Description

Still sealed cd box set with 6 Gorefest albums collected into one must have release

Cd 1: Mindloss 1991
Debut album from this death metal band from Zeeland, Holland. Formed in 1989 and within two months of existence these four death metal enthusiasts recorded a death metal demo by the name Tangled In Gore 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 under the name Horrors In A Retarded Mind, which also received positive feedback. Colin Richardson was the producer of the debut album Mindloss. The album is complete with raging deluges of drumming, riff-o-rama, and gutteral noises that pass for vocals, Mindloss is a very solid death metal release that is probably in every hardcore death metal fans collection already, but won’t do much to appeal to those outside the genre. Gorefest is better than most death bands, however, since they don’t tend to make sudden time changes and have more a flow to their songs than, say, Deicide or any of the other legions of American death metal bands.

Cd 2: False 1992
A major improvement upon the band’s Mindloss debut, Gorefest’s False is one of the better death metal offerings of the early ’90s. During its classic death metal period, Gorefest dished out some quite pure and powerful examples of the genre, none of which outshine False. The addition of drummer Ed Warby makes most of the difference between the first two Gorefest records. Warby’s riffs and technical ability are of an entirely different level than his predecessor. The burst of energy provided by the new skinsman multiplies the group’s power, and inspires even better performances from bassist/vocalist Jan-Chris de Koeyer and guitarist Frank Harthoorn. The pair also added guitarist Boudewijn Bonebakker to the mix on False, to equally fine results. A near classic, this sophomore effort from Gorefest captures the Dutch metal heroes during what is perhaps their finest, most energetic moment.

Cd 3: Erase 1994
The studio follow-up to Gorefest’s impressive sophomore release False, this 1995 offering is as heavy as its predecessor, but not quite the same achievement. Gorefest’s pungent brand of Scandinavian metal was well-established when Erase hit record store shelves, and surpassing their own reputation within the genre was probably a feat the group couldn’t accomplish. It’s possible that they weren’t even trying to outdo the extreme metal bombast of False, as there are very subtle hints that foretell of Gorefest’s coming switch to a less metal, more rock stance later in the decade. This transformation has no real effect on Erase, however, as cuts like “I’ll Walk My Way” and “To Hell and Back” feature all the double kick and menacing guitar trickery (not to mention the man-sized vocal aggression) to keep metalheads slack-jawed with awe. The stylistic shift that began with the group’s next record is a controversial subject among Gorefest fans, and it’s doubtful that many listeners could really enjoy both versions of the Dutch band, so if death metal or grindcore is your game, Erase and False are both highly recommended.

Cd 4: Soul survivor 1996
Goresfests fourth album Soul Survivor was a departure from their death metal of the previous three albums, producing a more classic rock sound, which they have then applied a heavier tone too, and instead of clean singing they have kept frontman Jan-Chris de Koeijer’s death growls. The result? A death n roll album that proves that the band’s bravery has paid off. Soul Survivor is almost perfect. The vocals of Jan-Chris de Koeijer may not be brutal death metal growls, a fact that he is often criticized for, but Soul Survivor just cements the fact that he is a much underrated talent, being a grunter with a deep tone, and on top of that there is the fact that he is for the most part, understandable. When listening to this album the lyrics can be understood easily, so people actually know what the song is about. The perfect guitar sound is summed up within the first minute of Freedom, hooking myself as the listener into what is without a doubt a must-have for any Gorefest fan, whether they miss the full-on death metal or not.

