Band's List Death Metal Goreaphobia Mortal Repulsion

A cult name in the U.S. deathmetal underground scene, Goreaphobia formed in 1988 in Philadelphia around its leader Chris Gamble (bass, grunts) and Alex Bouks (guitars), sharing a common passion about the diabolical metal of Slayer, Possessed & Celtic Frost. Touring with the biggest names of that era, including Morbid Angel, Nocturnus or Repulsion, the group branding the U.S. scene with hot iron, especially with the release of its EP Omen of Masochism in 1991 for the young label Relapse Recs, specialized at that time in pressing demos on 45 rpm vinyl.

However, where Immolation, Suffocation and Incantation immortalized their deathmetal with the invincible Dawn of Possession, Effigy of the Forgotten and Onward to Golgotha, the gang of Pennsylvania did not record any full-length album, much like their compatriots of Exmortis and Sadistic Intent. Indeed, the band broke up once in 1993, and saw many lineup changes until 2004, when Chris & Alex met to record four new tracks (including two unpublished tracks from back then) on the occasion of the release of their first demos compiled by Necroharmonic Productions.

Having maintained the same belief they had in the early hours of dark deathmetal, the pair finally achieved 21 years of career during the sessions of their first full album in the studios of their own new drummer Jim Roe (ex-Incantation & ex-Disciples of Mockery). Produced by the band, Mortal Repulsion was released in the summer of 2009, enjoying an illustration of the famous Kris Verwimp and an Ibex Moon distribution, the label of their friend John McEntee (Incantation & ex-Goreaphobia).

From the first track « Ordeal of the Abyss », Goreaphobia snaps deathsters up directly inside the album, dominated by the heavy and complex rhythmic parts of Jim Roe, the black and merciless riffs of Alex Bouks and the grunts of Chris Gamble, far from the synthetic and caricatured squeals that are flooding today’s scene. The subtle mix of blast-beats, the depth of the riffing, the complaints that seem to come from beyond the grave, are all assets showing incredible control in the propensity for dark and murky atmospheres like Autopsy, Incantation or Sadistic Intent.

Nonetheless, instead of playing a 48 minutes long sad and heavy deathmetal, Goreaphobia deftly alternates songs with occult atmospheres such as the black interlude « Negatives Screams » or the doom-like « Despised and Ruined », with other titles far more direct like « Grave Plagued Planet » with its catchy two-beats and memorable chorus, « Ashes Black Eyes » and « A Grievous Curse » with their lethal accelerations, or « Inevitable Punishment » and the eponymous « Mortal Repulsion » with equally deadly riffing.

Far from technical demonstrations forgotten just as quickly as they’re played, the gang of Philadelphia masters the art of powerful riffing and has a strong identity, reminiscent of the deathrash acts of the late eighties. Delivering a dark and obsessed deathmetal, mixed with dark and evil atmospheres, Mortal Repulsion is Goreaphobia’s long awaited album since the early nineties. Recommended for all fans of Possessed, Morpheus Descends or Sadistic Intent.

Fabien.