Gore

Gore is a Dutch instrumental noise rock group from the Netherlands, active from 1986 to the present. The band forms in the mid-1980s and releases six studio albums, one live album and two compilation appearances between 1986 and 1997. Its work sits at the intersection of noise rock, grindcore, goregrind, doom metal and instrumental rock, although the core identity of the group is noise-driven, largely wordless rock.

Formation and early line-up

The first line-up consists of Pieter De Sury on guitar, Martin Van Cleef on bass and Danny Arnold Lommen on drums. De Sury and Van Cleef both previously play in the Venlo-based band Disgust, while Lommen previously plays guitar in the Venlo-based band Pandemonium. This line-up develops the band’s concept and writes the material later heard on the Hart Gore LP. Van Cleef leaves after a short time and is replaced on bass by Rob Frey, also known as Marij Hel. With De Sury, Frey and Lommen, the band begins performing locally.

Recordings and releases

In March 1986, Gore enters the studio to record its first LP, Hart Gore. After that album and the follow-up Mean Man's Dream, the band releases a live album that features Gore on one side and Henry Rollins on the other. One of the group’s studio albums appears on the Megadisc label. In 1988, Gore releases the double album Wrede/The Cruel Peace, which is co-produced by Steve Albini. The record does not achieve commercial success, and the band splits up.

Later activity

Rob Frey reforms Gore in 1991 with guitarist Johan Van Reede and drummer Bardo Maria. With that line-up, the band releases the double-CD album Lifelong Deadline. The following year, Gore plays again at the New Music Seminar in New York, this time at The Knitting Factory. In January 1994, the band tours Europe in support of CD reissues of Hart Gore and Mean Man's Dream on Messback Music. Gore’s final album, Mest/694'3, appears in February 1997 with the Lifelong Deadline line-up intact. Later in 1997, a final CD titled Slow-Death is included free with an issue of Gonzo Circus magazine; it contains alternate, unreleased and live versions of songs from Lifelong Deadline and Mest/694'3.

Broadcast exposure and live appearances

Gore receives substantial airtime from BBC Radio 1 presenter John Peel and records three sessions for his show between 1987 and 1991. The band also plays at the New Music Seminar in New York in 1988 and again in 1992.

After Gore

After the group’s work under the Gore name, Rob Frey goes on to play guitar in De Nieuwe Blijdschap.