I think it is related to what type of bad are we talking about. I recall seeing someone gather reviews of early albums of the biggest and most infamous metals bands, from bigger magazines of the time. Be it Hellhammer, Slayer, Metallica, Sodom and such, most of bands like this were laughed at by the "bigger press".
Same kind of phenomena was in Finland. When you knew that journalist was into the most technically advanced, clean and perfectly played metal music, and he'd rage in review what a piece of shit clumsy rubbish particular album is, and giving it 1/5, you knew that THAT is the album to try find and hear.
I think situation has changed over the years. Now there is plenty of material, that is not bad because it would "too brutal" or something. Perhaps even the opposite. Overall complaint would be far more about being soulless and simply products? I think reading that something is unbearable racket, is way more luring than reading intentionally bad review saying band is clean, plastic -esque, safely recycling genre standards, but with less interesting results than the rest. hah.
What comes to the smear campaigns like linked above, I'm pretty sure it does add the neat spicy twist into power electronics. Whatever doors it may close, it probably has more positive effects. These same whiny losers boasted they had "exposed" also yours truly in their articles. What they did, was simply translate couple lyrics, quote couple interviews, post few gigs photos. Exposing what? It's all public information, decades of hard work promoting it myself, putting stuff out there and some newbies acted as if they "exposed" something. By concluding underground band lyrics may be occasionally controversial (Newsflash: sexism, violence, antihumanism,...), and guys who have been around, know a lot of shady characters. pff.. haha..
So, I think intentionally bad reviews is certainly benefit if it goes hand-in-hand with what material trying to express. Like material that by default is for acquired tastes and unlikely to be understood by "journalists". If bad review is for shitty failed "popular" music, its different thing.