Cherry Red/Dissonance reissue the first two albums from Canadian death metallers, Gorguts.
Release date: Out Now
Label: Dissonance Productions
Format: 2CD
GORGUTS
Formed in Quebec in 1989, Gorguts were the brainchild of Luc Lemay, and initially performed more brutal, traditional death metal, before morphing into one of the leading exponents of ‘technical death metal’ with complex and dense arrangements.
After releasing just one demo in 1990, the band were signed by Roadrunner and released the debut ‘Considered Dead’ which features guest appearances from Chris Barnes (ex-Cannibal Corpse/Six Feet Under) and James Murphy (Death, Obituary).
Today, Gorguts is considered a massive influence on a whole raft of bands favouring a more technical and obtuse approach. They have been nominated for a Juno award and have received widespread international acclaim.
This release features extensive liner notes from respected journalist Olivier Badin, and a lengthy and detailed new interview with Gorguts founder and mainstay Luc Lemay.
CONSIDERED DEAD
From the opening atmosphere of …And Then Comes Lividity, Gorguts arrived with a debut that radiated conviction. Considered Dead has the grim intensity of early death metal, but it avoids heavy imitation by weaving together tightly constructed riffs and flashes of individuality.
Luc Lemay quickly stamped his authority as both a vocalist and guitarist. His cavernous growls provide menace without sacrificing clarity, while his fretwork on pieces like Bodily Corrupted brims with restless energy. Alongside him, Sylvain Marcoux anchors the sound with muscular rhythm parts, yet his lead break in Stiff and Cold is one of the album’s most striking moments. Guest guitarist James Murphy adds an exclamation mark with his dazzling contribution to Inoculated Life.
Bassist Eric Giguère ensures the low end resonates with an earthy rumble that adds body to the attack. Behind the kit, Stéphane Provencher drives the record with a blend of ferocity and discipline—whether on the pummelling Disincarnated or the shifting grooves of Haematological Allergy, his impact is undeniable.
THE EROSION OF SANITY
Two years later, Gorguts returned with a record that felt sharper, more sophisticated, and unafraid to push boundaries. The Erosion of Sanity builds upon its predecessor but moves into bolder territory, with arrangements that twist, surge, and demand attention.
Giguère’s bass performance adds fresh depth, stepping into the spotlight on A Path Beyond Premonition with a tone that provides weight and texture. Provencher excels too; his precise yet adventurous drumming fuels the momentum, whether in the rolling patterns of With Their Flesh or the turbulent rhythms scattered across the album.
Lemay’s voice is even more commanding; his roar imbued with authority and grim grandeur. His guitar interplay with Marcoux reaches new heights, crafting labyrinthine riffs on Condemned To Obscurity and darkly elegant patterns on Orphans of Sickness. The solos reflect this growth: Lemay’s piercing run through Odors Of Existence and Marcoux’s expressive lead in the title track underline a band increasingly willing to challenge convention.
Where the debut promised, this second release delivers a giant stride forward. It is unified, purposeful, and brimming with ambition.
GORGUTS’ LEGACY
While the band would later push death metal into genuinely avant-garde realms with Obscura and beyond, these first two albums remain crucial. They capture a moment when the genre was still coalescing, and Gorguts were both absorbing and contributing to that evolution.
Considered Dead stands as a snapshot of youthful hunger, tight and direct, while The Erosion of Sanity shows how quickly that hunger could mature into something daring and original. In the grand tapestry of early death metal, these records are more than historical curios—they are essential chapters that display the craft, energy, and vision of a band destined to redefine extremity.
Check out A Path Beyond Premonition below; you can buy the CD here.
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