Today sees the release of 'A Bud That Never Blooms', the debut EP from Gore. It is described by vocalist Haley Roughton as “very raw and vulnerable - emotional gore”, a most promising paradoxical combination.
From space to stage: the rise of Gore.

The band was founded in 2023 by Haley Roughton (singer), Alex Reyes (guitarist) and Devin Birchfield (bassist). And while Gore. is already a runaway success, it's important to remember that this wasn't Roughton's original path.
In fact, Haley Roughton wanted to go into music as a student, but her family encouraged her to opt for a more “stable” path, which led to studies in electrical engineering and a position at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Although this field seems far removed from the music industry, the self-taught singer has drawn on this experience to bring skills such as organization and management to her band.
Gore. revealed itself to the world on December 9, 2023 with the track 'Pray', which captured the hearts of metalcore fans as well as influential musicians on the scene, such as members of Papa Roach, Motionless In White and Flyleaf. This success has also attracted the attention of labels, with the Texan trio recently signing with Spinefarm Records.
Haunting riffs and committed lyrics: 'A Bud That Never Blooms'
In this EP, we find striking influences such as Sleep Token for softer tracks like 'Heaven Is Above Me', or Ice Nine Kills for the band's emblematic distorted guitar riffs. Feminist themes, touching on the painful realities of femininity in 'Babylon' or a reflection on desensitization to violence through the eyes of a woman in 'Doomsday', also evoke the influence of Arch Enemy.
The EP opens with 'Pray', which presents the band's sound: a unique sound, but with recognizable inspirations, combining moments of calm with moments of chaos, and some Knocked Loose's characteristic breakdowns.
The band has forged its own sonic identity, identifiable by this paradox between vulnerability and chaos. This is evident in the softer passages, where the haunting vocals soar above soaring riffs, supported by percussive drums, as well as in the moments of calm before the storm. They exploit these oppositions, with a singer capable of switching from a ferocious guttural to an almost symphonic clear vocal, a quality found in more and more female singers on the metal scene, much to our delight!
This sound is perfectly matched to the committed lyrics, which deal with the chaos of existence, the violence often ignored and the difficulties associated with femininity. It offends the listener's sensibilities, while at the same time encouraging them to reflect and become aware of the realities around them.
In short, this first project is highly engaging, with a meticulous construction and a remarkable self-taught singer. It heralds a promising future on the metal scene for this young band, who we'll be talking about again in 2025, as they've already declared they have musical projects in the pipeline!
But in the meantime, you can listen to and pre-order 'A Bud That Never Blooms' here!
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