The band originally started as a raw black metal band. With the release of "Domine Non Es Dignus", they have shifted more towards a grindcore/black metal sound.
Vocalist Attila Csihar (Mayhem (Nor), Aborym, Keep of Kalessin, Plasma Pool, Tormentor (Hun)) is a friend of the band and does guest vocals from time to time, and, in particular, on "When Fire Rains Down..." and "Eschaton".
For years the band maintained they would never perform live. However, they played 2 gigs in December 2005. Whether these are the first of many or the only ones they will perform was unclear until the release of Eschaton when the band announced that they would return to the stage in the albums insert, shortly afterwards the band was confirmed for the 2007 edition of the Inferno Festival in Oslo.
Lyrical themes must be drawn from context as the band has said repeatedly they will not publish lyrics.
Supposedly, their name comes from the spell Merlin utters in the movie Excalibur, which starts with "Anaal Nathrakh...". This spell is called the "Charm of Making". Given Michael Everson's transcription, Anaal Nathrakh means 'serpent's breath'.
Anaal Nathrakh played a Peel Session (a studio recording for the BBC aired by legendary DJ John Peel) in 2004, with Nick Barker and Shane Embury on drums and bass respectively.
Mick Kenney designed Napalm Death's "Order of the Leech" coverart. He also runs FETO RECORDS along with Shane Embury of Napalm Death. Kenney also programmed/played guest drums for Aborym on the album "With No Human Intervention". He is not the same Michael Kenney who plays live keyboards for Iron Maiden.
Line-Up:
V.I.T.R.I.O.L. (Dave Hunt) - Vocals (Mistress (Gbr), Benediction)
Irrumator (Mick Kenney) - Guitars, Bass, Programming (Frost (Gbr), Mistress (Gbr), Exploder (Gbr), Professor Fate, Deliverance, Fukpig, Sorrows)
Live members:
Venator - Guitars (Exploder (Gbr))
Misery - Bass (Mistress (Gbr), Exploder (Gbr), Fukpig, Frost (Gbr))
St. Evil (Steve Powell) - Drums (Detrimentum (Gbr), Theoktony)
Discography:
Anaal Nathrakh - Demo - 1999
Total Fucking Necro - Demo - 1999
The Codex Necro - Full-length - 2001
Total Fucking Necro - Best of/Compilation - 2002
When Fire Rains Down from the Sky, Mankind Will Reap as It Has Sown - EP - 2003
Domine Non Es Dignus - Full-length - 2004
Eschaton - Full-length - 2006
Hell Is Empty, and All the Devils Are Here - Full-length - 2007
More of Fire Than Blood - Single - 2009
In the Constellation of the Black Widow - Full-length - 2009
