GOREFEST — Chapter 13 (review)

Album · 1998 · Death 'n' Roll

1.5/5 · 2010-11-08
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I thought that Gorefest’s previous album Soul Survivor, the first of a death 'n' roll sound was amazing. So I had high hopes for this, the follow-up. Sadly Chapter 13 does not at all live up to the expectations I gained from Soul Survivor. Something went badly wrong this time around. The overall sound is a large departure from anything that came before, even Soul Survivor which was quite a significant sound departure for death metal itself. But Chapter 13 sees Gorefest losing more of their death metal sound, especially in the vocals of Jan-Chris de Koeijer, who sounds like a shadow of his former self on this album. His growl is weaker and his attempt at clean vocals leaves much to be desired. This is still a metal album, but it really isn’t what I’d call death metal. Saying that the band haven’t exactly discovered the mainstream either. I’d rather simply call it a bad album.

Alarm bells rang when opening song, the title track had a chorus that, despite the growled vocal, had a poppy lyrical hook. That said it is actually a good song, just not what I’d expect from this band. I thought that if that kept the songs to about this standard at the minimum the album would be about average. But then straight away there was the fact that the 2nd song Broken Wing was one of the most weak and boring songs I’ve heard in some time. Thankfully nothing else on Chapter 13 sinks as low, but after the fourth track, Smile, I was starting to get bored. Smile features a good guitar groove, but the vocals just ruin it. Up until this point Jan-Chris had growled, but suddenly I’m hearing him trying clean vocals. They’re more spoken word than singing though. Smile does pick up a bit near the end, when the vocals are growled again, but by this time it’s too late to save it.

The one song that really stands out from Chapter 13 as a highlight is F.S. 2000. Surprisingly it’s one of the ones that isn’t death metal at all. It actually reminds me of a cross between classic rock/heavy metal with a grunge throw on it. It doesn’t sound anything like the Gorefest I know, but it is good. Jan-Chris is singing most of the time on here, and this time he got the lighter vocals right for him. They’re not amazing, but they’re passable, unlike those heard on Smile.

Other tracks which are actually worth hearing are The Idiot, Bordello and All is Well. Those, F.S. 2000 and Chapter 13 are the only tracks that I’d ever feel inclined to play from this album. The rest of the album ranges from the awful (Broken Wing) to the average (Nothingness). Chapter 13’s one redeeming factor is that it does feature some amazingly good guitar work from lead guitarist Boudewijn Bonebakker. His solos carry what is otherwise a rather bland album, but I’d still say to buy it only if you’re a Gorefest fanatic and just have to own everything they’ve ever done, or if you want Soul Survivor and can only find it in the double pack that Chapter 13 also comes in. Otherwise avoid this one.