Grondhaat, sounds like the sort of noise one would make when suffering from the plague and clearing their throat just before expiring. This is also the sort of description that is very fitting when it comes to describing the vocals of the group. Despite the fact that they actually are from the Czech Republic I guessed the word derived from Dutch and found out it translates as ‘Ground Hatred’ so pure misanthropy from these black raspers then. I had actually come across the singer guitarist Asura of this trio before as he is also present in another cult Czech act Trollech although this struck as a bit more primitive than that particular band right down to the ghoulish cover art; pickled baby anyone?
I like the album title, ‘Humanity: Flesh For Satan’s Pigs’ it immediately had me thinking of favourite video nasty ‘Evilspeak’ directed by Eric Weston in 1981. I am not going off track as anyone who has seen this satanic porcine slaughter fest will attest and I have to wonder if the band took any inspiration from it. ‘Fucking Slaves’ takes us in with bass, guitar and drum sharply and clearly defined but when the vocals croak in they really grab the attention. There are similarities here to Inquisition I guess but with a bit more diversification and with tones really drawn out as they are retched up. The music itself is basic and hammer and tongs black metal, melody hinted at but barbarity at the forefront. The recording kind of sounds like it was done live and done in one hit as the croak at the start of the title track is expunged and the punk flavoured beat bounces in. At least the sound is nice and clear, even at times too clear sounding like the vocals are trying to work their way in through your ears and give your brain a good tonguing.
It’s no real surprise when the craggy doom laden start of ‘The Gate Of Nanna’ oozes in at the half way point. Grondhaat do the Beherit song justice and it fits the overall decrepit and ghastly vibe of the album in general. ‘Incantations of Dark Gates’ kind of sounds like it could be a cover too and has that weaving guitar sound I remember from Trollech. It goes into a spewed out chorus (and I use that word loosely) and with the bouncy speed sticks out as one of the albums better tracks. Sometimes the lyrics as in ‘The Blackest Blasphemy’ are a bit too silly, kind of worshipping Satan in the Daft Funeral way and they are difficult to take seriously no matter how genuine they may be.
So in all this is a fair way to spend 45 minutes or so if you are feeling particularly underground and kvlt and although it brings absolutely nothing new to the table it’s worth checking out just to hear how damn craggy that vocals are. Looks like this link is as close as anything official that you are going to find.
http://bandzone.cz/grondhaat
http://www.ketzer-records.de
