Reviews: SAT326
< Обратно к релизу / Back to page
It seems, as wise people have said for millennia, that all good things must come to an end. And so, after a career that has spanned a quarter-century, the Finnish symphonic black metal band Gloomy Grim will be releasing their final album later this month.
This new and last release is entitled Agathonomicon, and it includes 10 tracks that revel in darkness and horror. So far, two singles from the album have emerged, and today we bring you a third one — “They Are Waiting” — before Satanath Records and MurdHer Records jointly issue the entire release on April 28th.
In this new song you can feel the bass in your bones and the drums in your neck, and streams of eerie gleaming melody wail like a host of poltergeists above those visceral rhythms. As the pacing slows and savage snarls, cold roars, and extravagant cries tell a tale of hauntings and witchery — of the inner legions of the dark who wait for us — the melody seems to grow more fear-stricken and despairing, building mounting moods of tension and frightening peril.
The music grows more ominous and twisted, even as those potent rhythms continue to hammer, slug, and stomp — but freakish, flickering guitars send the song to heights of madness and mayhem before the track ends in a fervent chant — which extols, perhaps calls upon, or perhaps warns about, those dark legions who are waiting.
Below you will find our premiere stream of “They Are Waiting“, plus streams of the two previous singles from this last album — “The Hermit” and “Blood, Monster, Darkness“.
Satanath Records and MurdHer Records will be releasing Agathonomicon in CD editions as well as digitally, along with assorted bundles.
https://www.nocleansinging.com/2021/04/27/an-ncs-video-premiere-gloomy-grim-they-are-waiting/
Finland's Gloomy Grim have returned with a new recording which continues the symphonic style of black metal from previous releases and this is a review of their 2021 album "Agathonomicon" which will be released on April 28th as a joint effort between Satanath and Murdher Records.
A very ritualistic sounding intro starts off the album while also introducing grim black metal vocals onto the recording which also takes the music into a heavier direction. The riffs also add in a great amount of melody along with the faster sections of the songs also adding in a lot of tremolo picking and blast beats.
Throughout the recording you can also hear a decent mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts while all of the musical instruments also have a very powerful sound to them. When guitar solos and leads are utilized they are done in a very melodic style and symphonic sounding keyboards are also added into the heavier sections of the music.
A lot of the songs are also very heavily rooted in the mid 90's era along with one of the tracks also introducing spoken word parts onto the album as well as a later track also adding in a small amount of back up shouts and growls. The production sounds very professional while the lyrics cover Satanism, Occultism, Darkness, Death, Horror and War themes.
In my opinion this is another great sounding album from Gloomy Grim and if you are a fan of symphonic black metal, you should check out this recording.
https://darkdoomgrinddeath.blogspot.com/2021/04/gloomy-grimagathonomiconsatanath.html
Finnish band Gloomy Grim have a new album out, and on "Agathonomicon" they explore a rather dynamic variety of extreme metal. Alterations in tempo and intensity is a feature throughout, and ranging from doom-oriented escapades through to intense uptempo runs, and from impact riff oriented parts through to groove-oriented escapades as well as the fluctuating tight riff patterns many will expect from an extreme metal band. Careful use of subtle keyboards emphasize the often monumental sounds adding depth and a majestic feel, while the raspy, barked and sometimes slightly twisted vocal style fits the musical landscapes explored spot on. An album for those who like their extreme metal to be on the grandiose and dynamic side of matters.
https://www.facebook.com/wildernessviking/posts/4084996384932030
Gloomy Grim, nome che risuona spesso e volentieri nei nostri padiglioni auricolari, perché autori da molti anni di lavori molto interessanti e particolarmente personali. Li avevamo lasciati nel 2016 con The Age Of Aquarius, ma tra una compilation, un ep e un singolo si arrivano nel 2021 con il nuovo e incandescente Agathonomicon. Riescono sempre a distinguersi tra le migliaia di black metal band che ci sono in giro, proprio per la loro grande abilità nel creare canzoni che non sono mai stancanti o uguali l’una con l’altra. Ok, la base è sempre un black metal primordiale e marcio, ma all’interno dei brani riescono a inserire tante interessanti soluzioni che fanno di brani come The Hermit o la successiva granitica e distruttiva Master Inside. Il bello delle loro composizioni è che si può ascoltare una grande varietà di suoni che vanno come abbiamo già accennato dal puro black metal primordiale al death metal con qualche innesto in puro thrash metal style, ascoltare Third Eye Opening per rendersene conto. Si vira anche su lidi heavy doom con una possente They Are Waiting, che mette in mostra ancora una volta tutte le qualità di questa band diventata un vero e proprio culto all’interno della scena estrema mondiale durante gli anni. Questo nuovo Agathonomicon non deluderà sicuramente tutti i vecchi sostenitori della nera fiamma e anche i puristi del death metal europeo, che in Conjunction To The Ground, troveranno un ottimo esempio di ciò che è stato appena scritto. Come abbiamo ampiamente cercato di fare capire, in questi nuovi brani trovano spazio diverse sfaccettature che hanno reso la band, quella che è oggi giorno, basta anche ascoltare la granitica, ruggente e mid tempo To The Death I Have Sworn. I riff martellanti e ripetitivi la fanno da padrone nella successiva Purity, Beauty, Freedom, che ricorda in parte i migliori Darkthrone, tanto per non andare troppo lontano. Si va verso la chiusura di questo nuovo capitolo, con altri due grandi brani in pieno stile Gloomy Grim e sono: Blood, Monster, Darkness e la possente e trascinante Haunting, Hunting, Howling. Agathonomicon, album da avere assolutamente all’interno della propria collezione estrema dei migliori lavori usciti in quest’ ultimo periodo.
