Humm

Humm is an Italian post-black metal group from Piemonte, active since 2014. It begins as a one-man project created by Fabio Gatto and later develops into a live band with a wider line-up. The group is associated with post-black metal, black metal, psychedelic, rock and hardcore.

Formation and early releases

Humm begins in 2014 with Fabio Gatto as its sole member. The project releases its first full-length, No Empathy Before Doomsday, in 2014 through Haarbn Production. Later that year it issues the single Metzengerstein: 1Q84 independently.

The band follows with its second album, Sanctuary, in 2015. By this point Humm is signed to the Polish label Via Nocturna.

Line-up and live activity

In 2016, Gatto adds members for live performance: Nicolò Paracchini on bass, Marco Viaretton on drums, and Luca Rossi and Dario Gatto on guitars.

EPs, split release and later work

In 2017, Humm self-releases its first EP, To Shame Mankind, digitally via Bandcamp. In the same year it also issues the split release Humm/Theta with Theta. In 2018, the band releases its second EP, Way of the Serpent, again digitally through Bandcamp.

Way of the Serpent is produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Fabio Gatto. He also writes all of the songs and lyrics, and Lorenzo Abattoir provides guest vocals on “The Serpent”.

Style and characterisation

Critics describe Humm with terms including black, harsh, psychedelic, intimate, lacerating and unique. Its recorded work and tag associations place it within post-black metal while also overlapping with black metal, psychedelic, rock and hardcore.