Gruesome Splendour

Handful Of Hate

Don't tell me you still haven't realized these guys are a Black Metal band! Except […]
By Yiannis Dafopoulos
January 14, 2007
Handful Of Hate - Gruesome Splendour album cover

Don't tell me you still haven't realized these guys are a Black Metal band! Except from their name (which reminds of SAVATAGE's Handful Of Rain), the cover and the titles of the songs obviously show that these guys are a classic example of blasphemous Black Metal. After listening to the CD some times, I have to admit that it is true that Black Metal is slowly reaching a decline status.

Italy usually produces Power Metal, Gothic and in general melodic stuff. HANDFUL OF HATE is an Italian Black Metal act. The band was formed by Nicola B. in 1993. As the underground Black Metal fans have already understood, this band's drummer is no other than Gionata Potenti, known for his work with bands such as FROSTMOON ECLIPSE, HIEMS and NOCTERNITY (the Greek ones). Gruesome Splendour is this band's fourth full-length release.

HANDFUL OF HATE is a Black Metal band that (as expected) is lawful to the Black Metal rules and offers an album that doesn't seem to have the required stuff to persuade a metalhead to buy it. Riffs that have been played a thousand times before and seem boring enough to make me put this CD aside and listen to some CARPATHIAN FOREST. You see, as I said in the intro paragraph, Black Metal is slowly reaching a decline status. This is due to the lack of passion in many bands. How can you play Black Metal when you don't feel its power? To compose and play Black Metal you have to be surrounded by its magical mist. What if the drummer is a cult musician in this genre? What if the speed is sometimes faster than the speed of light? This band seems to be influenced by acts like DARK FUNERAL and MARDUK, which happen to be two of my favourite Black Metal bands, but still manage to sound boring to me. Italy has produced a great Black/Thrash Metal band, NECRODEATH, but that doesn't seem to inspire other musicians.

These guys have the abilities to do something much better than this, but I am not sure if they have the inspiration to do it. If they manage to create a more unique sound, I think that they can do it. I don't know if I am the most appropriate person to tell you if you have to buy this CD or not. The only thing I know is that this CD would better fit in a die-hard Black Metal fan's CD collection.

5 / 10

Mediocre

"Gruesome Splendour" Track-listing:

Livid
Theory Of Perfection
Used To Discipline
Tied, Whipped... Educated
Grotesque In Pleasure, Rotten In Vice
Reproach And Blame
Spawn Of Decadence
Whiplaw
Ejaculation Dementiae

Handful Of Hate Lineup:

Nicola B. - Vocals, Guitar
Geny A. - Guitar
Matteo F. - Bass
Gionata P. - Drums

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