In the heart of Camden, unbeknownst to most the sense of impending doom that Anaal Nathrakh bring with it will be thrust upon London’s Black Heart their unique brand of truly some of the most visceral and forward thinking metal is some of the most extreme out there. Having released new album Desideratum the year previous at long last the Brummie bunch return to dish out their brand of devastation in the miniscule Black Heart.
Made up of only two bands on tonight’s bill the night is kicked off by London’s own Voices. Releasing their debut album, London the band are young upstarts from Peckham that combine the young buck spirit of pissed off punk with the musical dexterity of dissonant sections reminiscent of heavy weights Gorguts, combined with the jarring changes in both tone and musicality their brand of metal seems to be one of great intensity. Expelling energy at a moments notice the band harness a sense of the unhinged. Their set featuring material form their new album London, the out of kilter “Last Train Victoria Line” or the brutal “The House Of The Black Light” this is experimental music to the maximum, personally not entirely to my taste but you can tell that this budding band have definitely got a few new tricks up their sleeves.
Though they pale into comparison to our headliners tonight. The shoebox that is The Black Heart positively erupts, with the ominous sonic introduction of “Acheronta Movimbus” truly setting the stage for the arrival of tonight’s Anaal Nathrakh. Volume turned up to deafening levels, Mick and co enter battle position after their slight late start setting up. As the disjointed electronic mix signifies the coming apocalypse, the first notes are delivered with a force that would shatter even the most hardened of metal fans. The truly discordant melodies of electronic elements that counter the solid riffing make for a sense of real attack.
The Black Heart then implodes. Bodies flying, arms flailing, pints spilling until V.I.T.R.I.O.L screams out the first lines of “Unleash“. Channelling such vicious, spitting lyrics the frontman moves forwards on the stage for the uproarious Devin Townsend chorus commanding the crowd to is very whim. It’s a fantastic contrast the sheer animosity behind the singers vocal prowess contrary to the grooves exhibited from guitarist Mick Kenney. Melding elements of black metal with the tremolo picking, yet their modus operandi tonight is one of a grindcore outfit, the band are truly dangerous. Fans in the bands faces, band in the fans faces, the intimacy of the venue only enhances the extremely of the experience. The content look of Kenney when observing the growing maelstrom of chaos seems to be acceptable. With new material going down an absolute treat “Monstrum In Animo” the crowd react fantastically.
When the cobwebs are swept off of classics like “In The Constellation Of The Black Widow” and “Between Shit And Piss We Are Born” that the dance floor truly turns into a war zone of epic proportions, with one avid fan crowd surfing the entirety of the venue, the sheer element of hostility is tangible. Though the band are in good spirits, smiling in between the deft swoops of sonic devastation. With Desideratum being the bands most sonically accessible album it seems that fans have definitely latched on, performing single “Idol” not to mention a live premiere of “The Joystream” the new material goes down a treat. Veering back into the bands previous album with cuts form Vanitas era “Forging Towards The Sunset” along with “Of Fire And Fucking Pigs” The true genius behind the band is how they combine some of the most musically cacophonous genres together to create something truly unique. Aided by the pitch perfect sound, minus the slight monitor hiccup at the beginning of the set each instrument blends together magnificently to form the oppressive sound synonymous with the band, felt with so much intensity in this the smallest of venues. Ending the evening with “Do Not Speak” the band have triumphantly immolated this small upstairs section of Camden.
Riffs that revel in a sense of groove giving way to the tremolo frost bitten black metal, melded effortlessly with the operatic stylings of V.I.T.R.I.O.L all packaged in a neat grindcore raison d’être . Listening to Anaal Nathrakh itself is somewhat of a journey yet seeing the band perform their unorthodox styles together truly is a sight to behold, tonight the Black Heart has truly experienced sonic eradication. As destructive a force the Birmingham boys might be therein lies a sense of decaying beauty, quite unlike anything yours truly has ever seen before.
Anaal Nathrakh’s new album Desideratum is out now via Metal Blade.
