CoC : Gorefest - Rise to Ruin : Review

Gorefest - _Rise to Ruin_
(Nuclear Blast, 2007)
by: Jackie Smit (8 out of 10)

As reunions go, Gorefest's comeback in 2005 didn't rank alongside the most auspicious. Part of it at least can be ascribed to the fact that on the whole, the metal fraternity wasn't exactly gagging for another record by the Dutch death metallers. It also probably didn't help that -- admittedly through no choice of their own -- in the months that followed they didn't manage to tour anywhere outside of their native continent either. It's a shame really, because even though their comeback effort, _La Muerte_, was crippled by a lacklustre second act, it did feature some of the most fiercely convincing material the band had put their name to since _False_ had hit the shelves twelve years earlier.

_Rise to Ruin_ continues in much the same vein, only this time it would appear that time spent together has refined and sharpened the quartet's songwriting abilities even more. Opener "Revolt" is a napalm-laced note d'intention, almost extrinsically aggressive and gloriously hard-hitting. "A Question of Terror" is equally acerbic, with guitarist Vincent Bonebakker's love of massive guitar leads and arena rock flourishes making one of many attenuated, but highly trenchant appearances.

Meanwhile, "Babylon's Whores" starts off like a less technically elaborate Cannibal Corpse, and though Jan-Chris de Koeijer is starting to look more and more like Velvet Revolver's Matt Sorum with each passing day, when he snarls "Nothing will be the same anymore" during the song's chorus, you'll be rooting that this will apply to Gorefest's fortunes as well.

Contact: http://www.gorefest.nl

(article published 27/7/2007)

ALBUMS
10/17/2005	J Smit	7.5	Gorefest - La Muerte
4/18/1996	G Filicetti	7	Gorefest - Soul Survivor