ANAAL NATHRAKH has achieved a unique atmosphere that few bands have been able to channel. It feels somewhat like the haunting presence of a psychiatric patient under Satan' power, lingering overhead and watching you unendingly from the ceiling of your room as the deafening screams of V.I.T.R.I.O.L. carve their pain and anguish into the back of your skull during the wildest torrential storm of the century… in what seems like some sort of death camp.

To be sure, it is something you don't want to listen to with the lights off. Something has happened to this moniker from release to release, however, as they've evolved into something more than just a steady sound fest from your nightmares. They have become quite melodic, and through the years have continued to improve at a steady rate, even releasing some highly exhilarating material in the process.

Enter "In The Constellation Of The Black Widow". This album continues in the tradition of the band's transformation into a true force to be reckoned with, and is once again their best record to date. While their previous release surprised fans with its highly melodic side, this one pushes it even further into unknown territory by adding in some catchy grooves along the way. Surely there will be some who claim they have sold out with their gradual shift of focus, but there is something deeper to be appreciated in this new sound as the blistering choruses rip through your ears. A perfect balance is struck between the transcendental guitar work and the brain piercing screams, a collision of efforts that the two musicians have anxiously been craving for since the days of their debut.

It has been eleven years since the dawn of ANAAL NATHRAKH, and only by listening to each disc chronologically can the true nature of their progression be fully appreciated. If this is your first listen of the band, you're still going to be a little horrified and a lot indifferent. However, it is their most accessible album by far, and proves without a doubt that they will continue to hone their original sound for many years to come. It is an enjoyable ride from start to finish, and it really puts you in the mood they try to create. It isn't exactly one of the best albums of the year, but it still captures your attention throughout.