https://giornalemetal.it/gloomy-grim-agathonomicon/
Saludos a todos los metalheads que nos leen en varias partes del mundo, bienvenidos a una edición más de Broken Tomb.
No podemos dejar pasar en vano innumerables recientes materiales discográficos y que en un futuro nos espera más.
El día de hoy presentamos a la banda Gloomy Grim, legendario combo de metal extremo que regresan con su sexto álbum de estudio titulado «Agathonomicon», al igual repasaremos un poco de ellos y una perspectiva de su nuevo trabajo, así que damos inicio.
«Oscuridad, guerra, muerte y honor» son influencias simbólicas que dan origen a Gloomy Grim, una banda de Black Metal Sinfónico originaria de Helsinki, Finlandia.
Gloomy Grim se forma en el año de 1995 y su primer registro se remonta con su demo «Fuck the World, Kill the Jehova!» en 1996. En su carrera discográfica destacan álbumes como:
26 años de carrera de Gloomy Grim y a la vez de su creador Juha «Agathon» Hintikka dan final con su último legado titulado «Agathonomicon» su sexto disco que fue emitido el pasado 28 de abril bajo el sello discográfico Satanath Records.
Podrás disfrutar del buen Black/Symphonic de 54 minutos con un tracklist especial.
Hablemos en términos de producción de «Agathonomicon». Lo primero que nota al comparar a Gloomy Grim con otros actos sinfónicos de Black Metal es que sus partes de sinfonía son mucho más intringadas y abrumadoras, pero la atmósfera general resulta ser pegadiza y atractiva. Hay una frialdad, una oscuridad omnipresente que impregna cada nota de este disco que no se puede describir con precisión con palabras, hay que vivirla.
Gloomy Grim, pueden estar orgullosos de haber desatado un disco tan demoledor como lo hace con «Agathonomicon». Esta increíble obra maestra no solo contiene todos esos elementos que a lo largo de los años se han convertido en la marca registrada de Gloomy Grim sino que los presenta de una manera tan competente y efectiva que uno difícilmente podría creer que este es su último álbum de la banda. Agathon empuja los límites de esta forma de arte mucho más lejos como en sus anteriores trabajos.
El disco inicia con la intro ‘Invitation‘ seguida del tema ‘The Hermit‘, el álbum realmente comienza con una canción que es simplemente genial, iniciando con un gran riff de guitarras y a la vez contenido con un bajo asesino por parte de Nuklear Tormentörr. La canción se vuelve jodidamente poco convencional, pero aún así logra tener una sensación de ritmo.
‘Master Inside‘ se abre paso con un asalto feroz, rápido y mortal. Majestuosos sintetizadores te atraen hacia una visión seductora de ensueño, pero pronto las guitarras, la percusión y los gruñidos inhumanos realza la atmósfera que evoca los finlandeses y la voz de Agathon también merece elogios, el hombre conserva su poderío.
‘The Third Eye Opening‘ se mantiene en patrones generalmente más lentos y se enfoca más en atmósferas sobrias pero encantadoras. Un magno poder desgarrador y profundo vocal de Agathon con Micko Hell, se elevan por encima de los majestuosos paisajes sonoros esculpidos por sintetizadores con resultados sublimes.
‘They Are Waiting‘ es el quinto tema del álbum, un poderoso fuego artificial del bajista de principio a fin desata la implacable tempestad supersónica y deslumbrante de pesadilla, así como una gran demostración de técnica de ejecución de toda la banda.
