Press and Quotes

Artists & Bands zine (Italy) : "...mentre a dare punti maggiori ci pensa la sezione ritmica chirurgica e la qualità dello scheletro di batteria ad opera di Grom (batterista italianissimo d'esperienza internazionale, ex Ancient, DoomSword, tanto per fare 2 nomi di gruppi metal...)." (Opposite Sides)

"...whereas what gives extra scores to this record is the chirurgical rhythm section & the quality of the drums; handled by Grom (Italian drummer of international experience, ex-Ancient, Doomsword, to name a few metal acts...)."

DangerDog.com (USA) : "Additional positives would include the outstanding supporting cast Shouse recruited as backup, with my kudos in particular to drummers Charlie Zeleny, Diego 'Grom' Meraviglia and bassist Kyle Honea." (Mike Shouse)

Underground Empire (Germany) : "...has a well known Drummer in the Line up with "GroM". This fellow, who was active already for so many different acts such as ANCIENT, DOOMSWORD or PSYCHOFAGIST, prepares with his mighty, but stylishly accented game, the basis for the sometimes only heavily digestible sounds of his bandmates." (Opposite Sides)

Article, DRUM!, August 2008 (USA) - cover , article

Front cover, ROCK CITY w/PTB, July 2007 (USA) - cover

Article, FLASH Magazine (ITA) 2005 - pg.1

Interview, DRUM CLUB (ITA) 2006 - pg.1, pg.2, pg.3

Benzoworld.com (Darksouldemon) : "...prende infatti una piega decisamente più death tecnico, grazie alla grande abilità di tutti i componenti, in particolare di Grom, capace anche di introdurre nei brani dei veri e propri assoli di batteria." (Opposite Sides)

"...it takes a fold towards technical metal, thanks to the great abilities of the band, especially GROM, who is capable of inserting real and proper drum solos into the songs."

Tartarean Desire (Bob Mayo) : "On loan from Ancient and Hortus Animae, Grom’s drum performance is impeccable; tastefully intense and immaculately recorded." (Hate Profile)

Blabbermouth (Scott Alisoglu) : "GroM (ANCIENT, HORTUS ANIMAE) makes his presence known by delivering some classic black metal reckless-yet-in-the-pocket drumming and adds accent in all the right places, "Veils that Blind" being most representative of the latter quality."

Grind Zone (Paolo Vidmar) : "Alla batteria siede Grom, già con Ancient e ora in forza agli Hortus Animae, uno dei migliori drummer nostrani."

"Grom sits behind the drums, already with Ancient and now in strength with Hortus Animae, one of the best national drummers."

Heavy-Metal (Alessandro Di Monte) : "Per non parlare poi della performance dietro le pelli di Grom, che con il suo stile aggiunge quel tocco di personalità che rende le canzoni qualcosa di unico, smentendo a sua volta coloro che vedono nei batteristi black metal gente priva d’inventiva; un vero e autentico mostro delle pelli."

"Without speaking about Grom's performance behind the drums, that with his style adds a touch of personality that turns the songs into something unique, proving wrong those who see no creativity in black metal drummers; a true and authentic drum monster."

Haternal (Jan Montanaro) : "...eccezion fatta per la batteria suonata dal sempre bravo Grom, anche lui degli Hortus."

"...si ritorna a pestare alla grande, ancora una volta è la batteria a sovrastare questa volta..."

Silent Scream (Giorgio Fogliata) : "Strumentisti d’eccezione, sanguigni ed emozionali ancor prima che tecnici, con un Grom decisamente sugli scudi."

Metal.it (Alessandro Riperi) : "...e del grandissimo GroM, non a torto definito l'Hellhammer italiano per la tecnica sopraffina e la grande versatilità nel partecipare a lavori spesso profondamente diversi tra loro."

"...riff di chitarra magistralmente accompagnati dal drumming di GroM."

Translation :

"...and of the great GroM, rightfully defined as the Italian 'Hellhammer' for his superior technique and the great versatility in participating on works often very different from eachother."

FLASH mag -ITA- (SG) : "...e prog metal, quest'ultimo sopratutto rinvenibile nei patterns ritmici di Grom, vero e proprio 'Helhammer tricolore', grazie ad una tecnica davvero invidiabile."

