Band:	Gloomy Grim
Album:	The Grand Hammering
Style:	Symphonic black metal
Release date:	November 22, 2004
A review by:	Jeff

01. Come If You Dare
02. Lucifer´s Hammer
03. Tomorrow Might Not Come
04. Prelude To War
05. Corps Of Doom
06. Nothing But Hate
07. Bloody Grim
08. Living Dead
09. Bedtime Story
10. ?????????????

This is the return of the satanic messiah Agathon and his legion of doom. The return of Gloomy Grim, the Symphonic Black Metal band from the northern frozen country of Finland. This really mysterious band release its fourth album, "The Grand Hammering" a new journey in Hell, a new quest into the darkness? If you like this kind of music, no doubt that this album is at the top [with Anorexia Nervosa] of the Symphonic Black Metal albums of 2004.

If you're searching some "true" Black Metal, no need to stay here, or at least you must know that Gloomy Grim plays a music in the spirit of the old Cradle Of Filth and Dimmu Borgir. Understand that we have here, a music really catchy and not really "extreme". Of course the voice of Agathon is a one of the best voice in Black Metal and it gives a lot to the "dark" side of the music, but the songs of his new albums are all very melodic and not really far of the extreme Power Metal of some Finnish combo that we all know. No symphonic orchestra but a lot of keyboards and above all some choruses more than catchy, with for example some backing-vocals of the other musicians [in the spirit of the ones that you have on several Children Of Bodom's songs].
However even if excepted for the voice of the singer all the music is not really extreme, this album is good because of the melodies of the songs which will enter and stay in your head easily. From the beginning to the end of "The Grand Hammering" you'll enjoy the music, and headbang like a real furious, and evidently I suppose that you'll like this new album of the finnish combo.
Another good point for the band, this time they have a really good professional production. The sound is really clean no problem at all and you must know that Holy Records did a nice limited edition with a DVD which will tell a lot [maybe even too much?] about the story of this really good band?

If you like this kind of Black Metal, this is a must. In my opinion, "The Grand Hammering" is THE album of Symphonic Black Metal with the last Anorexia Nervosa. Of course this is maybe not the real Black Metal that some of you want, but the music is for everybody after all, and the ones who like this kind of music will be satisfied. A must for the fans of the band and the ones who like the "sweety" side of Black Metal.