Within two months of existence these four death metal enthusiasts recorded a demo (Tangled In Gore). A Dutch independent label, Foundation 2000, signed them for one album, however, before recording they first released another demo Horrors In A Retarded Mind 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.
Prior to a tour with New Jersey band Revenant, 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 their second LP False which was again produced by Colin Richardson. The album sold relatively well in the Netherlands and Germany for a band of their 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. A live album The Eindhoven Insanity was released shortly after. 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 the band 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.
For 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 was released in 1998. By this time the band had 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.
Gorefest reformed in 2004 and played various summer festivals in 2005. The band then unveiled a new album, La Muerte, another album followed in 2007, entitled Rise To Ruin.
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.
Low
Gorefest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A pig you are
Crawling in your dirt
Your mind is blank
Conscious black
Living just to hurt
Inherited by blood
You are supremist to the bone
In a kingdom of your own
Low
Low
Low
A growing fear
Low
Low
Low
That you will die alone
Full of shit
You set the rules
That should be followed
Step by step
But I'll ignore
And walk proud
Head up to the sun
And I'm a fool
In your world of lies
But the one and only fool
Is looking through your own eyes
Now that the echo of the bang
Is still running through your head
Slicing through your brain
And taking all your dreams away
With fear in your eyes
In disbelief you start to weep
You still cannot believe
How you could fall so fast, so deep, so
Low
Low
Low
A growing fear
Low
Low
Low
That you will die alone
The song "Low" by Gorefest is a scathing condemnation of the arrogant and self-righteous nature of some individuals. The opening lines serve as a metaphorical representation of how people can become what they consume, and how certain individuals are no better than pigs in their behavior. The second line, "Crawling in your dirt," suggests that these individuals are content with living in filth, whether it be physical or mental.
The third and fourth lines, "Your mind is blank, Conscious black," highlight the lack of critical thought and awareness that these people possess. They are "living just to hurt" and are "supremist to the bone." The repetition of the word "Low" throughout the chorus, with its deep and growling tone, emphasizes the disgust and contempt towards these individuals. The fear of dying alone is a reoccurring theme throughout the song, suggesting that their arrogance and hateful behavior will isolate them from the world.
The following lines, "Full of shit, you set the rules, That should be followed step by step, But I'll ignore, And walk proud, Head up to the sun," demonstrate a willingness to reject the harmful ideas of these individuals and move forward with individuality and pride. The reference to the "echo of the bang" could be interpreted as a violent action, indicating that karma has caught up with these individuals. The final lines, "How you could fall so fast, so deep, so low, A growing fear that you will die alone," again emphasize the fear of isolation and the regret of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
You are what you eat
Your actions and habits define who you are
A pig you are
You are filthy and uncivilized
Crawling in your dirt
You wallow in your own filth and ignorance
Your mind is blank
You lack perspective and awareness
Conscious black
You are devoid of morality and empathy
Living just to hurt
You derive pleasure from causing harm to others
Inherited by blood
Your twisted worldview is a product of your upbringing, culture and environment
You are supremist to the bone
You hold an unwavering belief in your superiority over others
Self acclaimed god that is
You consider yourself a deity, accountable to none but yourself
In a kingdom of your own
You have isolated yourself in your delusions of grandeur
Low
You are pitiful and insignificant
Low
Your worth and standing are at rock bottom
Low
Your character and deeds are despicable
A growing fear
You are slowly realizing the consequences of your wrongdoing
Low
You have fallen from grace
Low
You are at the bottom of the barrel
Low
You are beyond redemption
That you will die alone
You will be left to face the repercussions of your actions on your own
Full of shit
You are deceitful and dishonest
You set the rules
You impose your will on others without considering their welfare
That should be followed
You demand conformity and obedience from those around you
Step by step
You control every aspect of people's lives
But I'll ignore
I choose not to succumb to your tyranny
And walk proud
I will not let you subjugate me
Head up to the sun
I will not be blinded by your lies
And I'm a fool
You consider me a fool for defying you
In your world of lies
You have fabricated a false reality for yourself and those around you
But the one and only fool
You are the one who is truly foolish and naive
Is looking through your own eyes
You are blind to the truth because you refuse to face it
Now that the echo of the bang
You are reaping the consequences of your harmful actions
Is still running through your head
You cannot escape the effects of your past deeds
Slicing through your brain
The pain of your remorse is unbearable
And taking all your dreams away
You have lost everything you once held dear
With fear in your eyes
You are terrified at the thought of facing the consequences of your actions
In disbelief you start to weep
You are inconsolable at the realization of what you have done
You still cannot believe
You are in denial of the truth
How you could fall so fast, so deep, so
You cannot comprehend how far you have fallen
Low
You are at the lowest point of your life
Low
You have hit rock bottom
Low
You are the epitome of despondency
A growing fear
You are increasingly fearful of the repercussions of your actions
Low
Your worth and dignity have been stripped away
Low
You have nothing left to live for
Low
You will die in misery and despair
That you will die alone
You will not have anyone to comfort you in your final moments
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Chris Shiflett, David Grohl, Nate Mendel, Oliver Taylor Hawkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DolleHengst
Gorefest had by far the most beautiful and melodic guitar solo's of all 90's deathmetal bands. Together with Chuck's awesome solo's in Death.
Albert the Fish
Was always a fan of these before the release of this album, but this was the first track i heard off the then their new album. I went out and bought 'Erase' off the strength of this song. Their live Dynamo festival appearance back in 1993 was one of the best live performances iv'e ever seen at that festival over the years, Jan - Chris De Koeijer is one hell of a frontman, and Gorefest are up there at the top with the very best of the death metal genre.
Nerio Jose Tovar Acevedo
2020!! still is one of my favs songs!!!
D. Moonspell Rites Productions.
1st class High school period. I remember a guy from a different class wearing a longsleeve of this album. Never heard of them before that. Mindloss is their best album. With this album you already could sense they would go a progressive direction.
Stefan Grossauer
Best guitar solo in the history of the guitar
Pete M.
love this track
Jean Rovaris
what an intro! killer song. period.
JVG
This intro is just so groovy, damn.
Alexandra Piteira
old school, reminds me when i was a headbanger teenager ... good times never come back...
XmarkedSpot
One of my first CDs, lol good times