‘Conjunction To The Ground‘ es un tema corto y de dinámica estable. La forma en que la canción viaja y fluye encaja increíblemente bien en una atmósfera siniestra que es difícil de superar.
‘To The Death I Have Sworn‘ es el tema #7, se siente como la buena banda de black metal que es, no se enfoca en efectos exagerados, el resultado es muy denso y complejo que es tan pesado como melódico donde los finlandeses han dominado por completo.
‘Purity, Beauty, Freedom‘ esta canción destruye todo a su paso, de ritmo concreto, se mueve a la perfección, riffs pegadizos, atmósferas agradables y, por supuesto, el demoníaco rango de Agathon, no hay mucho más que decir al respecto, el sonido de batería nítido y enfocado permite que las habilidades de Agitator realmente brillen, mientras que el tono de guitarras robusto le da a todo un toque de claridad y pesadez
‘Blood, Monsters, Darkness‘ es el tema #9 del LP, un tema a medida en el sintetizador se utilizan magistralmente para crear una tormenta de sonido giratoria, que llega a un clímax y luego llega a una suave conclusión, definitivamente lo más destacado.
El cierre del LP lo presentan con ‘Haunting, Haunting, Howling‘, una canción intrigante en donde los riffs son largos, agresivos y no demasiado complicados, ni demasiado simples. Las guitarras crean ese aura de sensación de suciedad así mantiene al oyente marchando al ritmo de la destrucción.
Este álbum es una de las razones por las que estoy orgulloso de ser fanático del black metal. La atmósfera y la sensación de «Agathonomicon» es abrumadora. Los escalofríos recorren todo mi cuerpo durante ciertas partes del álbum. Las guitarras, la batería, la voz y los teclados están perfectamente equilibrados, por lo que la atmósfera te golpea como una tonelada de ladrillos mientras escuchas.
Les doy un merecido 10, porque es así de jodidamente bueno. Todo fan del black metal debería ver este álbum. ¡No te arrepentirás ni por un segundo!
https://www.brokentombmagazine.com/2021/05/25/critica-gloomy-grim-agathonomicon-2021/
Gloomy Grim, a Helsinki quartet in "business" since 1995, aspire to the role of top band of the second Finnish Black Metal wave and, with this seventh studio album, "Agathonomicon", produced by the very active Russian label Satanath Records in collaboration with the Italian Murndher Records, the goal seems to be getting closer and closer. The vibrations transmitted by the ritualistic bells of "Invitation" introduce us to listening to an album that aims to be a catalyst for dark and disturbing atmospheres, a powerful sound that projects us on this mystical journey.
In each note, the instrumental expertise of the band members emerges, musicians who have behind them important participations in well-known bands of the scene, such as Thy Serpent and Barathrum. The quality of each piece is remarkable, powerful in "The Hermetic", direct and sharp in "Master Inside", hypnotic and gloomy in "Third Eye Opening", evocative and intense in the Nordic sounds of "They are Waiting". The backbone of Gloomy Grim is the excellent guitarist Micko Hell, able to express himself in different styles and therefore to give each song a strong personality: in "Conjunction to the Ground", for example, he develops a melodic riffing, but with the right aggression!
The work done by the rhythmic base consisting of Nuklear Tormentorr on bass and AstroNuclear Agitator on drums is also excellent, effective both on the classic blast-beats and on the more reasoned and structured parts.
"Blood, Monsters, Darkness" is the best song of this album, the most influenced by old school Death Metal; Agathon, voice, and synths, with his screaming, reinforce the sense of restlessness conveyed by the song, the vision of a nefarious horizon that appears ever clearer but, suddenly, is hidden again at sunset.
https://jointhisorder.blogspot.com/p/gloomy-grim-agathonomicon_6.html
O regresso dos Gloomy Grim em 2016 foi fantástico. “The Age Of Aquarius” é um álbum que consegue recapturar toda aquela majestosa ambiência do black metal melódico e sinfónico, de uma forma que a banda nunca tinha conseguido anteriormente. Ao que parece a banda terá acabado em 2019, apenas para voltar no ano seguinte – péssimo ano para qualquer tipo de regresso, dica-se de passagem – e agora aqui temos o novo álbum. Um álbum que surpreende mais uma vez e que até se poderá revelar mais exigente do que se esperaria. Apesar de ter intacta a componente melódica e (algo) sinfónica, a produção é podre. Mesmo podre. Podre daqueles género que parece que estamos numa fábrica e se houve constantemente o barulho das máquinas a trabalhar. Curiosamente, a surpresa é que… resulta! As músicas soam mais agressivas e no geral é um bom regresso. Veremos até onde vai esta segunda vida dos Gloomy Grim.
