ANAAL NATHRAKH proved to the world they were gods at what they do ever since the release of "The Codex Necro", the satanically possessed Experimental Black Metal album. With every release that followed, they kept on maturing and terrorizing the scene with their unique brutality, brilliant musicianship, and nuclear experiments on an oft repetitive genre. With "Vanitas", ANAAL NATHRAKH expands their sound further and continue to experiment, yielding very interesting results (as usual). "Passion" was a beautifully disfigured masterpiece, but does "Vanitas" have what it takes to outmatch it? Let's see.

ANAAL NATHRAKH have always been great at creating a sound with multiple personalities. Basically, they have an extremely raw and heavy sound. Under that sheer brutality, however, belies some of the most glorious harmonic riffing and, in my opinion, the best clean vocals I've ever heard in the entire Black Metal genre. That's some unique complexity right there sir! Offerings like "Todos Somos Humanos" are the perfect example; catchy riffs, screamed clean vocals, and Lord Lucifer's guts screaming right in your ears. V.I.T.R.I.O.L. again proves he has what it takes to separate himself apart from everyone in the genre.

I also noticed some slight changes in sound this time, with a very tiny addition of electronic bits here and there, or should I say, Industrial ones, not to piss off extreme fans. Like for example on "Make Glorious the Embrace of Saturn", where the track heavily experiments and distort the drum patterns in a pretty unique way, and with the band's usual sound behind those experiments, it all sounds pretty damn great. Also, on "You Can't Save Me, so Stop Fucking Trying", we see some similar experimentation but with a very huge approach towards guitar and vocal melody at certain bits in the song.

The whole album is filled with minor changes in sound in an attempt to differentiate this record to its predecessor, and this is something ANAAL NATHRAKH are very talented at doing ever since the release of "Hell Is Empty, And All the Devils Are Here". When that album was released, I explored a whole new music horizon all alone, and it was one of the most memorable adventures I ever had. Anyone who underestimates this band from their first listen, needs to go and wax out their ears and try again enough said.

This album is another great masterpiece to ANAAL NATHRAKH's amazing discography. It's everything fans of the band and the entire genre could ask for. For your sake, I advise you to give this a listen; "Vanitas" is an amazing experience, which should never go unnoticed.