Nicola Bianchi

Handful Of Hate

The Italian HANDFUL OF HATE back in the beginning joined the lions of Black Metal from the Norse lands, spreading their deadly music through Europe and the world. Surging with their new album "To Perdition", via Code666 Records, the Italian crew never ceased to amaze. The Jungle Guy talked with Nicola Bianchi, the band's leader, about the new album, the Italian scene and more…

By "Metal Mark" Garcia

• December 30, 2013

Interview - Nicola Bianchi (Handful Of Hate) interview

Hi Nicola, I thank for this opportunity, so let's start firing the question guns. When I listen to your new album, "To Perdition", it's clear that you have some aspects linked to a fast and raw Black Metal, that is not so usual when we speak in terms of the start of the Second Wave of Black Metal, back in 1990, near the time Handful Of Hate was formed. Can I assume that your music evolves with the time, or do you have a different vision? If so, can you explain your vision?

Thank you for the interview. I always looked at the extreme bands from the 90s and I still do it today. No matter if second of first way of Black Metal, no matter if contaminated by Death Metal of War metal. I like to melt them together in order to create a lethal formula. Since 1993 there have been no-compromising bands such as Blasphemy, Marduk or Sarcofago and many others. During these 20 years, I believe, we have been walking, following our own ideas, straight on, proudly and firmly convinced into this extreme field, always improving and trying to be unique our own way, not a clone.

"To Perdition" is out now, a new testimony of a twenty years career, how do you feel being an ancient band, with a lot of experience? And by the way: "To Perdition" shows a band that still has a lot to say in terms of music.

Yes I feel well experienced but not so old. We have a lot of things and ideas to put into music and this new album sounds "fresh" and much better than the previous one.

How the album has been received by media and Metal fans?

Absolutely enthusiastic! I did not expect such a big response really!

You come from Italy, a country with a religious strong feeling, for the Vatican is there, where Catholic Church rules. Does your message don't cause some troubles to you in Italy? And being in activity for so many time must had bring you some respect there, am I right?

Unfortunately, I have to admit that Italy is so deep into religion that you have to manage it every time you move especially toward south. At the same time, I can affirm that new generations are well managing to get rid of these terrible chains. Church is smarter than you think and as it has survived for 2000 years, it will in the future.

Speaking about that, we can see some good names coming from there, like MALFEITOR, NEFARIUM, ABORYM and others, along with ancients like BULLDOZER. Do you have any contact with them?

I'm actually in contact with Fabban (Malfeitor / Aborym), he is an old friend of mine. Sometimes I get some news from Neferium (a kicking ass band) but I don't have any contact with Bulldozer.

How do you perceive the extreme Metal scene in Italy?

There is no scene here in Italy but a few good acts trying to impose themselves worldwide. Few ones are well knows. But there isn't a background really, composed by a good numbers of old bands playing since the 90's.

Well, retuning to "To Perdition", how the composition process took place, the recording and release of the album? And what can you express about the album? And how do you compare "To Perdition" to your past albums?

The songwriting took about 2 years. We did pre-productions and we arranged each song taking care of every single detail. The recordings process has been split in three different sections: drums recordings (3 days), guitars and bass recordings (5-6 days), then it took 5 more days to record vocals, mixing and mastering the whole thing. We recorded at KK digital recordings in the South of Italy and we're very satisfied with the result. Compared to the previous albums "To Perdition" sounds more aggressive, thousand times faster and with an excellent production. This album is mature and it comes from a so long experience (20 years of career), we used a lot of different solutions from inspired by raw Black Metal to the hyper blasting Death Metal, without letting out some Thrash parts, too.

By your history, I can say that Handful Of Hate had a lot of changes in the lineup throughout the years. What's has been main reason for that?

Two things: first of all, my terrible character/temper since I like coherent people, the second one is that I can't stand those who change their minds all the time or are not reliable. We're a, "underground" band, and as such we have to work hard. In Italy there are too many musicians, but only a few ones are professional and truly believe in a project.

My chief assumption and feeling when I heard the songs is that Handful Of Hate has a lot to prove to extreme Metal scene worldwide, so, I hope you're planning to do some dates out of Europe, coming to America, in places like Mexico, Bolivia, Chile, and of course Brazil. There are some plans in terms of this?

Sure! We'll try to promote this album on-stage as much as possible. We have played around Europe and we'll keep on doing it, spreading our music all over the place. At the same time we got offers (in the past too) to play in US, Mexico and Brazil but, actually, we have no budget to afford such an expensive trip. We'll see in the future. If anyone's interested just get in contact to me.

I thank again for this interview, do you have anything to summarize or message to the readers?

Thank you for the interview and I say hail to everyone's coming to our concerts and supporting Handful Of Hate buying our cd. Keep the extreme black flame burning!

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