Cd 5: Chapter 13 1998
With their fifth album, Chapter 13, the band moved away from the post-death formula into a more playful, rock n roll direction. Jan-Chris de Koeijer hasn’t made any adjustments to his vociferous throaty singing style and his deathly rending soar above this moderately noisy rockabilia which only sparingly reminds of the more belligerent spirit of “Erase” with the more courageous and intense “All Is Well” and “Nothingness”. These cuts seem like the solitary warriors here surrounded by sterile industrial stompers like “Broken Wing”, or relaxed bluesy semi-ballads like “Smile” and the all-instrumental idyll “Bordello”. The old fans will find it really hard to sit through the over 6-min pleasant ballad on “F.S. 2000”, but those who choose to stay with the album may be mildly entertained on the more vivid “Unsung” which captures some of the boisterous character of Monster Magnet’s garage rock feats. Not too many more intriguing tricks of the kind here, though, the band more interested in stirring a dance floor fiesta with the rock’n roll-ish “Burn Out” and the country folk music inducer “Super Reality”, the epic gothic/doom Cemetary-sque swagger of the closing “Serve The Masses” wrapping it on with equally as optimistic, albeit a tad more aggressive riffage. Was 13 the lucky number for the band? Not really since they split up soon after this opus release.

Cd 6: La Muerte 2005
Gorefest’s crowd-conquering reunion at the 2004 Dynamo Festival opened the doors for this comeback album, where they attempt to make up for a six-year absence by tapping into their well-regarded grindcore and death metal legacy. Heck, even La Muerte’s artwork recalls those classic Carcass and Napalm Death albums from the early ’90s. Anyway, lucky for Gorefest that straight-up death metal was in such a stagnant condition in the mid-2000s that there’s virtually no way La Muerte can fail, and its impressive opening tandem — the stately slow power chords and violent speed runs which alternate throughout “For the Masses,” and the chugging, Entombed-like “rott & roll” of “When the Dead Walk the Earth” — seem to promise that an absolute tour de force is at hand. But it doesn’t quite turn out that way — although, at their best, standout tracks like “You Could Make Me Kill,” the joyously brutish “Malicious Intent,” and the rather amusing “Exorcism” (hear those cries of “I need an exorcism!”) still trump most of the current competition with their mostly inspired collection of riffs and the often stark contrasts between Jan-Chris de Koeyer’s crusty growling and Frank Haarthoorn and Boudewijn Bonebakker’s melodic guitar leads. The music starts losing its distinctive impact about halfway through due to a few too many sub-Entombed poundings, but both “Rogue State” and the epic title track provide multifaceted examples of tension-building death metal the likes of which were rarely heard in the mid-2000s. Ultimately, all of the above may not be enough to announce a brave new day for either Gorefest or death metal in general, but it should more than justify the band’s resurrection in their fans’ eyes, at least.

Track list:
Cd 1: Mindloss 1991
1. Intro
2. Mental Misery
3. Putrid Stench Of Human Remains
4. Foetal Carnage
5. Tangled In Gore
6. Confessions Of A Serial Killer
7. Horrors In A Retarded Mind
8. Loss Of Flesh
9. Decomposed
10. Gorefest

Cd 2: False 1992
1. The Glorious Dead
2. State Of Mind
3. Reality — When You Die
4. Get-A-Life
5. False
6. Second Face
7. Infamous Existence
8. From Ignorance To Oblivion
9. The Mass Insanity

Cd 3: Erase 1994
1. Low
2. Erase
3. I Walk My Way
4. Fear
5. Seeds Of Hate
6. Peace Of Paper
7. Goddess In Black
8. To Hell And Back

Cd 4: Soul survivor 1996
1. Freedom
2. Forty Shades
3. River
4. Electric Poet
5. Soul Survivor
6. Blood Is Thick
7. Dog Day
8. Demon Seed
9. Chameleon
10. Dragon Man

Cd 5: Chapter 13 1998
1. Chapter Thirteen
2. Broken Wing
3. Nothingness
4. Smile
5. The Idiot
6. Repentance
7. Bordello
8. F.S 2000
9. All Is Well
10. Unsung
11. Burn Out
12. Super Reality
13. Serve The Masses

Cd 6: La Muerte 2005
1. For The Masses
2. When The Dead Walk The Earth
3. You Could Make Me Kill
4. Malicious Intent
5. Rogue State
6. The Call
7. Of Death And Chaos
8. Man To Fall
9. Exorcism
10. Till Fingers Bleed
11. The New Gods
12. La Muerte-instrumental