ANAAL NATHRAKH – LIST OF REFERENCES
Books and influences which have informed Anaal Nathrakh’s lyrics in some way – to the extent that I was able to find them. Album after album.
I. „THE CODEX NECRO”
A codex (/ˈkoʊdɛks/) (from the Latin caudex for „trunk of a tree” or block of wood, book), plural codices (/ˈkɒdɪsiːs/), is a book constructed of a number of sheets of paper, vellum, papyrus, or similar materials, with hand-written contents.[1] The book is usually bound by stacking the pages and fixing one edge, and using a cover thicker than the sheets. Some codices are continuously folded like a concertina. The alternative to paged codex format for a long document is the continuous scroll. Examples of folded codices include the Maya codices. Sometimes people use the term for a book-style format, including modern printed books but excluding folded books.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex
1. „Submission Is for the Weak”
Hard to tell, but I remember Dave said that this song has something to do with The Old Testament.
2. „Human, All Too Fucking Human”
„Human, All Too Human: A Book for Free Spirits ” is book by Nietzsche (1878).
II. „DOMINE NON ES DIGNUS”
1. Do Not Speak
George Orwell „1984”
2. „To Err Is Human, to Dream – Futile”
Probably a wordplay on proverb „to err is human; to forgive, divine” (Alexander Pope, „Essay on Criticism„.
3. „Revaluation of All Values (Tractatus Alogico Misanthropicus)”
„Revaluation of All Values” is Nietzsche’s project (never fully realised). It has much to do with „will to power”, „eternal return”, „death of God”, „ubermensch”, „immoralism”, „amor fati” and Dionysus (and more).
You should probably read the whole Nietzsche (not only beacuse of this song), but books that are related to these ideas:
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„The Gay Science (1882)
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„Thus Spoke Zarathustra” (1885)
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„Beyond Good And Evil” (1886)
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„On the Genealogy of Morality” (1887)
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„Twilight of the Idols” (1888)
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„The Antichrist” (1888)
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„Ecce Homo” (1888)
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And maybe some good introduction (for example by Rudiger Safranski or Gilles Deleuze).
Other part „(Tractatus Alogico Misanthropicus)” is a reference to the book by Ludwig Wittgenstein, called „Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus”. So you should read that, but, honestly, without good introduction it’s almost impossible to understand Wittgenstein’s ideas.
4. „The Final Destruction of Dignity (Die letzten Tage der Menschheit)”
„Die letzten Tage der Menschheit” is a book by Karl Kraus.
5. „Rage, Rage Against the Dying of the Light”
Poem „Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas.
III. „ESCHATON”
1. „ Bellum Omnium Contra Omnes”
Phrase used from Hobbes, Rousseau, probably Locke to Stirner.
So reading list for this one:
– „Leviathan, or the Matter, Forme, and Power of a Commonwealth, Ecclesiasticall and Civil” by Thomas Hobbes
2. „Between Shit and Piss We Are Born”
Latin „Inter faeces et urinam nascimur” (used in lyrics) means „Between Shit and Piss We Are Born”. This phrase is mistakenly assigned to St. Augustine of Hippo, but right now I can’t find the source. (I’m sure you can find it in some scientific elaboration).
But anyways, you should read some St. Augustine – personally, I higly recomend some good (meaning: written by nonchristian, or at least not obsequious, authors) biography on St. Augustine, really fascinating person.
3. „Timewave Zero”
Mayan prophecy that world will end on 12-21-2012.
4. „The Destroying Angel”
Few meanings.
First:
„The Destroying Angel or Angel of Death in the Hebrew Bible is an entity sent out by Yahweh on several occasions to kill enemies of the Israelites. In 2 Samuel 24:15, it kills the inhabitants of Jerusalem. In I Chronicles 21:15, the same „angel of the Lord” is seen by David to stand „between the earth and the heaven, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out against Jerusalem.” Later, the angel of the Lord kills 185,000 men of Sennacherib’s Assyrian army, thereby saving Hezekiah’s Jerusalem in II Kings 19:35.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroying_angel_(Bible)
So, once again, „Bible”.
„Destroying Angel” is also mushroom ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroying_angel ). So, probably, some book on muchroom picking. 😉
5. „Waiting for the Barbarians”
Two things:
– poem „Waiting for the Barbarians” by Constantine P. Cavafy
– novel „Waiting for the Barbarians” by J. M. Coetzee
6. „ The Yellow King”
– „The King in Yellow” by Robert W. Chambers.
