Gromm - Pilgrimage Amidst the Catacombs of Negativism (2009)

  Gromm was formed in 2001, when black metal was at its peak and broke into the mainstream by second wave bands such as Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth or Naglfar. While this also meant an audience friendlier sound, better sound quality, mixed style and concept (hipsterization also), there was a more traditional direction that came as a counter-effect, and this also included raw black metal. Gromm's music could be sorted into this latest category.
   However, in Eastern Europe the border between the two directions wasn't so evident how it supposed to be. Even though by sound and concept many bands made clear that they isolating themselves from the new trends, another issue double-crossed (and keeps double-crossing) to similar bands to sound as vile, nihilistic and violent as they desire to be: and that's the limited skills of the musicians. This frequently returning issue in this region results that black metal bands can't even reach thrash metal intensity, and basically nothing confirms why they keep staying at middle tempo if atmosphere has restricted role in their music and they're definitely not into doom influenced themes. This usually leads to repetitiveness by basic themes and beats, and the album loses from its (dark) miraculous feeling track by track. The same happened with Gromm. Even though the sound and the concept are promising, the feeling that something's missing just keeps lurking around during the EP. For the fans of raw and traditional black metal it might be enjoyable though.