Managing to catch significant buzz at the end of this past year with their first single “Pray,” the cinematic and modern sound of Gore. seemed to be one that was not going to be unsigned for long. There was little shock when the group signed to Spinefarm for their first EP, A Bud That Never Blooms, after having released more singles since that stuck to the same high caliber. For those already following the band, you are only going to get one “new” song but it’s nice to see all of their singles present in one location.
Gore.’s strongest point is how you really can’t place their sound in a nice and neat description. It’s obviously modern, but there’s shades of everything from metalcore to industrial to rock, and pretty much everything in between. When you factor in vocalist Haley Roughton’s clean vocals, you can add pop and even R&B into the band’s description. While it might seem like a lot, the band is impressively cohesive. From the stomping riffs, industrial rhythms, and electric beats that open “Pray,” you can hear the way that Gore. builds up the atmosphere to the serene, cinematic chorus even without their strong visual presence that their videos provide. How it jumps from pulsating grooves to soaring melodies at the drop of a hat is thrilling, easily grabbing the listener at each stop along the way.
“Doomsday” twists between poignant, gentle melodies on the way towards a rumbling climax, full of snarling vocals and vicious riffing. “Babylon” uses the opposite effect, rolling right in with industrially-augmented atmosphere and thunderous instrumentation before the clouds break for a majestic chorus. Likewise, “Angels Like You” flirts with R&B vibes swirled in a hypnotic, groove-centered riff machine. The ‘new’ song “Heaven is Above Me” hits with playful piano and electronics with Roughton’s vocals at the forefront in a dreamy soundscape that moves towards a choir-backed climax that thoroughly satisfies as the finale.
Cinematic, groovy, and able to switch between ethereal and menacing, A Bud That Never Blooms establishes Gore. as a thrilling new prospect in the metal community. They’ve managed to make a modern sound feel more impactful and majestic by giving it their own vivid, picturesque spin that feels nothing less than gripping at any point. Considering this is their first release, check them now and watch them continue to spread their wings going forward.