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.
Raven
Gorefest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spreading wings covering me
I see my name written in sand
But there is only black
Where I stand
The Raven circling my heart
Looking at me
Death surrounding my heart
So invisible, still I can see
Wide open eyes, black covers the sky
Spreading wings covering me
Is this the aftermath of my life
My last and final day
Has the struggle come to an end
And will it all just go away
The Raven circling my heart
Looking at me
Earth surrounding my heart
Pulling at me
So invisible, still I can see
Was it good to learn and walk
Strong back against the wind
Am I being tested and found okay
When it greets me and flies away
The Raven circling my heart
Looking at me
Death surrounding my heart
Pulling at me
Looking at me
And I can see the Raven
The lyrics to Gorefest's song "Raven" depict a dark and introspective perspective on life, death, and the afterlife. The singer is surrounded by a black sky and sees only darkness where they stand. They see the Raven circling their heart, a symbol of death and impending doom, and feel its pull. The lyrics suggest that the singer is at the end of their life and questioning whether their struggle has come to an end. They wonder if they have learned enough and whether they will be found "okay" when death comes to greet them.
The lyrics suggest a sense of resignation, as the singer seems to accept the inevitability of death and the afterlife. The metaphor of the Raven circling their heart suggests that death is inescapable, and the dark and foreboding imagery reinforces this idea. The final line, "And I can see the Raven," implies that death has arrived and the singer is facing their final moments.
Overall, "Raven" is a haunting and introspective song that explores themes of mortality, life's purpose, and the afterlife. The lyrics are open to interpretation and could be seen as a metaphor for any difficult or transformative experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Wide open eyes, black covers the sky
The sky is pitch black, indicating that something ominous may be coming.
Spreading wings covering me
The singer feels as though they are being enveloped by something dark and mysterious.
I see my name written in sand
The singer fears that they may be facing their own mortality.
But there is only black
All signs seem to point to something ominous or threatening.
Where I stand
The artist feels trapped and helpless in their situation.
The Raven circling my heart
The Raven represents death and is a symbol of impending doom.
Looking at me
The Raven seems to be observing the singer and their fate.
Death surrounding my heart
The artist may be feeling overwhelmed by thoughts of death and mortality.
Pulling at me
The artist feels as though death is drawing them closer.
So invisible, still I can see
Even though death may not be physically present, the artist can still feel its presence and feel its weight.
Is this the aftermath of my life
The singer wonders if they are facing the consequences of their past actions.
My last and final day
The artist fears that they may be nearing the end of their life.
Has the struggle come to an end
The singer wonders if they will be finally at peace.
And will it all just go away
The singer is unsure if their fears and problems will simply disappear.
Earth surrounding my heart
The singer may be feeling grounded in reality and aware of their own mortality.
Looking at me
The Raven continues to observe the artist and their fate.
Was it good to learn and walk
The artist wonders if their journey in life has been a positive and worthwhile one.
Strong back against the wind
The singer may have faced many challenges in their life, but they have remained resilient.
Am I being tested and found okay
The singer wonders if their current trials are a test and if they will ultimately be successful.
When it greets me and flies away
The artist is unsure of what will happen when death finally arrives and takes them away.
And I can see the Raven
Even though the Raven may not be physically present, the artist can still feel its weight and see its impact on their life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
2012Cthulhu
Gorefest is heavily underrated
Mati17O
great band!
Huija
This fucking song has it all!!! The groove, the crunch, the agression!!! Fucking Rules!!!
Josué Ramos
please upload seeds of hate man!!