The Anals – Total Anal (2009) [Permenant] // Grade: A-

For a while now France’s best musical export has been in Electro and Dance based, but there’s something genuinely awesome brewing that doesn’t have anything to do with Ed Banger. The scene is centered in the city of Metz, in the northeast of France where a small and incestuous group has produced a handful of interesting bands.

The Anals are one such band whose debut Total Anal is one of 2009′s more challenging and satisfying releases to date. Consiting of a B. Marietti (drums, guitar) & E. Satti (vocals, bass & synths) the duo (who are also in the Metz band A.H. Kraken) form a refreshing and accurate throwback to the nihilistic Neue Deutsche Welle & American Pigfuck scenes. It’s caustic, rhythmic and a completely transfixing heaping of primal Proto-Industrial goodness. From the agonizing thump of “Vaginal Death Tunnel” to the primitive electronic bop of “Wake Up You’re Dead” Total Anal pulsates from the speakers like some cathartic blood-letting that gradually unravels into sweet, sweet dementia.

This definitely isn’t a release for everyone, but those with a sick tooth for the abrasive and experimental, this is as tasty as it gets. With the ability to capture this as well as they have on record, I can only imagine how mind-blowing of an experience it would be to see The Anals perform live. Hopefully the make it over the Atlantic to NY sometime soon.

- My Pal the Crook