GOROH for ProneToWeakness

Columbus-based hardcore band GOROH styles our FW/23 collection and gives their perspective on performing raw lyrics, standing up to injustice and more.

We sat down with Rob, DJ and Brian of GOROH to hear more about their experience in the Columbus hardcore scene and the deeper purpose behind their music. They style our new heavyweight tee and embroidered beanie—pairing them with dark wash pants, white sneakers and some overall badass-ery.

To break the ice, what are some of your staple wintertime outfits? Midwestern winters are fucking brutal, man.

My go-to pants are Dickies double knees, and I’m a big fan of the hoodie + canvas jacket combo. When it gets really cold, I always reach for thermals, a pair of Carhartt insulated overalls, and a Burton snowboarding jacket.

- Brian McConnell, Drums

Pieces styled: GLOOM Heavyweight Long Sleeve Tee, PTW Embroidered Logo Beanie

Central Ohio has a booming hardcore scene. What’s it been like to build a fan base here? Have fans been receptive to your sound?

Building a base here in Columbus has been pretty smooth, all things considered as a new band. Most of us came from other bands, so we’re used to the grind. Having some really awesome people in our corner has certainly helped along the way too. Overall people are receptive and enjoy what we have to offer. There are a lot of people looking for an outlet musically that they can relate to. Whether that is through lyrics or sonically - we are an aggressive band for aggressive people and that’s what seems to resonate so well.

- DJ Eckman, Guitar

Left to right/top to bottom: Brian (Drums), DJ (Guitar), Rob (Vocals)

As a band, you express vengeful aggression towards injustice—on a personal level and in society as a whole. Your manifesto states, “TRUE JUSTICE IS ONLY ATTAINED BY DEATH.” Could you give some background as to what that means to you as a group?

Man.. There is a lot to unravel within this question lol! So I will try to give it my best attempt to answer it without making us seem like a bunch of freaks lol! First and foremost, all of my lyrics stem from my real life experiences, emotions, and thoughts. With GOROH specifically, I think it gave me an outlet I never really had before to get out all of the demons that I had been dragging around for a long time. GOROH gives me a platform to express the pain and anger of these experiences. I think that they are any pure human emotion that I try to break down to acknowledge that primal instinct that I believe we all have that is initiated through pain and anger. Everyone has said “I am going to kill you” or “I’m going to kill them”. We say it very nonchalantly, but that stems from something.

The old saying “An Eye for an Eye” comes from King Hammurabi’s Code or Law. An ancient King that created laws like, if you take a life, you lose yours. If you steal, you lose a hand. Obviously this doesn’t work for every scenario of crime. But, if you had the opportunity to fulfill vengeance, and take justice into your own hands against a person that kills or commits rape, would you do it? What about if we as unified people were able to take the lives of the ones who decide to send our loved ones to fight a war, or that start a war. They use us as sheep, as fodder, as disposable flesh shields to kill other humans. What about getting true justice against a corrupted and trigger happy officer. It doesn’t matter what the scenario, the primal instinct is to wish upon them what has been done to us or people close to us. I think GOROH is just a way to channel that for me lyrically. I think deep down there is a lot of truth there that people can relate with on a personal level.

- Rob Nelson, Vocalist

At ProneToWeakness, we know hidden adversity comes between where we are and where we want to be. Mental illness is not something to take lightly. Given the raw, dark intensity of GOROH’s lyrics, we know you feel the same way.

How does it feel to finally perform these lyrics after you’ve created from such a dark place? We can only imagine how freeing it must be. How do you want your fans to feel through your music?

Growing up around this scene, and getting to meet people of all sorts of backgrounds you come to find out a lot of them have very similar stories. A lot of them have had to endure a lot. There is a lot of pain, a lot of heartache, and trauma. A lot of depression and mental illness is bred from that pain. I think that is a unifying factor with Hardcore, Deathcore or just music in general. It is the most universal language for a reason. Lyrically, I enjoy that there is ambiguity with my lyrics. I know what I wrote them about, but if someone else reads them and can relate to them from their own personal experiences, then for me, I did my job. It made it all feel worth it, and it makes it that much more of a beautiful thing for me. I think that with the right mindset, the hardcore/metal scene can give you a safe place to release those demons and give you the ability to free yourself and your mind from the daily shit you have to deal with. It doesn't matter if you're the band performing, or the kid spin kicking in the pit, or the kid belting the lyrics. We are all unified and there for a reason. We are all human at the end of the day. We all bleed, we all cry, we all laugh, and we all love the same. There is no title, material item or monetary value that separates you from me and me from you. I hope one day people become more conscientious of that. I want anyone that comes to GOROH show to understand that. Your race, gender, religion, clothes, weight, height, it doesn't matter.. none of it matters. Just as long as you showed up, got to release your anger, and you are happy you made the decision to let yourself enjoy being yourself for a night and that you are still breathing and present. That’s all that fucking matters.

- Rob Nelson, Vocalist

You released your debut single “Room of Mirrors” back in August. Such a sick song. What made you decide to release this specifically as a single? Does it have a personal meaning to you?

I believe collectively we came to the conclusion to release Room of Mirrors because of the personal connection to us. Rob makes a point to be direct with his lyrics and has done a great job so far especially with Room of Mirrors. The song speaks to depression, suicidal thoughts, negative self image - all things that a vast majority of people struggle with. We hoped that the song and its content reaches the right people to show them they are not alone. I believe we have done that so far and will continue to do so.

- DJ Eckman, Guitar

With your growing presence in Columbus and beyond, what’s next for GOROH?

We’ve got plans for shows into February and are always looking for something new to play. We’ve got another song we’re planning on releasing here soon, but we don’t have a specific release date set yet. A ton of work still needs to be done on that front.

- Brian McConnell, Drums

Hear GOROH's newest single Room of Mirrors and shop our FW/23 collection Block Out the Sun.