While becoming an overnight sensation can run the risk of being unable to deliver on the hype, in Texas-based metalcore trio GORE’s case, they have the songs and emotional depth to back it up on their debut EP, A Bud That Never Blooms. Formed at the tail end of 2023, GORE, which is comprised of vocalist and NASA engineer by day Haley Roughton, alongside guitarist Alex Reyes and bassist Devin Birchfield, have wasted no time in delivering heart-wrenching and visceral music that seamlessly weaves intricate guitar riffs and breakdowns with melodically dense and almost theatrical arrangements.
GORE’s unique sound is undoubtedly brought to life through Roughton’s evocative and unmistakable vocal prowess and lyricism that explores unique takes on femininity, love, and family in haunting and touching fashion. Not even a year into their career, GORE have been welcomed with open arms by the heavy music community, resulting in the band inking a deal with the esteemed Spinefarm Records and are set to tour heavily in 2025. Admittedly, GORE are aware that with their unexpected rise to popularity in such a short time, they are still in the process of discovering who they truly are. Still, with a pledge to continue to evolve their sound and thematic scope, one can only imagine where they will go next. In other words, now is the time to dive into GORE’s music from the very beginning and be along for the ride, as they will likely become a household name in no time.
In an interview with Haus Of Cult, GORE frontwoman Haley Roughton discusses femininity, vocal influences, the recording process of the band’s debut EP, A Bud That Never Blooms, and more.
Gore’s debut EP, A Bud That Never Blooms is out now via Spinefarm Records.
GORE burst onto the scene officially in late 2023. In less than a year, you have inked a deal with Spinefarm Records, scored features in major rock publications, a booking agency deal with CAA, and are experiencing viral success on social media behind your music. Is it safe to assume that this last year has exceeded your expectations and has been somewhat surreal?
Haley Roughton: Oh yeah, without a doubt. When we were finishing the EP in January of 2023, I remember us all sitting there thinking about about we wrote and knew it was different, unique, and would catch people's attention. Still, I wasn't sitting there saying I'm gonna get signed in a year and get with CAA, who are the same agency as Deftones — I didn't realize it was going to be that much. [Laughs.]
Walk me through the origins of GORE: How did you all come together to form this band? Were you previously involved in other projects around the Texas area prior to forming GORE?
Roughton: The band came up in less of an orthodox way. In 2021, I was fired from my symphonic death metal band, which was more or less a local band. After that, I spent so much time joining what I felt were other people's projects with their own vision and had to take a back seat to not ruffle any feathers. And then, I just decided to create something that is my own vision and doing, so GORE was originally just me as the only band member. I wrote our first EP, A Bud That Never Blooms, with my friends Caleb and Ben who I met through the scene and after we finished the EP, I knew we needed a group of individuals as a band and not just a solo thing. From there, I asked our guitarist Alex [Reyes] to join the band, who was in a band that I very much looked up to in the local scene in Houston called Apothica, and when I started GORE, he was like, Count me in! I knew that I could trust him since I had seen him in the scene for several years, and he was a person who was good to work with and had great ideas. With our bassist Devin [Birchfield], I had actually been internet friends with him for almost ten years, and he's got a great vision, and we talk the same language. Having both Devin and Alex in the band is just a no-brainer.
With your forthcoming EP, A Bud That Never Blooms, what do you reflect on most about the writing and recording process?
Roughton: The thing that I remember the most is being in a very difficult time in my life and that coming out in those demos in the best way possible — coupled with being scared and afraid because I didn't know what I was doing. [Laughs.] I've been in local bands; that's its own thing, but working with producers and co-writers was not something I was used to. I was just soaking everything in like a sponge, asking a lot of questions, so there was a lot of curiosity and inquisitiveness that came in that time of my life as well. Not only that, I had to move back in with my Mom for a bit, and I'm not saying that is a bad thing; it just wasn't what I was expecting. [Laughs.]
A compelling theme behind your lyrics and art is your focus on femininity and womanhood in an often male-dominated music genre such as heavy metal. What are some specific themes related to this that you are trying to explore with GORE, and what do you hope this approach will offer listeners?
Roughton: We've seen more incredibly strong women come about in the scene, and it's created this mentality that Women are badass and can do anything a guy can do or this Girl Boss kind of theme, which is so important, and these women are building a kingdom. However, now that we have a place in the metal community and industry, I want to create a space for exploring the sides of womanhood that aren't as talked about or seen as pretty. [Instead of] the girl boss moments, maybe you want to have a child and be a traditional wife and don't want to take on the world? I wanted to create a space for all sides of femininity to come out in my songwriting.
Vocally, your style is distinct and covers a wide range of sonic ground, from soaring anthemic and melodic performances to raw and sometimes visceral moments. What would you say were your biggest influences in the development of your voice?
Roughton: I think what made me a better singer was having influences of people I will never reach. [Laughs.] I love R&B; it's probably my most listened-to genre. But I am a below-average R&B singer, and in the metal community, I'm a good singer. [Laughs.] Knowing I'll never be like Jasmine Sullivan, Christina Aguilera, or any of these idols is fine, and I'm OK with it. When I started to learn how to scream, I was getting into progressive metal and DJENT with bands like Erra, Periphery, and The Contortionist. No matter what I did, I felt like I couldn't sound like those people and then I realized it's because I'm a woman. So, I said fuck it and decided that I'm just going to sound like whatever I sound like. As long as it sounds good and I can sustain it for a long time on the road, I don't need to sound like anyone else.
You recently just got off your first tour with Within The Ruins last week. What was it like performing as GORE for the first time, and what were some of the highlights of this experience?
Roughton: It was an incredible experience, but I was nervous for the first couple of shows. There was a lot of self-induced pressure, but not entirely; there is also a lot of pressure on us. We're a new band, and people are watching, so we knew we needed to not suck live because that would just look bad. We worried people would say Oh, they can't keep up with how big they're getting, so I wanted to make a statement and a half with our performances. The first show was almost like a blackout with adrenaline, but after that, it was smooth sailing. The Within The Ruins guys are so awesome, and I'm so happy we got to tour with them. They were welcoming, very silly, just like us, and just a great hang!
On the eve of the release of your debut EP and your first tour officially under your belt, what does 2025 look like for GORE, and what are some of the band's hopes and aspirations for the future?
Roughton: In 2025, I would expect to hear some changes sonically with GORE. I know that might ruffle some feathers but we are so new and still finding what our sound is. You'll also see a lot of touring from us with some big announcements I unfortunately can't share yet. We're also going to be doing more writing, and we've already got six or seven unreleased songs ready, so expect a lot more new and fresh GORE soon!
Watch the music video for “Babylon” by, GORE below
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