HORTUS ANIMAE drummer Diego 'Grom' Meraviglia is a renowned session man having appeared on albums from ANCIENT, PSYCHORDER and DOOMSWORD. The 2003 HORTUS ANIMAE album 'Waltzing Mephisto' saw covers of MAYHEM's 'Freezing Moon' and MIKE OLDFIELD's 'Tubular Bells'. In early 2004 HORTUS ANIMAE cut a cover version of DEAD CAN DANCE's 'Summoning Of The Muse' for a tribute album 'The Lotuseaters' released by Black Lotus Records. The track featured a guest appearance by singer LIV KRISTINE of LEAVES' EYES and ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY.

In early 2004 HORTUS ANIMAE personnel vocalist / bassist Martyr Lucifer, guitarist S.B. Hypnos and Amon 418, previously with BARATRO, emerged with the technical Death Metal side venture OPPOSITE SIDES. Also participating in this project's 'The Eclipse Of Existence' EP would be ex-HORTUS ANIMAE man Arke and Stefano Franchini from ENTITY. The band, revealing they had "increased the gothic character of their songs", set to recording the full length 'The Blow Of Furious Winds' conceptual album that Summer. Recording took place at The Outer Sound Studios, with Beppe Orlando of NOVEMBRE, and Alpha Omega Studios in Como, Italy, with ANCIENT manager Alex Azzali. A limited edition version on leather case packaging added bonus tracks in the form of the previously recorded DEAD CAN DANCE's 'Summoning of The Muse' and QUEEN's 'Fairy Feller Masterstroke / Nevermore'.

In mid 2004 Grom and Amon 418 announced the arrival of their "cold, eerie and chaotic" Black Metal venture HATE PROFILE, this union spawning the album 'The Khaos Hatefile' through Era Vulgaris Musick. This project also planned a split release in union with DEFIXIO, seeing Grom manning the drums for both artists. During late 2005 Grom enrolled into the ranks of ANDARK as session live drummer.