GOREFEST — Soul Survivor (review)

GOREFEST — Soul Survivor album cover Album · 1996 · Death 'n' Roll Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Soul Survivor" is the 4th full-length studio album by Dutch death/heavy metal act Gorefest. The album was released through Nuclear Blast Records in April 1996. Before lead guitarist Boudewijn Bonebakker joined Gorefest, shortly before the recording of the band´s 2nd full-length studio album "False (1992)", he made it no secret that he would in time try and move the band in a more 70s heavy metal/hard rock direction. It´s not exactly audible on "False (1992)", but the band´s next album "Erase (1994)" features a more heavy/hard rocking sound (while still maintaining a relatively raw death metal sound) than it´s more brutal predecessor. "Soul Survivor" is the album where Gorefest took the last step and the music on "Soul Survivor" probably sounds close to Bonebakker´s original vision.

While the music on the album can somewhat be called death metal rooted, it´s actually only the semi-growling vocals by Jan-Chris de Koeijer and the occasional harder edged riff that points in that direction. If you take away the raw vocals, "Soul Survivor" is for the most part a pretty melodic 70s influenced heavy metal album (there are even the occasional use of organ on the album). It´s acts like Thin Lizzy and UFO rather than Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel that come to mind. Gorefest tread a delicate path here though and because of the rather unusual mix of semi-growling vocals, hard rocking riffs and melodic solos and twin leads, "Soul Survivor" face the risk of not really appealing to the audience of any of the two genres. Death metal fans will probably miss a bit more bite, brutality and power while fans of hard rock and heavy metal will probably be turned off by the semi-growling vocals. Luckily for Gorefest, we are some of us, who like both styles and can relate to the music on "Soul Survivor". The music is well played and it´s obvious that especially Bonebakker puts his heart and soul into the guitar work.

Featuring a relatively warm and organic sound production, "Soul Survivor" has in addition to the songwriting and the musicianship many good things going for it. It´s not an album that makes a ton of impact, but it´s certainly both pleasant entertaining. I´d say a 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is fair.
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