound for this particular demo, pushing beyond the old Mayhem influence, becoming a far faster and more extreme.

The vocals of V.I.T.R.I.O.L.’s are trademark screeching, catchy yet again buzzing and screecy guitar sound delivered by IRRUMATOR, stable bass by Leicia (RIP) and finally numerous hellish blast beats from band’s drummer. To times it feels amateurish, but again very authentic and catchy. Not to forget that this is still a collection of chaotic, messed-up and pretty noisy black metal songs, that will please most worshippers of the second wave of black metal and bands as Mayhem, Burzum, Darkthrone, Emperor, Gorgoroth etc.

The production isn’t bad by raw black metal standards, all instruments (and the vocals) sound rough yet natural. Original cover illustration design and layout is done by Mick Kenney, while the casette layout is the work of ‘Antii Graphic’.

Total Fucking Necro must be played fuckin’ loud! This sweet package is well worth getting for fans of the band. Total Fucking Necro collector’s box is limited to 200 pieces, so do not hesitate to place your order while it lasts.

https://necroeucharistproductions.bandcamp.com/album/total-fucking-necro