CD - Gromm : Cold Old Thorns - Demo Anthology
Black Metal from the Ukraine
Track Listing:
1. [intro] 00:55
2. Black Fire Legions 03:30
3. In the Vortex of Hatred 02:56
4. Hurling the Flame to the God's Throne 03:49
5. Thunder 01:24
6. The Breath of Night 05:05
7. Above the World's Coffin 05:04
8. Image of the Beast 03:04
9. Barathrum 03:03
10. [outro] 00:54
11. Black Madness 03:00
12. Stench of the Yoke 03:33
13. Inhaling the Darkness 03:21
14. Nails for Gods 04:22
15. Golden Boils of churches 04:27
16. Fiery Circle [Bonus Track version] 08:01
17. Cold Thorns [Bonus New song] 04:50
18. Provocation / For Whom the Bell Tolls [Bonus - Metallica cover) 03:45
Total playing time 01:05:03
Tracks 1-10: "Ferro Ignique" (Demo, 2001-2002)
Tracks 11-16: "Nails For gods" (Demo, 2003)
Tracks 17-18: "Cold Thorns" (Single, 2006)
Best of/Compilation, BlackMetal.com Records
December 13th, 2006
Review Taken from Metal Archives:
I am a proud Ukranian and bands like Nokturnal Mortum and Gromm fill me up with great pride not just because they're black metal from my country, but because they are some of the greatest black metal in the world and this band is no exception! Gromm's Cold Thorns Anthology is a great compliation of thier early demos which have some of the greatest grim Slavonic black metal ever made! Gromm is one of those bands that is all about the music and the energy behind it. Unlike most of thier Ukranian black metal counterparts who are mostly focused on the themes and ideals of Paganism/Heathendom which I have no problem with and proudly support, Gromm on the other hand is a different story. Gromm is the pure orthodox black metal like the classic pioneering bands from the 1st and early 2nd waves from the sound to their lyrics which deals with themes of Anti - Christianity, hatred, darkess, death, and other simialr subjects.
The influences of classics like Bathory, Venom, Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, Darkthrone, Mayhem, Immortal, and various others are clear but, Gromm manages to pull out a very unique sound and atmosphere unlike no other black metal band I have ever heard! They have a type of traditional black metal sound combined with the traditional heavy metal style all in one. In a sense that many of thier songs are trebbly and fast like black metal but have some leads and some breakdowns and the like which keeps you entertained! The vocals are at thier finest and purest of black metal as they shriek, screech, and rip thoughout the distorted guitars and blast beats!
Both of thier demos do not really sound different in a sense, and have the same great sound and atmosphere. Thier bonus songs "Firey Circle", "Cold Thorns" and thier Metallica cover of "For Whom The Bell Tolls" are f*cking great and sound almost the same as the main demos and make excelent additions for an already perfect anthology! I really love how Gromm tweaked Metallica's "For Whom The Bell Tolls" and added thier great black metal atmosphere and sound to the song and still kept the song in the original style that it was with the thrashy riffs and sound.
In conclusion, If you are a fan of true orthodox black metal I highly recomend this band and this anthology even if you already have their demos, it is still a great addition to your collection!