Also, but it happened few years later, there are some influences by Chambers novel in first season of „True Detective”.
7. „When the Lion Devours Both Dragon and Child”
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„The Book of Job”
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„The Gay Science” by Nietzsche (especially aphorism $125)
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„Thus Spoke Zarathustra”
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8. „Regression to the Mean”
I don’t know, if it has something to do with this (this one we have tocheck – really not sure):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regression_toward_the_mean
https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Regression_to_the_mean
It can also be related to Nietzsche’s critics of morality and decadence, so again:
– „Human, All Too Human”
– „On the Genealogy of Morality”
and other Nietzsche’s books.
IV. „HELL IS EMPTY AND ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE”
Title of the album comes from Shakespeare, „The Tempest”, 215 verse. So:
– „The Tempest”, and – probably – the whole Shakespeare.
1. „Solifugae”
Solifugae [latin] „An animal which flees the daylight”.
Wiki: „Solifugae is an order of animals in the class Arachnida known variously as camel spiders, wind scorpions, sun spiders, or solifuges. The order includes more than 1,000 described species in about 153 genera.”
2. „Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen”
Meaning: „The Vengeance of Hell is Boiling in My Heart”. Taken from opera „The Magic Flute” by Mozart, sung by the Queen of the Night.
3. „Virus Bomb”
There is information somewhere that inspiration for this track was Warhammer 40k and the idea of some big bomb that is able to infect the whole planet. Not that Dave is player, but he liked the idea.
http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Virus_Bomb
4. „The Final Absolution”
As the song is about Hitler’s suicide, probably some book on last days of his life. Also maybe some Alan Bullocks classical biographies, as:
– Hitler: A Study in Tyranny
– Hitler and Stalin: Parallel Lives
It can be good introduction.
Also you can read:
– The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness by Erich Fromm – there are some chapters on Hitler’s personality.
Also there is a TV series called „Auschwitz: The Nazis and the ‚Final Solution'”.
Anyway, every good book (or series, or films) about Hitler suits here.
5. „Lama Sabachthani”
The title is one of the sayings of Jesus on the cross.
„Around the ninth hour, Jesus shouted in a loud voice, saying „Eli Eli lama sabachthani?” which is, „My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?””
Matthew 27:46
This the moment of great doubt for Christ.
So, the Bible again.
6. „Sanction Extremis (Kill Them All)”
It appears that this song is also linked to the Warhammer 40k:
„Some may question your right to destroy ten billion people. Those who understand know that you have no right to let them live.”
— Exterminatus Extremis
http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Exterminatus
7. „Exterminatus”
Instrumental outro, but the title is probably a reference, once again, to Warhammer 40k:
„Exterminatus is the name of a terrible order in High Gothic given by the highest authorities of the Imperium of Man to destroy an entire planetary biosphere and all life upon a world.”
http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Exterminatus
It links to the „Virus Bomb” then.
Or – it just sounds cool.
V. “IN THE CONSTELLATION OF THE BLACK WIDOW”
1. “In The Constellation Of The Black Widow”
Jens Bjorneboe “Moment of Freedom” from “History of Brutality” trilogy
2. “I Am The Wrath Of Gods And The Desolation Of The Earth”
I can’t find anything which seems like the title, but separately “ The Desolation Of The Earth” and “The Wrath Of God” (not “Gods”) are terms used in Bible.
Some random links related to this terms:
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/christiancrier/2015/07/27/top-7-bible-verses-about-gods-wrath/
3. “More Of Fire Than Blood”
Nostradamus prophercies.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/nos/oon/oon14.htm#fr_181
Link should work, but if not, search for “Lonole”. You can find some explanation there (for example: “Lonole, anagram for Ὀλλύων, destroying, from the verb ὀλλύειν, to destroy. Destroyer.” and many more).
4. „Terror in the Mind of God”
Bible, Jeremiah 29:18.
5. „So Be It”
Bible, Isaiah 24.
http://www.newadvent.org/bible/isa024.htm
6. „The Lucifer Effect”
Philip Zimbardo, „The Lucifer Effect”
7. „Satanarchrist”
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, „Three Books of Occult Philosophy”
8. „Blood Eagles Carved on the Backs of Innocents”
https://youtu.be/xw9bpuJRoyU
VI. “PASSION”
“Passio” in latin means “suffering”.
