Gorefest

• Genre(s): Death Metal
• Representative Albums: "Soul Survivor," "False," "Erase"
• Representative Songs: "The Glorious Dead," "Freedom," "Dragon Man"



Biography

The leaders of Holland's death metal scene, Gorefest built a substantial underground following over the course of the '90s with a powerful, groove-based sound that often paralleled similar innovations by bands like Entombed and Sepultura. Founded by vocalist/bassist Jan-Chris De Koeyer and guitarist Frank Harthoorn in 1989, Gorefest issued their debut album Mindloss in 1991, with a drummer and second guitarist known only as Mark and Alex, respectively. Dissatisfied with the band's level of musicianship, De Koeyer and Harthoorn jettisoned the two and hired on drummer Ed Warby and guitarist Boudewijn Bonebakker. The move paid immediate dividends; signing to Nuclear Blast in 1992, the band issued False, not only a more consistent and technically accomplished record, but also a much more original one. While False slipped through the cracks in some death metal quarters, enough underground aficionados heaped praise on the record to build Gorefest's cult following. Next up was the live album The Eindhoven Insanity, recorded at the Dynamo metal festival in Holland; the proper follow-up, Erase, was released in 1994 and found the band moving subtly toward more traditional forms of metal, partly through its sure sense of groove. That approach crystallized on 1996's Soul Survivor, which combined death metal with the elegant power and accessibility of '70s British metal. With that, Gorefest's association with Nuclear Blast ended, and the band wound up on the German imprint Steamhammer/SPV. Chapter 13 was issued in Europe in 1998, and it continued Gorefest's interest in classic rock; however, just before the end of the year, the band announced its breakup. Chapter 13 was finally released in the U.S. in 2000.

History:

Gorefest was a Dutch band from the Zeeland region of the Netherlands which was founded in 1989 as a death metal outfit by De Koeyer, Harthoorn, van Schaik and Hoogendoorn.

Within two months of existence these four death metal enthusiasts recorded a death metal demo featuring one of the most low-pitched and cavernous voices 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 supporting act 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 Boudewijn 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 which was also produced by Colin Richardson. The album sold relatively well in the Netherlands and Germany for a band of the genre. In the months to come they completed a European tour with Deicide and Atrocity, playing in Germany, Sweden, Spain, Czechoslovakia and England. In 1993 Gorefest played a show at the Dynamo Open Air at Eindhoven. The Eindhoven Insanity was released soon thereafter, featuring this performance. Also in 1993, they toured America as a supporting act for metal band Death.
Erase was recorded in 1994 with producer Pete Coleman and revealed a more mature Gorefest with a different attitude towards traditional death metal. As a result, public opinion towards Gorefest was divided. Erase ,however, proved to be a success as international sales went well through 1994 and 1995. The band reached a broader set of countries in the following tours.

Rupture with the past

In the Fear EP and Freedom single, Gorefest revealed new tracks showing that they wanted to drastically expand upon the musical changes they had applied in Erase (De Koeijer declared in some interviews that he even had thoughts about taking singing lessons). This 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 for these works were less extreme. Inexorably, fans turned their backs on them and the sales of the album was a relative fiasco, thus they split up in 1998.

Comeback

Gorefest reformed in 2004 and played various summer festivals in 2005. The band then came out with a new album, "La Muerte". They produced the album themselves, with mixing by Tue Madsen from Antfarm Studios.
“Rise To Ruin” is the next chapter in the history of Gorefest. "Rise To Ruin" was released on August 3 in Europe and August 28 in the US. The American release was licensed to Candlelight Records.
On the 15th of June 2009 the band announced that they were calling it quits again, stating that they felt they had gone as far with the band as they could.


Discography


Studio Albums

• Mindloss (1991)
• False (1992)
• Erase (1994)
• Soul Survivor (1996)
• Chapter 13 (1998)
• La Muerte (2005)
• Rise to Ruin (2007)

Eps And Singles

• Live Misery (1992)
• Fear (1994)
• Freedom (1996)

Compilations

• To Hell And Back A Goreography (2005)

Live Albums

• The Eindhoven Insanity (1994)

Members




• Jan Chris de Koeijer - vocals, bass guitar
• Frank Harthoorn - guitar
• Boudewijn Bonebakker - guitar
• Ed Warby - drums

Former members

• Marc Hoogendoorn - drums
• Alex van Schaik - guitar

http://www.gorefest.nl/ Official Page
http://www.myspace.com/gorefest