Pitkän uran tehneen Gloomy Grimin tarun on kerrottu päättyvän seitsemännen albumin, Agathonomiconin myötä. Tällaisiin huhuihin ja kuulumisiin on kuitenkin musiikkipiireissä tapana suhtautua kilolla suolaa, sillä yhtyeitä hajoaa ja perustetaan uudelleen tuon tuosta, välillä ties kuinka monen hajoamiskerran jälkeen.
Varmaa kuitenkin on, että Agathonomiconilla on äänessä täysin toinen bändi kuin yhtyeen edellisen kokopitkän (The Age of Aquarius, 2016) kohdalla. Alkuperäisjäsenistä paikalla on "enää" yhtyeen ääni, myös koskettimista, kitaroista ja sävellyspuolesta vastaava Agathon. Ilmoille jääkin kysymys: kuinka paljon sävellys-, sovitus- ja tuotantovastuuta muulle yhtyeelle edes annetaan? Ehkei sillä ole edes kauheasti väliä.
Kauhea on myös sana, joka on kulkenut mukana yhtyeen alusta alkaen. Kun Blood, Monsters, Darkness -esikoislevy vuonna 1998 julkaistiin, heijasteli yhtyeen tyyli enemmämn kauhuelokuvakuvastoa kuin perinteistä black metalia. Siitä asti Gloomy Grim onkin kulkenut omia polkujaan niin hyvässä kuin pahassakin. Aina arvostusta ei ole tullut toivotulla tavalla, mutta liekö sitä koskaan kosiskeltukaan. Vaikea ainakin on kuvitella.
Joten jos Agathonomicon todellakin on sen viimeinen GG-levytys, ainakin loppu on kunniallinen ja dramaattinen. Levy nimittäin on täynnä synkkyyttä, draamaa ja ainutlaatuista tunnelmaa. Eivätkä biisien riffitkään puhdasveristä black metalia ole, ainakaan sellaisella tavalla joka yhdistyisi black metalin 90-lukulaiseen kultakauteen.
Agathonomicon on itsensä näköinen levy, jossa kuuluu sekä bändin paatoksellinen kosketinmusatausta että tietynlainen ysärifiilis. Se on kuin aikakapseli, joka nyt jälkikäteen löytyy jostain varaston perukoilta pölyn ja lukinseittien seasta. Kapselista löytyy muumio, joka huokuu pimeyttä, pahuutta ja synkkyyttä. Toivo on kateissa, samoin kaikenlainen seksiä, huumeita ja rokkenrollia -mentaliteetti. Tässä on kyse Agathonista ja Gloomy Grimistä, ei miljoonia myyvästä hittilevystä.
Levy on paikoin hillitty ja hidastempoinen synkeyden marssi, toisinaan taas tuplabassareiden rytmittämä messu. Mahtailevat koskettimet tuovat levylle omaa synkkyyttään, mutta silti paikoin hommassa on tietynlainen Burzum-fiilis. Ilman näitä koskettimia levy ei olisi eheä ja aito GG-kokemus.
Ärinälaulut ovat hyvät ja erottuvat, eivätkä tippaakaan liikaa pinnalla. Sen sijaan rumpujen jytinän olisi voinut miksata hieman hiljaisemmalle, sillä nyt ne kilpailevan huomiosta laulun kanssa, kun taas koskettimet ja etenkin kielisoittimet uhkaavat jäädä taustalle. Yleisesti ottaen soundit ovat hyvät, joskin myös hieman kotikutoiset. Ei nappisuoritus, mutta kohtalaisen hyvä kuitenkin.
Agathonomicon on veikeä levy, sillä se on niin leimallisesti Gloomy Grimin kuuloinen tapaus, eikä muutu missään vaiheessa liian juustoiseksi. Vaikka pieniä ärsyttävyyksiä mukana on, ne jäävät kauneusvirheiden tasolle. Tällaisia ovat esimerkiksi They Are Waitingin lopussa turhan pitkään toistuva loppuhuudatus ja päätösbiisin usean minuutin hiljaisuus ennen lopullista lopetusta. Tällaisten olisi toivonut jäävän sinne 90-luvulle.
Kokonaisuus on kuitenkin vahvasti voiton puolella. Agathonomicon on kiistatta yhtyeen parhaita kokopitkiä, vaikkei kotimaisen black metalin kärkikahinoihin ylläkään.
https://www.impe.fi/reviews/1/22318
GLOOMY GRIM are a symphonic black metal quintet from Helsinki, Finland and they are no strangers to the metal scene in Finland. Their back catalog goes back to the mid 1990’s beginning with their debut album, BLOOD, MONSTERS, DARKNESS in 1998 and their second album LIFE? in 2000. Their other albums included WRITTEN IN BLOOD (2001), THE GRAND HAMMERING (2004) and two more albums in 2008 & 2016.
