Review Summary: Refreshing metal
If you remember the metal scene in the beginning of the nineties it was a time of opening the sound and crossing the genres.There are many examples on this – Sepultura’s "Chaos AD”, Carcass with “Heartwork”, Entombed’s “Wolverine Blues” to name a few .Coming from a prodigy death metal image, Gorefest, with productions like “False” (1992) and the renowned “Erase”(1994) proved to be one of the best bands to refresh the genre.After putting out “Erase” they pushed the limits even more with “Soul Survivor”(1996) and “Chapter 13”(1998) leading to mixed opinions and low record sales. The 70’s heavy rock and psychedelic riffs mixed with the punishing heavy J.C.'s vocal style on these last two records pretty much scared a lot of metal purists.The effect: they disbanded in 1998.
Following a lot of community support they managed reunite in 2004, wrote new songs and self-produced what was to be “La Muerte” (2005).Sound and music wise the LP is a comeback to their former death metal style with many additions and variations. The production is their best to the date of the release and the dynamic of the songs is refreshing and surprising, beyond expectations .The song structure is mainly simple but pointed with diverse breaks and riffs, a lot of juicy solos, simple and inventive drum work.Surprisingly enough there are a lot of fast tracks on this one just like and even more that their old productions.All of this topped with their main ingredient : Jan Chris de Koeyer's vocal performance one of his best on "La Muerte" .He has a unique voice in the extreme metal scene filling even some instrumental parts of the bands music.
“For the Masses” - their first single and with video support - is the best example on mixing genres and dynamics.It starts with a doomy, heavy riff not very promising and suddenly it breaks into a fast thrashy paced rhythm giving the song real line.The bridge part of the track is on full-blown blast beats already while the voice of J.C. demands attention:
“It's a war
And I want more
It's a war
Give me what I'm paying for”
The vocal line just molds perfectly on the rhythm to give a special vibe to the song even more for the fact that it is intelligible – you don’t really need the lyrics sheet. Finally the song loosens a little bit in the same tone as the beginning and turns in a spectacular twin guitar demonstration in its end.
Another fine tune to mention here is “You Could Made Me Kill” .This one is slow and mid paced, also a good demonstration why there is no need for a wall of guitars riffs when vocals are so fulfilling .This track is a very catchy one because of grooving rhythm, interesting voice-guitar mix and a cool, almost “anthemic” chorus.The song has two slower breaks on which Bodewijn Bonebakker proves his guitar versatility with amazing and inventive guitar solos, the best on this album probably.While being at the guitar subject it is worth mentioning the exciting “Les Paul” guitar tone and sound all over the album.
“Rogue State” is just another great proof of the dynamics. A very catchy tune too. It’s first half is in a slow death metal vein with a brilliant main riff. The second is fast paced intensifying with great executed blast-beats.In the middle there is a interesting, almost pop/rock song break with fuzzy background vocals followed with some excellent guitar solos on grooving rhythm shifts.
A lot of doomy riffs and breaks are to be found on “La Muerte” which reach its climax in the final title track.It just complements the fine diversity the album has.
All in all is a solid release and every track is worth the attention of a quite wide range of metal and rock fans.Gorefest proved their reunion worthwhile and delivered some fine live performances on the tour that followed the album release.
