Taken from the album REVANCHE, released 22 March 2019 on Exile On Mainstream Records.
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camera: Bert Lenssen, Rene Brunken and Wim Wijnhoven
cut/ mix: Maikel Lammen and Rob Frey
concept and idea: Rob Frey
audio mix: Johan van Reede
When Gore’s 5th album ‘Lifelong Deadline’ was released in 1992 it marked the 3rd restart in their then 6-years-career. But even though the line-up, consisting of founding member Rob Frey, aka Marij Hel on bass and newcomers Bardo Koolen on drums and Johan van Reede on guitar could be considered the most organic and competitive line up, the band fails to revive the hype that started with ‘Hart Gore’ in 1986. Despite raving press ‘Lifelong Deadline’ fails commercially, even more so because the band itself sees it as a complete failure. What should have become Gore’s magnum opus turns out to be an over-produced, rudderless monstrosity, over the top, out of balance and with zero impact. Still Gore remain on the road with ‘Lifelong Deadline’ for over 3 years tearing down each and every stage they perform on which proves them how well the album actually could have turned out. A suspicion that lingered quiet some time until guitarist Johan van Reede finally decides to reconstruct ‘Lifelong Deadline’ after more than 25 years in 2016 and expectedly it turns out how vivid these songs still are. Although dysfunctional the band decides to give the album a complete overhaul, to start from scratch, bringing the album to new life. In order to achieve a truly competitive production the band decides to bring in Terry Date (Slayer, Pantera, Limp Bizkit, Slipknot) to do the final mixes as well Howie Weinberg for the mastering. And so Gore’s ‘Lifelong Deadline’ transforms into Gore’s ‘Revanche’, (as in ‘break-even’). ‘Revanche’ is not a 1:1 copy of ‘Lifelong Deadline’. It is a rework, a reinterpretation of what it could have been, wrapping up 27 years old unfinished business. In the 22 years since Gore stopped in 1996 there have been as many requests for a reunion as rejections. Reunions are usually meant to relive success-stories and with all good will in the world Gore was not. Yes, the albums and performances were doubtless intense and groundbreaking, but it is also a fact the press tried to make more of the buzz then the audience actually needed – Let’s face it; for many Gore was just a bridge to far. However, when Walter Hoeijmakers of the notorious Roadburn Festival herd about the reissue of ‘Lifelong Deadline’ he offered Gore instantly a spot on its 2019 bill, with which after 20 years a Gore reunion is as of yet a fact.
