Search - Gore :: Hart Gore & Mean Mans Dream

Essential Gore

PB000001 | Belgium | 11/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a treat: the two classic albums of this legendary Dutch all-instrumental hardcore band for the price of a single disc! Plus this re-issue includes tons of live tracks and left-over studio material, as well as some interesting and frank liner notes by Gore's Rob Frey (aka Marij Hel).



Originally released in 1986 and 1987, both "Hart Gore" and "Mean Man's Dream" are filled with brutal and repetitive, but at the same time quite catchy guitar riffs. The music is dark, heavy, and sexy as hell. Also, the fact that there were (English as well as Dutch) lyrics to every instrumental song (lyrics that mock and at the same time celebrate the typical death metal / horror movies themes) is so cool. While "Hart Gore" is a killer throughout, the follow-up, "Mean Man's Dream" has 'songs' that are a little bit more complex, but not necessarily more interesting. Still it is a very good effort, with stand-out tracks including a.o. the title track and 'Last Steps'.



By the time these albums were released, Gore had made quite a name for themselves in the hardcore/ metal underground, and also the US noise scene around Albini and Sonic Youth was taking note. Shortly after, Gore did a great split live album with the Rollins Band (which to my knowledge has never been released on CD and might be very hard to track down). The next studio album, Wrede / A Cruel Peace (1989) was produced by Steve Albini, and was meant to be Gore's breakthrough album. But while it had its moments, it was not as dark and hardhitting as its predecessors, and its failure to get any recognition beyond the original Gore devotees caused the demise of the band. Gore was revived in 1992 and released a.o. Lifelong deadline, and Mest 694'3. Samples were introduced on these albums. Some songs on them are great ("In the Name of Rotten, Evil and Gore" springs to mind), but as a whole, the quality is quite uneven. And so the two albums featured here, i.e. Hart Gore and Mean Man's Dream, remain the essential Gore studio albums.



In conclusion, this CD highlights one of the best things to have come out of the Dutch anarchist squatters scene of the eighties. It should be of interest to hardcore, metal, sludge, noise rock, industrial and drone fans alike. So look no further and buy without hesitation: you have located the long lost forefathers/ counterparts of the Melvins, Swans, Flipper, Godflesh, Kyuss and Sun0)))"