Dave’s interview:
“Regarding previous album, Passion, why Passion? How do you see Passion? Do you see it as the lovely thing, or as the painful and obsessive thing? Or none of those?
Passion is intensity. So yes, I mean it more in terms of painful intensity. The word originally comes from the Greek word for suffering, and that’s how I see passion – it has been bastardized diluted in modern usage to mean something barely any strong than liking something or someone. But true passion burns. And more widely, I think that’s something which modern western culture fails to understand – the impulse is always to soften, to round off, to eliminate the negative. Fond but not in love, to quote Radiohead. That’s bullshit, that’s not what the world is. So yes, I’ll take my passion with a side order of borderline self destruction, and fuck the mediocrity. Passion can never end up a pig in a cage on antibiotics.”
http://lachrymachristizine.blogspot.com/2012/11/interview-with-anaal-nathrakh-uk.html
And another interview about word/album “Passion”:
http://www.invisibleoranges.com/interview-anaal-nathrakh/?trackback=tsmclip
1. “Volenti Non Fit Iniuria”
Wikipedia:
“Volenti non fit iniuria (or injuria) (Latin: „to a willing person, injury is not done”) is a common law doctrine which states that if someone willingly places themselves in a position where harm might result, knowing that some degree of harm might result, they are not able to bring a claim against the other party in tort or delict.“
“Volenti non fit iniuria is an often-quoted form of the legal maxim formulated by the Roman jurist Ulpian which reads in original: Nulla iniuria est, quæ in volentem fiat. “
2. “Drug-Fucking Abomination”
Of course, “Collapse IV”, which Mark uploaded.
3. “Post Traumatic Stress Euphoria”
Probably just a wordplay on “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”.
Wikipedia:
“Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that can develop after a person is exposed to a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, warfare, traffic collisions, or other threats on a person’s life. Symptoms may include disturbing thoughts, feelings, or dreams related to the events, mental or physical distress to trauma-related cues, attempts to avoid trauma-related cues, alterations in how a person thinks and feels, and an increase in the fight-or-flight response.“
So, in a subversive, obscure, dismal way, the title sugest, that one may be euphoric (in some psychotic, necrotic way) after these traumatic events. (Or should be?)
4. “Locus of Damnation”
Can’t tell, if this is correct, but – maybe – another subversive wordplay.
The word locus (plural loci) is Latin for „place”.
Wikipedia:
„In personality psychology, locus of control is the degree to which people believe that they have control over the outcome of events in their lives, as opposed to external forces beyond their control. Understanding of the concept was developed by Julian B. Rotter in 1954, and has since become an aspect of personality studies. A person’s „loci” (plural of „locus”, Latin for „place” or „location”) are conceptualized as internal (a belief that one’s life can be controlled) or external (a belief that life is controlled by outside factors which they cannot influence, or that chance or fate controls their lives).
Individuals with a strong internal locus of control believe events in their life derive primarily from their own actions: for example, when receiving exam results, people with an internal locus of control tend to praise or blame themselves and their abilities. People with a strong external locus of control tend to praise or blame external factors such as the teacher or the exam.”
Since Dave’s PhD title is “Moral relativism and moral error theory”, it can be related.
But this one may be COMPLETELY WRONG.
5. “Paragon Pariah”
Song about German individualist anarchism philosopher Max Stirner AND his book “The Ego and Its Own”.
So, not only “The Ego and Its Own”, but also some Max Stirner’s biography/monograph.
6. “Who Thinks of the Executioner?”
Second part of “History of Brutality” by Jens Bjørneboe, called “Powderhouse: Scientific PostScript and Last Protocol”. I also uploaded a short introduction which Dave wrote about this book.
7. “Portrait of the Artist”
Most likely “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” by James Joyce (his first novel).
VII. “VANITAS”
1. “The Blood-Dimmed Tide”
William Butler Yeats, „The Second Coming”.
But there is a possibility, that Dave found this poem in Slavoj Zizek’s book „Violence: Six Sideways Reflections”, where it’s quoted. Dave talk on this book in the interview (great, by the way) before releasing „Vanitas”. Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFChBz3kcGo
2. „Forging Towards the Sunset”
This one is only supposition.
Before one of „Forging…” performances Dave said something like „Sartre – fuck off.” Jean-Paul Sartre was a French existentialist, and you can find a lot of criticism of his work. For example, in book „A Short History of Decay” by Emil Cioran, there is a short critical essay on Sartre (he didn’t mention his name – but in that time everybody knew, that Sartre is the target). I mention Cioran, because he appears on „The Whole of the Law”.
