Anaal Nathrakh provide a flawless stunning example of what can be achieved in extreme metal, No make up, no gimmicks no false pretences, just a cavalcade of furious heavy riffs, thunderous drumming, scathing vocals and massive hooks to spare that most bands hope of creating over a career let alone on album number eight!

Also what is often overlooked is that as well a the scathing growls Mick Kenney also owns a superb and powerful clean vocal ability that he deploys to great affect throughout the album such as on ‘Violenti Non Fit Iniuria’ and album highlight ‘Paragon Pariah’.

Somehow they manage the perfect balance between extremity and anthemic as every track will find a way into your head after listening and make you want to play the whole album again and again. Which to me is the best decision to make on any ‘best album’ decision.