They are now back with another album five years after their last release in 2016, their new album is titled AGATHONOMICON making this their seventh album to date released through the record label, Satanath Records. The sound of GLOOMY GRIM can be summed up as “a melting pot of 90’s black metal, horror metal with keyboards, a splash of death metal and heavy/speed metal”.
Their album begins with clanging of bells and satanic vocals although the bell sounds are coming from a keyboard in the first song namely, “The Invitation”. Then this progresses into an implosion of guitar, bass and drums in the following track “The Hermit”. I also thoroughly enjoyed the transition where the time signature changes to what sounds like 6/8 or 12/8 timing which is notated in groups of triplets. But other sections of the track are in common time or 4/4 maybe even 2/2 with the more progressive excerpts. “Master Inside” keeps the continuity of furious blast beats from drums and guitar.
The death element comes from the vocals but this is complimented by the pitch shifts of guitar. “Third Eye Opening” takes a step back with it’s tempo, more settled down. The sound is more ominous and the clarity of each instrument is well balanced especially the drums and guitar. “They Are Waiting” stands out more for the inclusion of gang vocals and the emphasis on the lyrical content where the words spoken say ‘legions of the guard’.
“Conjunction To The Ground” seems to bring out the band’s trademark of pulsating drums with angelic voices and admirable guitar work. All of this is heard towards the end of this before going onto the next track “To The Death I Have Sworn” combining heavy metal guitar riffs with hardcore drums and vocals that cut through the mix. This track is short and sweet going into the next track which is “Purity, Beauty, Freedom” which features gang vocals once more. The fast drum intro to the raging guitar parts are brought together to portray themes of anti-christianity, war and horrifying symbols of death that are very sinister indeed.
A more scary start with keyboard for the following track, “Blood, Monsters, Darkness” which is also the title of their debut album, this track consists of dynamic, stylistic guitar effects and ends again with that haunting echo of keyboard. “Haunting, Hunting, Howling” rages on with groundbreaking guitar with the separation of two guitar lines. The impending doom of sustained guitar is prolonged to fill the audio spectrum. What is unexpected is the 8 minute silence before a wall of sound returns at the 14 minute mark before the album is coming to an end. The finale of this 18 minute track is crashing with low end guitar, wicked vocals and thumping drums.
Overall this album I feel doesn’t feel the same in comparison to the band’s previous material, what I can say is that if we take each instrument by itself, the energy and commitment is good except the vocals become very monotonous. The drums offer a variety of dynamics with the transitions and quicker parts especially the time signature change in the track, “The Hermit”. Perhaps the band’s next release will be more closer to the band’s roots and then we might expect greater things but this album has its highs and lows for sure.
http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/reviews/cd_3/g_2/gloomy-grim.htm
Už to vypadalo, že se tahle zasloužilá finská hydra definitivně odebere do black metalového důchodu. Místo toho se však stal přesný opak – po pěti letech od předchozí desky „The Age Of Aquarius“ kapela spíchla nové album. A že je to mocné nadechnutí – „Agathonomicon“ rozhodně to není vymetání rohů vypleněné kostnice, jestli tam ještě něco zbylo a šlo by to ještě vydat, tohle je solidně drtivý útok armády nemrtvých a běda tomu, kdo se rozjetém stroji postaví do cesty. Tomuto nešťastníkovi poslouží ke cti sebevražedná odvaha, pak bude nemilosrdně smeten. Ten definitivní konec GLOOMY GRIM však přichází až teď – „Agathonomicon“ je deklarováno jako poslední album.
