Handful of Hate is one of the most popular and most valuable acts of the Italian black metal scene and this album celebrates 20 years in the business.
A violent album, in the best Swedish tradition of Marduk and Dark Funeral, with incessant blast beats along the duration of the album. Unfortunately, Handful of Hate have focused too much on violence and little on originality: the disc is a nice blow full of pieces to furious headbanging but that does not bring anything new (both in the genre and their discography). The best cartridges are definitely fired with the first tracks (the first track, the title track, is definitely the highlights of the disc) but I found that as one gets closer to the end of the disc, some of the charge that exploded at the beginning gets lost and it is difficult to remember certain songs at the end of the listen. Surely the new purchase Aeternus on the drums has powered the anger of the band. Handful of Hate proves actually to be in good shape and manages to pack wild songs, one after the other, and enhances them with a big amount of technical skills on all fronts.
The lyrics are mainly a journey through sins and contempt for a higher power that guides us; a clear example is the title track: “Where the eyes of gods testify this unmerciful act / Of dogmas and erections I resist all beliefs acting firmly / I hear all precepts, God stinks the same as me”. The second track “Cursed Be Your Breast” contains instead an excerpt from Shakespeare's Macbeth which covers almost entirely the lyrics.
In summary we can certainly talk about a good album but it is certainly not suited to those looking for something new or special. Handful of Hate accustomed us well in the past and is certainly able to give us something more.
Notes:
To Perdition was released on November 13, 2013 through Code666 Records.
Released as a digipak with a bonus track (11. Damnatio ad bestias) limited 1000 copies.
Also released as “torture box” limited to 22 copies. It comes in a 16x8x16 cm wood box with studs and band logo. The inside contains:
- The limited edition Digipack CD with bonus track wrapped in wax sealed parchment envelope
- The exclusive de luxe t-shirt black with bronze and grey print.
- The exclusive Handful of Hate embrioidered patch
- The 2003 “Vicecrown” album in CD format wrapped in wax sealed parchment envelope
- Certificate of Authenticity
Recorded, mixed and mastered at KK Digital Recordings.
Produced by Kami Kopat and Handful of Hate.
A violent album, in the best Swedish tradition of Marduk and Dark Funeral, with incessant blast beats along the duration of the album. Unfortunately, Handful of Hate have focused too much on violence and little on originality: the disc is a nice blow full of pieces to furious headbanging but that does not bring anything new (both in the genre and their discography). The best cartridges are definitely fired with the first tracks (the first track, the title track, is definitely the highlights of the disc) but I found that as one gets closer to the end of the disc, some of the charge that exploded at the beginning gets lost and it is difficult to remember certain songs at the end of the listen. Surely the new purchase Aeternus on the drums has powered the anger of the band. Handful of Hate proves actually to be in good shape and manages to pack wild songs, one after the other, and enhances them with a big amount of technical skills on all fronts.
The lyrics are mainly a journey through sins and contempt for a higher power that guides us; a clear example is the title track: “Where the eyes of gods testify this unmerciful act / Of dogmas and erections I resist all beliefs acting firmly / I hear all precepts, God stinks the same as me”. The second track “Cursed Be Your Breast” contains instead an excerpt from Shakespeare's Macbeth which covers almost entirely the lyrics.
In summary we can certainly talk about a good album but it is certainly not suited to those looking for something new or special. Handful of Hate accustomed us well in the past and is certainly able to give us something more.
Notes:
To Perdition was released on November 13, 2013 through Code666 Records.
Released as a digipak with a bonus track (11. Damnatio ad bestias) limited 1000 copies.
Also released as “torture box” limited to 22 copies. It comes in a 16x8x16 cm wood box with studs and band logo. The inside contains:
- The limited edition Digipack CD with bonus track wrapped in wax sealed parchment envelope
- The exclusive de luxe t-shirt black with bronze and grey print.
- The exclusive Handful of Hate embrioidered patch
- The 2003 “Vicecrown” album in CD format wrapped in wax sealed parchment envelope
- Certificate of Authenticity
Recorded, mixed and mastered at KK Digital Recordings.
Produced by Kami Kopat and Handful of Hate.
| Tracklist: 1. To Perdition 2. Cursed Be Your Breast 3. Far Beyond All Scourges 4. Swines Graced Gods 5. Caro Data Vermibus 6. Larvae 7. Ornaments for Derision 8. Ex Abrupto 9. Words like Worms 10.Feeding Sufferings 11. Damnatio Ad Bestias | 04:18 03:22 03:34 04:14 01:10 04:26 04:27 03:35 03:22 06:17 03:34 42:19 |
Personnel:
Nicholas - Bass
Deimos - Guitars
Nicola - Guitars, Vocals, Lyrics
Aeternus - Drums
Nicholas - Bass
Deimos - Guitars
Nicola - Guitars, Vocals, Lyrics
Aeternus - Drums
Text by Aldebaran