- Feb 7, 2003
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Nin Chan (Equimanthorn from the Barbarian Wrath message board) recently conducted an interview with Seraphackh of Anael, probably the most interesting band in the German Black Metal scene right now, expanding the borders of the genre further than many would say they should be stretched. Their first album, Necromantic Rituals, is very much in the line of early Samael, particularly in atmosphere, as demonstrated by such songs as Worship Of Death and Vomit Of The Earth. The band's latest album, has shown tremendous growth, incorporating many new elements and emphasizing more influence from such bands as early Tiamat, Absu, Melechesh, early Rotting Christ and Xantotol. Ancient mythologies from across the globe embody the lyrical message of On Wings Of Mercury, from Egyptian to Phoenician, Celtic to African. The tremendous growth of the band from Necromantic Rituals to On Wings Of Mercury can be seen through such songs as The Black God's Icon and Marching Through Babylon's Gate. Also of note is the excellent cover artwork that the band has used. The covers of each, though wildly different, both perfectly encapsulate the musical ideology of each work. The cover for Necromantic Rituals is the traditional black, but has an occult and mythological twist. The cover of On Wings Of Mercury, as does the music, goes far beyond the general norms prescribed to the Black Metal genre, making use of a very esoteric understanding of occult aura, a warm blend of blue and white that sucks the observer into the journey that is the aural assault found within the music. Anael is, without a doubt in my mind, one of the most interesting bands playing Metal in this modern time when very few try to do something that has not been done before, and is looking to be one of the torches that carry Metal into the darkness of the future. Hopefully they will continue to tread the path of reinvention in future releases.