Možná budete mít po přečtení úvodního odstavce pocit, že „Agathonomicon“ je typickým bestiálním výplachem švédské školy, ale tudy cesta nevede. GLOOMY GRIM citelněji pokukují po norském výrazu a syrovém thrash metalu – stačí se zaposlouchat do některých riffů, přičemž rovnou raději zapomeňte na kulometné nájezdy, pár jich k nelezení je, ale beru je spíše jako marginálii. GLOOMY GRIM je jednoduše nepotřebují, střední a rychlejší tempa jim na zabijáckou sílu bohatě stačí. Zabijácký je rovněž zvuk, typickou black metalovovou řezavost válcuje síla a mohutnost zvuku, které není vyleštěn úplně do křišťálového lesku. Předchozí album není v žádném případě žádný zvukový neduživec, ale co GLOOMY GRIM vyvedli se zvukem na „Agathonomicon“, je nehorázná pecka a drtivá síla!!! Volume na max doslova drtí uši a vyráží okenní tabulky, neskutečná razance… Album tak dostalo strhující zápal a naprosto ideální, temnou a misantropickou atmosféru. S přihlédnutím k holému faktu, že GLOOMY GRIM nejsou, a kam mi paměť sahá nikdy nebyli žádní hledači nových obzorů a už vůbec ne tahouni stylu, je „Agathonomicon“ překvapivou deskou – pro mě tedy určitě. „The Age Of Aquarius“ jsem vzal jako solidní nadprůměrné řemeslo zkušené kapely, ovšem nic dalšího, co by mě přimělo zajásat a třebas něco i sepsat, jsem pro sebe neobjevil a čekal jsem nemlich to samé i v případě aktuální desky. A jsem zaskočen…ne tak z formy, ta se nezměnila ani v nejmenším. Jede se stále postaru za decentní asistence synťáků, jen mi připadá, že si GLOOMY GRIM dopřáli lázeňský pobyt a péči špičkového stomatologa – GLOOMY GRIM o poznání více koušou a jsou tak nějak více při chuti.
Závěrečné dějství příběhu GLOOMY GRIM si o pozornost říká důrazně a přesvědčivě. Nedrží se jak veš košile striktně černočerné tmy a v příhodných momentech vypálí thrash metalový riff ostrý jako solingenská ocel, střídání temp od zlověstně pomalého, přes důrazné střední rychlosti (zde se mi GLOOMY GRIM líbí suverénně nejvíc – strhující energie a atmosféra), po řidšeji zastoupené ultrarychlé výpady, jim sedí jako oblek na míru. „Agathonomicon“ je díky tomu poměrně variabilní a pestré album (samozřejmě v mantinelech stylu). Jestli za to může pouze zvuk a produkce si nejsem úplně jist, přeprodukované nic vypadá jinak. GLOOMY GRIM zní na svém rozlučkovém albu, jako by snad ani skončit nechtěli. Oproti minulé desce jsem o x koňských délek spokojenější, GLOOMY GRIM na každý pád odcházejí s pořádným rachotem.
https://www.metal-line.cz/articles/recenze-gloomy-grim-agathonomicon-2021-satanath-records-2163
Review.
https://www.metalhead.it/album/gloomy-grim-agathonomicon/
Hold your breath and get ready to release your inner self with another masterpiece for the symphonic black metal scene and this time the symphony mostly about keyboards and it is masterfully crafted. Mysterious Finnish symphonic black metal band Gloomy Grim will take you to the darkest corner of the World with Agathon’s evil vocals.
The Hermit hits your face with the classical harsh, vicious black metal riffs. Agathon vocals carry these riffs to the peak of frozen alps and snow-like keyboards make the atmosphere truly special. Continues with tearing guitars which leads the way into an emotionally rich, slow tempo, Darkthrone-like patterns.
''Master Inside'' takes the pace from the Alpes to Everest with speedy crushing black metal riffs, takes the power from heavy blast beats. The bass breaks down the song at the half and turning this into a goosebumper masterpiece. But be aware, the magnificent solo which comes after that may freeze your heart.
From Everest, we’re going to Blighttown from dark souls with the ''Third Eye Opening'' The heaviness of drums may break your frozen heart, continues with rapid steady riffs, then breaking down apart at the half with gorgeously crafted almost At the Gates-like riff. Things get darker every second with a wicked solo. Continues with the Keyboards coming through the halls of the Cthulhu.
Beginning with one of the catchiest riff of the album ''Conjunction To The Ground'' is a masterfully crafted headbanging experience. Agathon’s vocals merge with ambient keyboards and create the shadows once again. ''To The Death I Have Sworn'' blasting the drums to our forehead right away after kicks in. The other catchiest riff proves that the band has no mercy to your neck.
The greatness ends with ''Haunting, Hunting, Howling'' opens with a melody from Dracula's hall. Advances with the speedy riffs and crushing bass, drums compositions which are could be the band’s heaviest work. If you are lucky to discover, one last pair of heaviness surrounds you and presents the technical abilities of the members.
