Gorefest
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gorefest is a Dutch band from Zeeland founded in 1989 as a death metal band by De Koeyer, Harthoorn, van Schaik and Hoogendoorn.
Contents |
[edit] History
Within two months of existence these four youngsters recorded a death metal demo featuring one of the most low-pitched and cavernous voice ever heard in death metal. A Dutch independent label, Foundation 2000 signed them for one album. Before recording Mindloss they first released another demo in 1990, which also received positive feedback. As a support band for Carcass they travelled through Belgium and the Netherlands impressing the metal-scene also on stage. Colin Richardson was the producer of 1991's album Mindloss.
Before they toured with Revenant from New Jersey, guitarist Alex van Schaik was replaced by Bonebakker. Not satisfied with Foundation 2000, Gorefest signed a contract in 1992 with Nuclear Blast. Hoogendoorn was dismissed because of lack of interest and drummer Ed Warby (who came from melodic band called Elegy) took his place just two weeks before recording sessions of False (also produced by Colin Richardson). The album was a step further in composition, technique, lyrical subjects and sold very well in the Netherlands and Germany. In the months to come they waged in European tour with Deicide and Atrocity, playing in Germany, Sweden, Spain, Czechoslovakia and England. In 1993 Gorefest played their most famous display at the Dynamo Open Air at Eindhoven and so The Eindhoven Insanity was released soon after, featuring this performance. Also in 1993 they first toured America as a support act for metal legend Death.
Erase was recorded in 1994 with producer Pete Coleman revealed a more mature Gorefest with a different attitude towards traditional death metal. Public opinion was divided about Gorefest but Erase showed to be a success and international sales went well through 1994 and 1995. The band reached a broader set of countries in the following tours.
[edit] Rupture with the past
In the Fear EP and Freedom single, Gorefest revealed new tracks showing that they wanted to drastically deepen the musical change they have slightly applied in Erase (De Koeijer declared in some interviews that he even had thoughts about taking singing lessons), which would be confirmed in 1996 with a rockish Soul Survivor - a total departure from their roots even showing traces of pop - and a very similar Chapter 13 in 1998.
They even abandoned their heavy image and the graphics in these works were completely poplike. Inexorably, fans turned their backs to them massively and the sells of the new Gorefest were a complete fiasco, thus they split up in 1999. Recently they have reformed and the new album La Muerte is to be released October 2005 through Nuclear Blast Record.With "La Muerte" Gorefest returns to their roots and the musical direction on this album is similar to "False"
[edit] Discography
- 1989 - Tangled in Gore Demotape
- 1990 - Horrors in a Retarded Mind Demotape
- 1991 - Mindloss - Foundation 2000
- 1992 - False - Nuclear Blast Records
- 1992 - Live Misery 7" Live EP - Cenotaph Records
- 1992 - Promotape 1992 - Nuclear Blast Records
- 1993 - The Eindhoven Insanity Live - Relapse Records/Nuclear Blast Records
- 1994 - Erase - Nuclear Blast Records
- 1994 - Fear EP - Nuclear Blast Records
- 1996 - Freedom CD/Single - Nuclear Blast Records
- 1996 - Soul Survivor - Relapse Records/Nuclear Blast Records
- 1998 - Chapter 13 - Nuclear Blast Records
- 2005 - La Muerte - Nuclear Blast Records
[edit] Members
- Jan Chris de Koeyer - Vocals, Bass
- Frank Harthoorn - Guitar
- Boudewijn Vincent Bonebakker - Guitar
- Ed Warby - Drums
[edit] Former members
- Marc Hoogendoorn - Drums
- Alex van Schaik - Guitar
