Reportedly, when told that US troops were blasting Metallica to irritate Iraqi insurgents, Lars Ulrich became upset at the use of his band’s music and suggested that the troops ought to have used Anaal Nathrakh’s music instead, arguing that it would have been more effective. Now, take this any which way you want to but I think he meant it as a compliment (See how we’ve progressed? Van Halen’s ‘Panama’ for Noriega and Metallica for Iraqi insurgents... I digress).

If you are unfamiliar with (and possibly put off by this oddly named) Brit duo (essentially), then I am here to introduce you to one of the more essential bands out there (if you are into extreme, I mean REALLY extreme music). If you know them but are waiting to hear a review of "Passion" preying, ahem praying that they haven’t gone soft or offered their own version of "St. Anger", then I am also writing this for you. If you know them, well then you probably have this album already (or are about to) and need no introduction and probably should read a different review (like maybe the Twisted Sister).

Okay, so for those who do not know them, Anaal Nathrakh play a very blistering, high quality black metal that is almost like an extreme industrialized version of Emperor. There are blast beats galore, razor sharp guitars that cut like buzzsaws, and vocal screeches from the Gates of Hell paired with soaring male operatic-ish vocals a la Emperor. "Passion" is a refinement of their sound, which is devastating in its delivered attack. Incidentally, Anaal Nathrakh took their name from a line said by Merlin in the movie "Excalibur" when he was cast a spell to create a fog.

For those waiting to read about "Passion", nope they haven’t gone soft and what we have is more of what they have done before and extreme. Are they still relevant, you might do to ask? I believe so, since "Passion" does keep along the same track as their previous releases, yet they have refined their sound – if that’s possible. Go get it, you won’t be disappointed. I’m not.

Best tracks: ‘Paragon Pariah’, ‘Ashes Screaming Silence’, and ‘Locus of Damnation’.