| Interview with: Gionata Potenti By: Blissfulviolet |
Blissfulviolet: Give us some history
on the band. Is there a story behind
on how the band got together?
on the band. Is there a story behind
on how the band got together?
Gionata Potenti: Not any “story” to
tell, simply because just Nicola
(Guitar/Vocals) is the only founding
member remained of the early times,
so people involved in Handful Of
Hate now are just members the band
found on its way. Handful Of Hate
was born in 1994 and since then it
released the first demo “Goetia
Summa” in 1999, the first album
tell, simply because just Nicola
(Guitar/Vocals) is the only founding
member remained of the early times,
so people involved in Handful Of
Hate now are just members the band
found on its way. Handful Of Hate
was born in 1994 and since then it
released the first demo “Goetia
Summa” in 1999, the first album
“Qliphothic Supremacy” in 1997, the second one in “Hierarchy 1999”, the third “Vicecrown” in
2003 and the latest one “Gruesome Splendour” in 2006. During those years we also released
2 7”-ep’s (“Death From Above” on 2001 and “Scorn And Conquest” on 2003) and a MCD
(“Blood Calls Blood” on 2004).
2003 and the latest one “Gruesome Splendour” in 2006. During those years we also released
2 7”-ep’s (“Death From Above” on 2001 and “Scorn And Conquest” on 2003) and a MCD
(“Blood Calls Blood” on 2004).
Blissfulviolet: The band’s 4th studio album, “Gruesome Splendour” was released just a few
months ago. How has the album been perceived so far?
months ago. How has the album been perceived so far?
Gionata: Our latest effort got only interesting and positive reviews… Since now there has
been no negative reaction to tell, so we are quite satisfied about it! Our label sold the first
1000 copies in the first 3 months so you can imagine we are so excited about it. We knew we
did an interesting and great record but we didn’t expect a so good reaction from magazines
and people who bought the CD.
been no negative reaction to tell, so we are quite satisfied about it! Our label sold the first
1000 copies in the first 3 months so you can imagine we are so excited about it. We knew we
did an interesting and great record but we didn’t expect a so good reaction from magazines
and people who bought the CD.
Blissfulviolet: What can you tell me about the “Gruesome Splendour” release? Is there a
concept behind this album? Describe the sound of “Gruesome Splendour”.
concept behind this album? Describe the sound of “Gruesome Splendour”.
Gionata: “Gruesome Splendour” is our best album so far and of course our biggest
satisfaction. We spent months working on the composition and on the song structure so we
finally recorded an album we really like 100%. Due to line-up and label problems we had just
restricted time in the past to work on our albums so we like all of them but they could be better.
“Gruesome Splendour” had the right time and the right situation to be a must and so it was. No
any concept behind the album’s lyrics even if the themes are all about vice, delight and carnal
perversions. “Gruesome Splendour” is a BLACK-DEATH-METAL album… in fact we focused
on the fusion of Black and Death elements and the result is a perfect hybrid of this elements.
Maybe some Black-Metal background is much more present than Death-Metal in our sound but
this is the way the band is moving into and Death-Metal elements will be much more present in
the future.
satisfaction. We spent months working on the composition and on the song structure so we
finally recorded an album we really like 100%. Due to line-up and label problems we had just
restricted time in the past to work on our albums so we like all of them but they could be better.
“Gruesome Splendour” had the right time and the right situation to be a must and so it was. No
any concept behind the album’s lyrics even if the themes are all about vice, delight and carnal
perversions. “Gruesome Splendour” is a BLACK-DEATH-METAL album… in fact we focused
on the fusion of Black and Death elements and the result is a perfect hybrid of this elements.
Maybe some Black-Metal background is much more present than Death-Metal in our sound but
this is the way the band is moving into and Death-Metal elements will be much more present in
the future.
Blissfulviolet: What does Handful of Hate mean to you?
Gionata: Handful Of Hate is a way to express ourselves and a way to improve ourselves as
musicians and as men. The band has existed since a long time and we had so may problems
concerning labels, line-up, organizers and so many times our delusions have been much more
than satisfactions… But we have a great will and passion and we’re still here fighting. Handful
Of Hate is a great part of our lives.
musicians and as men. The band has existed since a long time and we had so may problems
concerning labels, line-up, organizers and so many times our delusions have been much more
than satisfactions… But we have a great will and passion and we’re still here fighting. Handful
Of Hate is a great part of our lives.
Blissfulviolet: Is there a certain
message you wish to convey to
your listeners?
message you wish to convey to
your listeners?
Gionata: There are not any
special messages. We don’t feel
the need to teach something or
leave a message anyway… Our
lyrics are clean and fit well with
the music, nothing complicated or
sophisticated behind them.
special messages. We don’t feel
the need to teach something or
leave a message anyway… Our
lyrics are clean and fit well with
the music, nothing complicated or
sophisticated behind them.
Blissfulviolet: Handful of Hate
hails from Italy. How is the band
accepted in your country?
hails from Italy. How is the band
accepted in your country?
Gionata: Handful Of Hate together with Mortuary Drape, Opera IX and a few others are some
of the first bands that played this kind of music in our country, so it’s quite natural people know
us and our following is strong enough. Maybe we’ve never been so prolific about recordings as
others did but this is due to all the line-up problems we had in the past that have strongly
slowed down our activity.
of the first bands that played this kind of music in our country, so it’s quite natural people know
us and our following is strong enough. Maybe we’ve never been so prolific about recordings as
others did but this is due to all the line-up problems we had in the past that have strongly
slowed down our activity.
Blissfulviolet: What inspires and influences Handful of Hate?
Gionata: Musically, talking to all the extreme and interesting Black and Death-Metal bands
around here… I can name a few names just to let you understand: Angelcorpse, Marduk, Dark
Funeral, Deeds Of Flesh, Immolation etc…
around here… I can name a few names just to let you understand: Angelcorpse, Marduk, Dark
Funeral, Deeds Of Flesh, Immolation etc…
Blissfulviolet: What has been going on since the release of the new album?
Gionata: We started to support the new recording with live shows here and there. We played
an Italian mini tour with Impaled Nazarene that went so well and we played around 10 other
shows also in England, Switzerland, and Italy. Actually we’re focusing on some summer festival
and other shows in England, Slovakia, Croazia, Bosnia, and Slovenia. We hope everything will
go fine this time too.
an Italian mini tour with Impaled Nazarene that went so well and we played around 10 other
shows also in England, Switzerland, and Italy. Actually we’re focusing on some summer festival
and other shows in England, Slovakia, Croazia, Bosnia, and Slovenia. We hope everything will
go fine this time too.
Blissfulviolet: Any final comments?
Gionata: Thanx for this interview and support. Everyone who wants to know more about our
band can check our internet website at WWW.HANDFULOFHATE.COM. You can find info,
news, Mp3, merchandise and related stuff.
band can check our internet website at WWW.HANDFULOFHATE.COM. You can find info,
news, Mp3, merchandise and related stuff.
Black fucking metal with a twist of death. Handful of Hate has crushed some
boundaries with their latest release 'Gruesome Splendour.' Drummer Gionata Potenti
gave us some insight on the band, and their latest release. Check out the review
section for more on Handful of Hates Gruesome Splendour.
boundaries with their latest release 'Gruesome Splendour.' Drummer Gionata Potenti
gave us some insight on the band, and their latest release. Check out the review
section for more on Handful of Hates Gruesome Splendour.