3. „To Spite the Face”
Title is probably obvious for everyone. Wikipedia:
„”Cutting off the nose to spite the face” is an expression to describe a needlessly self-destructive over-reaction to a problem: „Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face” is a warning against acting out of pique, or against pursuing revenge in a way that would damage oneself more than the object of one’s anger.”
4. „Todos Somos Humanos”
Another guess, but – since album is called „Vanitas” – in my opinion, it’s possible: Ecclesiastes. For example, Ecclesiastes 3:20:
„All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust.”
5. “In Coelo Quies, Tout Finis Ici Bas”
– Rüdiger Safranski, „Schopenhauer and the Wild Years of Philosophy”.
„In coelo quies. Tout finis ici bas” is the last entry in young Schopenhauer’s diary, from 25 August 1804, and means „Calm reigns in heaven. Down here all is ending”. You can find it on the beggining of chapter four (in polish edition it’s page 63).
6. „Make Glorious the Embrace of Saturn”
Painting by Francisco Goya: „Saturn Devouring His Son”. Dave said once that expression on Saturn’s face is important to him (in, let’s say, empathizing way). It’s also cover of Anaal Nathrakh first demo.
7. “ Of Fire, and Fucking Pigs”
A vision Dave’s once had in the street. People fucking pigs on the streets, fire everywhere etc. vision.
8. “A Metaphor for the Dead”
“Pagliacci”, Italian opera by Ruggero Leoncavallo.
But, also, death of Dave’s father.
VIII. “DESIDERATUM”
Album is in some ways connected to the theme of “desire”.
“Desideratum” – “something desired as essential”.
1./2. “ Acheronta Movebimus”/”Unleash”
“Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo” (also quoted in “Unleash” as sample – and chorus is translation of this words) meaning “If I can not bend Heaven, I shall move Hell” (one of the translations). It’s quote from “Aeneid” by Virgil. But, since one of main themes of this album is desire, I think it’s worth to mention that Freud quoted this words in his book “The Interpretation of Dreams” (ger. “Die Traumdeutung”) – and this is the book that started whole psychoanalisis movement. And psychoanalisis is all about desire.
So:
– Virgil, “Aeneid”
– Freud “ The Interpretation of Dreams” (or, let say, “Introductory Lectures on Psycho-Analysis”)
3. “Monstrum in Animo”
This song is (most likely) about Socrates and his death, and there is a chapter about it in Nietzsche’s „Twilight of the Idols”, which is one of Dave’s favourite books. The chapter is called „The Problem of Socrates”, and there is phrase „monstrum in fronte, monstrum in animo” and also „cock for Asclepius” part (that Socrates owe a cock for Asclepius, one of the gods). And also idea of life as a sickness and death as a cure. 2:33 of the song is, for me, words that lyrical subject addresses to Socrates himself („Could you ever really say that your death was a tragedy?”).
Another thing – this motive was used in „Hannibal” series, which Dave have watched and was enthusiastic about.
So:
– Nietzsche, “Twilight of the Idols” – specifically chapter „The Problem of Socrates”.
4. “The One Thing Needful”
„The One Thing Needful” is probably reference to Bible, Luke 10:42:
„(41) And Jesus answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things:
(42) But one thing is needful: and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her”
which meaning is (and of course it’s one of the meanings):
„that one thing needed is obedience to the word of God”; simply faith, obedience, the fear of God (or maybe – fear of the self-claimed representatives of God on Earth) et cetera. It probably matches with the lyrics above. In my opinion chorus is really subversive in this matter, and it’s great and powerful piece of lyrics:
„In silence we wait here
At the bended knee
Servitude be our master
The one thing that we need „.
So:
Bible, again.
5. “A Firm Foundation Of Unyielding Despair”
– Bertrand Russell, “Free Man’s Worship”
6. “Idol”
Can’t really tell – but maybe it’s some reference to Francis Bacon philosophy:
“For this purpose of obtaining knowledge of and power over nature, Bacon outlined in this work a new system of logic he believed to be superior to the old ways of syllogism, developing his scientific method, consisting of procedures for isolating the formal cause of a phenomenon (heat, for example) through eliminative induction. For him, the philosopher should proceed through inductive reasoning from fact to axiom to physical law. Before beginning this induction, though, the enquirer must free his or her mind from certain false notions or tendencies that distort the truth. These are called „Idols” (idola), and are of four kinds:
„Idols of the Tribe” (idola tribus), which are common to the race;
„Idols of the Den” (idola specus), which are peculiar to the individual;
„Idols of the Marketplace” (idola fori), coming from the misuse of language; and
„Idols of the Theatre” (idola theatri), which stem from philosophical dogmas.
