1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?
Well we got a long time recording without any stress but during this period each one of us got personal problems, mainly concerning job and all day life. Our previous bass player simple surrounded letting us carrying on the greater part of the recording sessions. Now we replaced him with a new one and we're rehearsing for next gigs.
2.In May you have a new album coming out, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
I like to use to words: spontaneous and mature. More mature and various but at the same time more powerful like never before.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?
Well there are topics we use to deepen since the beginning of our activity like carnality and punishment. Year by year we developed a strong attraction toward the iconography of martyrs, tortures and inner fear inside man. This time we went further including many aspect of the medieval italian and european tradition. We mentioned symbols, heraldry, and feudalism.
This epic aspect meets slower parts into music and powerful riffing. We moved from a frontal attack to a complete songwriting in many different shapes and frames. Songs are enriched by more melodies just following a free flow of songwriting melting between blast beats and massive kick drumming.
4. A lot of your early lyrics dealt with Goetia, Qliphoth, Thelema, Tantra and Sex Magick, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the occult?
Occultism has been my personal interest between the middle and the end of 90’s. I just passed this stage shaping more cultural and deeper aspects of carnality, philosophy and history.
5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Handful Of Hate'?
The name was an idea of our first bass player Ugo Pandolfini now RIP. One day while we was traveling by train he told me “about the name, we need something representing our way to play music like a clenched fist or an handful…” an handful of what?... HATE!
6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
For the artwork we got inpired by “The Book of Keels” an irish illuminated manuscript of the 9th century A.D.
We worked on some images re-interpreting the meanings and some figures. I’m a historian of the Middle Ages and Andrea (the other guitar player) is a student of the Middle Age too.
7.The band has been around for more than 20 years, what is it that motivates to keep going after more than 2 decades?
This year are 26. Honesty? Because I still have something to say through the extreme music.
8.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
We played many good shows but I still remember some festival especially in Italy, Spain, Austria and France with great bands and very good public. I do not remember the details but we played many lives where coming back home you were proud of you and you got the possibility to know great friends around. We try to play our setlist as more similar as the cd maybe a bit faster or more powerful and slowing some parts re-arranged for concerts. Mostly depends on the stage, sound and off course the public!
9.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?
We already fixed some gigs in Italy and maybe in Autumn we’ll come back to Spain. Unfortunately things got worse and we’re all so involved into all day life and respective jobs for this motive we have less time to play around like in the past.
10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?
Honesty I noticed a lot of people claiming that they were surprised to hear a pretty unknown band to the mainstream black metal to play such impressive music.
11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
I don't know… we follow the river of our instincts. We’ll keep going on this extreme and blasting way we didn't manage to change to evolve our sound.
12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
I got many influences in the past by historical bands from AC-DC to Iron Maiden, Bathory, Venom, Morbid Angel, Dark Throne, Marduk and so on… Actually I’m not listening much music so I took inspiration from my inner side.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
I want to thank you for the interview and all people around the world supporting Handful Of Hate.
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