Translation :

"...and Prog Metal, this one especially found in the rhythmic patterns of Grom, a true and proper 'Italian Hellhammer' thanks to a really enviable technical ability."

ROCK HARD -ITA- (Paolo Sola) : "...apporto esterno del funambolico Grom alla batteria."

Translation :

"...external aid from the acrobat Grom, on drums ."

Haternal.com (Jan) : "La batteria poi è impeccabile e come poteva essere altrimenti visto che dietro le pelli c'è un elemento dalla grande esperienza come GroM, paragonabile all'Hellhammer italiano perchè impegnato in mille progetti e conosciuto per le sue esperienze con gli Ancient."

Translation :

"The drums are impeccable and how could it be any different seen that behind the kit we find an element of great experience like Grom, who can be compared to the Italian version of Hellhammer due to his numerous projects and known for his experience with Ancient."

Sea Of Tranquility (Pete Pardo) : "guitar riffing is supported by the sandblasting drum work of GroM."

Metalwave.it (Heresy) : "Opus I: the khaos hatefile" vanta collaborazioni importanti come Grom alla batteria."

Blackterrormetal.com (Neropaco) : "...è fantastico poter sentire per la prima volta delle 'ghost notes' sul rullante in un cd di musica estrema, o “quasi” di musica estrema."

Black Metal Ist Krieg.net (Inferno) : "che per l'occasione è stato coadiuvato da GroM (Ancient, Hortus Animae) , fautore di un'ottima prestazione dietro le pelli."

"...e l'intricato drumming, particolarmente secco nel suono e vario nell'esecuzione, completa il binario su cui transita "The Khaos Hatefile"

Blackterrormetal.com (Neropaco) : "...pezzo costruito su tempi veloci, ottimo qui il lavoro di GroM (già Ancient e Hortus Animae)."

Metal-Rules.com : "Envision The Beast' opens with a crushing drum intro courtesy of GROM. His Skinsmanship (is that a word ?!?) is really the highlight of this entire CD. His solid backbeat and battering ram double bass thunder through your speakers from start to finish."

MetalItalia.com (Paolo Vidmar) : "Sopra gli scudi Grom, già batterista negli Ancient, batterista di tutto rispetto che sa dare la giusta accelerazione alle canzoni."

Xtrem Metal.com (SP)"...el gran trabajo a la batería de Grom. ¿Alguien me puede explicar que le han dado de comer a este hombre en los últimos dos años? El disco está plagado de redobles constantes en casi todos los cortes, tanto en las partes de blast beats como en los pasajes más lentos, depurada técnica que ya pudimos comenzar a vislumbrar en su disco con Hortus Animae, pero que pasaba desapercibida en los anteriores obras de Ancient."

translation : "...the great work to the drummer Grom. Can someone explain to me what they have fed this man in the last two years? The disk is plagued of constant double rolls in almost all the areas, in the meantime in the parts of blast beats as in the slowest passages, purified technique that already could begin to glimpse in its disk with Hortus Animae, but that passed unnoticed in the previous works of Ancient."

The Fuze.com (capsule) : "...pack solid punch as well as nuance, thanks in large part to the intricate playing of drummer GROM."

Ars Metallia.net (Hellric) : "...mais mention spéciale au batteur Grom, qui a le don de « meubler » son jeu même sur les tempos lents."

Silent Stagnation (Marcel) : "The drummer GROM was a blessing for the band, I would call him the best black metal drummer today, this man is a machine !"

DarkSOul7.com : "...makes you think composed as to written.The drum work of GROM certainly affirms this. While being the precision timing and backbone, his playing also at times carries the songs from one nightmarish atmospheric Armageddon to another."

Babylon Mag (Marco Colombo) : "GROM, con una prestazione dietro le pelli assolutamente sopra le righe, mai messa in discussione fin dall'incipit del disco, con la potente opener 'Envision The Beast' "

Silent Scream (Fulvio Adile) : "...grazie sopratutto ad una grande varietà espressiva e ad un affiatamento strumentale invidiabile (ascoltate la batteria di GROM)."

Concrete (Ivan Tibos) : "...excellent drum parts (by GROM)."