About which, he stated:
If we have any humility towards the Creator; if we have any reverence or esteem of his works; if we have any charity towards men, or any desire of relieving their miseries and necessities; if we have any love for natural truths; any aversion to darkness, any desire of purifying the understanding, we must destroy these idols, which have led experience captive, and childishly triumphed over the works of God; and now at length condescend, with due submission and veneration, to approach and peruse the volume of the creation; dwell some time upon it, and bringing to the work a mind well purged of opinions, idols, and false notions, converse familiarly therein.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Works_by_Francis_Bacon…
So:
– Francis Bacon, “Novum Organum”
But it could be wrong all the way.
7. “Sub Specie Aeterni (Of Maggots and Humanity)”
“Sub Specie Aeterni”/”Sub Specie Aeternitatis” is popular phrase in philosophy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub_specie_aeternitatis
But there is a big possibility it’s “Better Never to Have Been Born” by David Benatar.
(interview: http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/interview.php?interview_id=716 )
8. “ The Joystream”
Book by Thomas Pogge, probably “World Poverty and Human Rights”, but I don’t know for sure.
9. “ Ita Mori”
Dave: “The track „Ita Mori,” the title’s taken from a painting, a portrait painting I came across on the internet […]”.
IX. „THE WHOLE OF THE LAW”
1. „Depravity Favours the Bold”
Charles Baudelaire, „The Flowers of Evil” („Les Fleurs du mal „) – lyrics of the song (in most part, if not all) comes from chapter „To the Reader”.
2. „Hold Your Children Close and Pray for Oblivion”
Direct influence is:
Yanis Varoufakis, „And the Weak Suffer What They Must? Europe’s crisis, America’s economic future”
Quote (and the chorus of the song) comes from:
Thucydides, „History of the Peloponnesian War”, 5.89:
„since you know as well as we do that right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.”
Note: in the liner notes Dave attributes this quote to Plato’s „Republic” (which would be spoken by Thrasymachus), but – as far as I know – there is no such words there. [To be fair – Thrasymachus position is similiar to quoted words: “justice is [merely] the advantage of the stronger”; “injustice, if it is on a large enough scale, is stronger, freer, and more masterly than justice”].
3. „We Will Fucking Kill You”
Samples are direct passages from Emil Cioran’s „On the Heights of Despair”. So – this and probably any other Cioran’s book (he himself said that he always writes about same topics – but his precision in language is amazing and can show you different approches to many things!).
4. „…So We Can Die Happy”
News report from Syria, in which small boy said „If they want to use chemical weapons on us, they should just get on with it. But can they make them smell of bread so at least we can die happy?”. Crushing words – and you can feel it in the song, which really is desperate and on the brink of madness.
6. „In Flagrante Delicto”
Oscar Wilde, „Vera, or the Nihilists”.
7. „And You Will Beg for Our Secrets”
Song is about deeds and crimes of infamous Unit 731. So some good books or articles on the topic. May I warn you – this is really hars and brutal topic.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_731
And also, as the booklet indicates: „Operation Paperclip”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Paperclip
8. „The Great Spectator”
At least the title is a playword with the title of the movie „The Great Dictator” with Charlie Chaplin (and is mentioned in the booklet). So – watch this movie.
9. „Of Horror, and the Black Shawls”
All right, this is just a pure guess – but since the song is about financial industry, the market and black-scholes equation (as we read in the booklet), probably we should read some critical perspective on global capitalism, market and so on. Maybe Żiżek, maybe Varoufakis, maybe Piketty, maybe something more technical and specialized – there is a lot of stuff and I’m no expert on this matter, but I’m sure you find something worthwile yourself.
There is also small Nietzsche reference in lyrics (probably) – „The abyss will never look back” – which is reference to „He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.” (F. Nietzsche, „Beyond Good And Evil”) – but we have to remember that context of the song is completely different and this is rather just a nice phrase which was used to express what Dave thinks and, probably, nietzschean philosophy is not involved in any way in this matter (maybe besides some general approach).
MEDITATIO MORTIS 