Gorefest

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

This article is about the musical band. For the Halloween-themed musical comedy, see Improv Boston.
Gorefest
Background information
OriginGoes, Netherlands
GenresDeath metal, death 'n' roll
Years active1989–1998, 2004–2009
LabelsNuclear Blast
Past membersJan-Chris de Koeijer
Boudewijn Bonebakker
Frank Harthoorn
Ed Warby
Alex van Schaik
Marc Hoogendoorn
Rene Merkelbach

History

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.[1] Hoogendoorn quit because of incidents during the Mindloss-tour 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, Czech Republic, Slovakia 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.[1] Also in 1993, they toured North America as a supporting act for metal band Death. Their Insanity Tour closed with a show in Mexico City, Mexico.

Erase was recorded in 1994,[1] 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 were 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.

In 2006, De Koeyer appeared at EPICA's concert in Paradiso (Amsterdam) as a guest grunter on the song "Consign to Oblivion"(A New Age Dawns #3).

The next album, Rise to Ruin was released in August 2007. The American release was licensed to Candlelight Records.

On 15 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.[2]

Discography

Studio albums

EPs and singles
  • Live Misery (1992)
  • Fear (1994)
  • Freedom (1996)

Compilations
  • To Hell and Back – A Goreography (2005)
  • False/Erase (Re-release) (2005)

Live albums
  • The Eindhoven Insanity (1994)

Former members
  • Jan Chris de Koeijer – vocals, bass guitar (1989-1998, 2004-2009)
  • Frank Harthoorn – guitar (1989-1998, 2005-2009)
  • Boudewijn Bonebakker – guitar (1992-1998, 2004-2009)
  • Ed Warby – drums (1992-1998, 2004-2009)
  • Marc Hoogendoorn – drums (1989-1991)
  • Alex van Schaik – guitar (1989-1991)
  • René Merkelbach – keyboards (1996-1998)

References
  1. Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who’s Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 151. ISBN 0-85112-656-1.
  2. "Gorefest calls it quits...again". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Archived from the original on 2009-06-18. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
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