Disintegration (Luca Visconti) : "Da sottolineare il drumming preciso e martellante di GROM."

Metal Rules (JP) : "...GROM keeps driving along at a good pace."

Degeneration X (Cesare Silvani) : "...qui gran risalto è dato al drumming..." / "...il drumming talentuoso e intelligente di GROM."

Metal Empire (FM) : "...devastante quella di GROM alla batteria, punto di forza delle velenose e aggressive composizioni degli Ancient."

BWBK.com (Graham MacSkimming) : "Straight off is heard drummer Grom's brilliantly executed and appropriate intro to "Envision the Beast." The man sets the pace like a Black Knight from the Legions of Hell, utterly unrestrained at every perfect juncture, instantly revealing how inherently dictated this form of music is by the strength of the drumming."

Shattered Silence.net : "The drumming is phenomenal throughout the entire album and draws the attention away from the sometimes simplistic riffing."

Disagreement.net : "Drummers will adore Lycanthrophy, a song with incredibly high speed rhythm attacks."

Metal Reigns.com (crusher) : "The drums thunderous fury in Fuel the Flames is a good example of blasting brutal black metal."

Metal Eater.com : "The almost tribal drumming featured on "Lycanthropy" is a welcomed surprise and is not the type of skin-bashing usually found on a black metal disc."

Music Incider (Barbara Fara) : "GroM is one of those rolling lightning and thunder drummers. I think it must be an absolute bitch to be a drummer in a black metal band-but what impresses me are drummers that carry off vocal parts at the same time."

Encyclopedia Metallum : "...the drumwork is remarkable."

Dan Maftei : "The thing that stands out the most in 'Waltzing Mephisto' is the drumming, performed by GROM, who is undoubtedly Italy's finest drummer. What surprised me most is how he could play so ferociously in the slow and light instrumental 'A Feeble Light Of Hope' and not disturb the tranquility of the music. His style has so much variety, it encompasses every genre of drumming imaginable."

True Metal.it (Andrea Perdichizzi) : "L'evoluzione espressiva e artistica è stata favorita sopratutto dal cambio di batterista, conoscete sicuramente Diego Meraviglia forse più noto come GROM (Ancient / Doomsword) suggerito adirittura dal cantante degli Opeth Mikael Akerfeldt, protagonista in questo album nel pezzo 'Welcome The Godless' (ascoltare per credere) !"

Ars Metalia : "Evidemment, il faut dire que ces chansons sons nerveusement boostées par un GROM (Ancient) impérial derrière ses futs."

DHeadbangers Zine (Lady B) : "Ottimi i cambi di tempo del batterista GROM."

Encyclopedia Metallum : "The amazing part here is the drumming, provided by GROM, who also performed in Doomsword, quite possibly the best band ever to come from Italy. GROM manages to pull off some insane combinations of kicks and rides not only through the fury of 'Enter' but throughout the album as well."

Entrate Parallele (Roberto Calamini) : "...un ritrovato GROM in grande forma, ha dimostrato grandi doti di velocità e tecnica."

M2G (The Lord) : "DIego 'GROM' Meraviglia, drummer of the notorious Metal Blade Recs. act Ancient and the DragonHeart Recs. act Doomsword, working as a respected session studio musician and adding a great further growing point to the band's sound and impact."

Metal Crypt (Christian Renner) : "I also have to mention the stellar work of the drummer on this one. They are provided by none other than GROM (Ancient / Doomsword) who is very highly regarded within the metal community and on this album he really shows why exactly that is."

Metal Coven (Rumplesmoothskin) : "...an amazing drum performance by Diego GROM Meraviglia (of Ancient fame)."

Music Scan (Viktor) : "One important thing: their drummer is GROM from Ancient and the groove he creates with bassist/screamer extravaganza Martyr, is very impressive !"

Metallized.it (Stefano Peracchi) : "...come in alcune parti di GroM (tecnicamente ineccepibile)..."

Kronic.it (Lux) : "...aiutato per l’occasione da un batterista di tutto rispetto come GroM (Ancient)."

Silent Scream (Giorgio Fogliata) : "...il contratto non ha tardato ad arrivare, e con esso l'ingresso ufficiale del talentuoso batterista negli organici della band."