Overall, what a year for symphonic black metal scene. First Osiris now Gloomy Grim both puts a hell of a work and both come out from Satanath Records. Explosive bass guitar patterns meet with greatly fitted production and Agathon’s vocals. If you like your black metal with more catchy riffs you certainly give this massive album a listen.
https://fullblackreviews.blogspot.com/2021/04/gloomy-grim-agathonomicon.html
Het Finse Gloomy Grim is een geval apart. Ik was fan van hun debuutplaat Blood, Monsters, Darkness, dat in 1998 verscheen. Een vreemde mix van stereotype humor, symfonische “black” metal en een soort van gothic horror. Hun vorige album verscheen via Satanath Records (Obscure Metamorphosis), waarin eigenlijk alles staat wat u moet weten over deze band. Na dit album ging het bergaf met de gezondheid van bandleider Agathon valt her en der te lezen, of die nu stabiel is weet ik niet. Hij bleef, samen met zijn broeder Nuklear Tormentörr (Barathrum). De twee andere bandleden zijn gebleven na de EP uit 2018 en zo kunnen we in ieder geval spreken van een iet of wat stabiele line-up.
Wat je Gloomy Grim zeker moet nageven is het feit dat ze herkenbaar gebleven zijn door de jaren heen. De zeer vertrouwd klinkende, vertellende screamstem van bandleider Agathon herken je uit de duizend, zonder overdrijven. Ook het gitaarwerk, de creepy spanningsbogen, de gothic/horror sierelementen… het is allemaal erg Gloomy Grim. Zelfs na al die wissels is het nog steeds Gloomy Grim. En nog steeds weten ze met bepaalde nummers echt een impact te maken, te blijven hangen, zonder echt uitzonderlijk origineel of catchy te zijn. Master Inside, They Are Waiting, To the Death I Have Sworn… het zijn maar enkele voorbeelden van nummers die je voor je eigen plezier nog een extra luisterbeurt geeft. Zeker wanneer je houdt van bands als Trollheim’s Grott, Notre Dame, Mactätus en ja, zelfs nieuwerwetse Dimmu Borgir.
Veel nieuwe fans zal GG hiermee niet scoren denk ik, maar dat hoeft ook niet. Dik twintig jaar later zijn er nog steeds mensen die omwille van de naam het album Agathonomicon een beurt zullen geven. Enkelingen zullen zich mogelijk vergissen en denken dat het om Agathodaimon gaat. Ook die zullen zich niet vervelen met dit album trouwens. En zo is de cirkel helemaal rond.
https://zwaremetalen.com/albumrecensies/gloomy-grim-agathonomicon
Sin I - Guitar/Bass: In your face of classic black metal riffs that are sharp, vicious and cold, topped with a chilling atmosphere of the keys, explosive bass riffs
Sin II - Vocals: Seductive vocals
Sin III - Drums: Powerful and heavy drum patterns and blast-beats
Sin IV - Overall: I welcome you all to 'Gloomy Grim' with their seventh release, with approximately an (over) fifty-four minutes of runtime, of ten tracks (well nine, with the opening track being an intro)
Soon as the listener presses the play button, one is welcome to the opening intro track, "invitation", which opens to the sound of a chime and an aggressive enchantment, following suit with the second track, "The Hermit", being the first song following the intro track and the remaining eight pieces and music that will take the listener to mist-shrouded cemeteries and forbidden crypts
Simultaneously, the album has created/crafted a gorgeously and evil release, where one will find the sound and production is emotionally rich in the atmosphere – with a truly masterfully crafted headbanging experience from the moment of pressing the play button, where each moment of play, as one descend further into the music, the darker and forbidden the music will get, and providing the listener with the characteristic of Finnish black metal (sharp riffs, melodic, chilling sound & tragic atmosphere), and woven together with the darkly alluring and chilling atmosphere created by the keys, various vocals inserts, various tempos, hellish and tearing guitar riffs, surrounded in heaviness and terrifying & aggressive moments, the energy of gloom & groove, and capturing the spiritual elements of bands such as 'Limbonic Art', 'Dimmu Borgir', 'Darkthrone' & 'Barathrum' – thus creating a sound of their own (that is genuinely dark and evil)
Bringing the listener to the closing track (runtime of eighteen minutes), "Haunting, Hunting, Howling" opens with a guitar melody from the halls of some abandoned medieval castle/keep, following close behind a swift welcome of evil vocals, fast, catchy guitar riffs & drum patterns, which surrounds the first five minutes of play with heaviness and for the bells toll sound-effects, then comes the silent/the ghost section (like the dead of night) and welcomes a dark, creepy, mysterious, feeling lost/alone atmosphere, somewhere during the quiet play, thinking your nightmare is over/going to end (giving the listener a true feeling of being a horror illustration, a sense of being lost in a dark- abandoned castle/keep) the listener is re-welcomed one more round of the first five minutes of this pure dark and evil music.
'Gloomy Grim' is a genuine & dark & nightmarish horror – for any black metal fan
Sin V - Artwork: A true horror, pure darkness & terror, while capturing the feel of the second track, "The Hermit", and the dark atmosphere of the music
Sin VI - Outstanding: Everything and the feel of being lost in a dark abandoned medieval castle.
Sin VII - Dislikes: None
https://metal1on1.squarespace.com/gloomy-grim
Pitkän uran tehneen Gloomy Grimin tarun on kerrottu päättyvän seitsemännen albumin, Agathonomiconin myötä. Tällaisiin huhuihin ja kuulumisiin on kuitenkin musiikkipiireissä tapana suhtautua kilolla suolaa, sillä yhtyeitä hajoaa ja perustetaan uudelleen tuon tuosta, välillä ties kuinka monen hajoamiskerran jälkeen.
Varmaa kuitenkin on, että Agathonomiconilla on äänessä täysin toinen bändi kuin yhtyeen edellisen kokopitkän (The Age of Aquarius, 2016) kohdalla. Alkuperäisjäsenistä paikalla on "enää" yhtyeen ääni, myös koskettimista, kitaroista ja sävellyspuolesta vastaava Agathon. Ilmoille jääkin kysymys: kuinka paljon sävellys-, sovitus- ja tuotantovastuuta muulle yhtyeelle edes annetaan? Ehkei sillä ole edes kauheasti väliä.
Kauhea on myös sana, joka on kulkenut mukana yhtyeen alusta alkaen. Kun Blood, Monsters, Darkness -esikoislevy vuonna 1998 julkaistiin, heijasteli yhtyeen tyyli enemmämn kauhuelokuvakuvastoa kuin perinteistä black metalia. Siitä asti Gloomy Grim onkin kulkenut omia polkujaan niin hyvässä kuin pahassakin. Aina arvostusta ei ole tullut toivotulla tavalla, mutta liekö sitä koskaan kosiskeltukaan. Vaikea ainakin on kuvitella.
Joten jos Agathonomicon todellakin on sen viimeinen GG-levytys, ainakin loppu on kunniallinen ja dramaattinen. Levy nimittäin on täynnä synkkyyttä, draamaa ja ainutlaatuista tunnelmaa. Eivätkä biisien riffitkään puhdasveristä black metalia ole, ainakaan sellaisella tavalla joka yhdistyisi black metalin 90-lukulaiseen kultakauteen.
Agathonomicon on itsensä näköinen levy, jossa kuuluu sekä bändin paatoksellinen kosketinmusatausta että tietynlainen ysärifiilis. Se on kuin aikakapseli, joka nyt jälkikäteen löytyy jostain varaston perukoilta pölyn ja lukinseittien seasta. Kapselista löytyy muumio, joka huokuu pimeyttä, pahuutta ja synkkyyttä. Toivo on kateissa, samoin kaikenlainen seksiä, huumeita ja rokkenrollia -mentaliteetti. Tässä on kyse Agathonista ja Gloomy Grimistä, ei miljoonia myyvästä hittilevystä.
Levy on paikoin hillitty ja hidastempoinen synkeyden marssi, toisinaan taas tuplabassareiden rytmittämä messu. Mahtailevat koskettimet tuovat levylle omaa synkkyyttään, mutta silti paikoin hommassa on tietynlainen Burzum-fiilis. Ilman näitä koskettimia levy ei olisi eheä ja aito GG-kokemus.
Ärinälaulut ovat hyvät ja erottuvat, eivätkä tippaakaan liikaa pinnalla. Sen sijaan rumpujen jytinän olisi voinut miksata hieman hiljaisemmalle, sillä nyt ne kilpailevan huomiosta laulun kanssa, kun taas koskettimet ja etenkin kielisoittimet uhkaavat jäädä taustalle. Yleisesti ottaen soundit ovat hyvät, joskin myös hieman kotikutoiset. Ei nappisuoritus, mutta kohtalaisen hyvä kuitenkin.
Agathonomicon on veikeä levy, sillä se on niin leimallisesti Gloomy Grimin kuuloinen tapaus, eikä muutu missään vaiheessa liian juustoiseksi. Vaikka pieniä ärsyttävyyksiä mukana on, ne jäävät kauneusvirheiden tasolle. Tällaisia ovat esimerkiksi They Are Waitingin lopussa turhan pitkään toistuva loppuhuudatus ja päätösbiisin usean minuutin hiljaisuus ennen lopullista lopetusta. Tällaisten olisi toivonut jäävän sinne 90-luvulle.
Kokonaisuus on kuitenkin vahvasti voiton puolella. Agathonomicon on kiistatta yhtyeen parhaita kokopitkiä, vaikkei kotimaisen black metalin kärkikahinoihin ylläkään.