Raging Speedhorn
Encyclopedia
Raging Speedhorn were a British
metal
band
, founded in Corby
, Northamptonshire
.
s reminiscent of Iron Monkey
, the band quickly established itself as a major presence within the UK's
nu metal scene.
Raging Speedhorn featured two vocalists
, a style largely inspired by the UK hardcore band Hard to Swallow, second vocalist Bloody Kev's former band. The band's first single
, "Thumper" (produced
by industrial
veteran, Marc Heal
) was released in 2000 to significant critical acclaim. In 2001 they charted
in the UK Singles Chart
with "The Gush".
On early Raging Speedhorn recordings
the music
can be characterised by pounding basslines, heavily distorted riff-thick guitarwork and subject content consisting generally (but certainly not exclusively) of hedonism, drug-use, violence, antipathy for major band labels and depression.
On the album, Before the Sea Was Built, the sound finds itself moving away slightly from earlier recordings. The guitar sound is sharper, focusing more on a dischordant style rather than the Iron Monkey riffs of earlier material. The album is maybe more in league with artists such as Breach
and Neurosis
. The vocal style of Bloody Kev is also a stark contrast to former vocalist Frank Regan, a diverse style which makes it easier to differentiate between the two vocalists.
Before The Sea Was Built
was the only album the band produced with Larry Hibbitt, of Hundred Reasons
. It was released on 11 September 2007 through Steamhammer, a subsidiary of SPV Records.
On 25 March 2008 it was announced the band was to split after a final tour. The band are now spread far and wide, including Cardiff
and Stockholm, Sweden.
Tony Loughlin left the band and was replaced by Jay Thompson (formerly of Defenestration
) who also presently plays in Blacklight Pioneer. Frank Regan left the bands in June 2005, who's now currently plays with Thunder Horse. Bloody Kev has now replaced Frank Regan's vocal position. Darren Smith has also left the band, with Jay's brother Dave Thompson the new bass guitarist, who also plays with Jay in Blacklight Pioneer.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, founded in Corby
Corby
Corby Town is a town and borough located in the county of Northamptonshire. Corby Town is 23 miles north-east of the county town, Northampton. The borough had a population of 53,174 at the 2001 Census; the town on its own accounted for 49,222 of this figure...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
.
Career
Raging Speedhorn were formed in 1998 from the merging of the bands Soulcellar and Box. Through a 'frightening' stage presence and minor re-working of riffRIFF
The Resource Interchange File Format is a generic file container format for storing data in tagged chunks. It is primarily used to store multimedia such as sound and video, though it may also be used to store any arbitrary data....
s reminiscent of Iron Monkey
Iron Monkey
Iron Monkey can refer to:*Iron Monkey *Iron Monkey *Iron Monkey...
, the band quickly established itself as a major presence within the UK's
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
nu metal scene.
Raging Speedhorn featured two vocalists
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, a style largely inspired by the UK hardcore band Hard to Swallow, second vocalist Bloody Kev's former band. The band's first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Thumper" (produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
veteran, Marc Heal
Marc Heal
Marc Heal is an English musician. He was one of the most prolific and influential Industrial music artists in the 1990s, mixing metal and techno with more traditional Industrial sounds...
) was released in 2000 to significant critical acclaim. In 2001 they charted
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
with "The Gush".
On early Raging Speedhorn recordings
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
the music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
can be characterised by pounding basslines, heavily distorted riff-thick guitarwork and subject content consisting generally (but certainly not exclusively) of hedonism, drug-use, violence, antipathy for major band labels and depression.
On the album, Before the Sea Was Built, the sound finds itself moving away slightly from earlier recordings. The guitar sound is sharper, focusing more on a dischordant style rather than the Iron Monkey riffs of earlier material. The album is maybe more in league with artists such as Breach
Breach
-In law:* Breach of confidence, a common law tort that protects private information that is conveyed in confidence* Breach of contract, a situation in which a binding agreement is not honored by one or more of the parties to the contract...
and Neurosis
Neurosis
Neurosis is a class of functional mental disorders involving distress but neither delusions nor hallucinations, whereby behavior is not outside socially acceptable norms. It is also known as psychoneurosis or neurotic disorder, and thus those suffering from it are said to be neurotic...
. The vocal style of Bloody Kev is also a stark contrast to former vocalist Frank Regan, a diverse style which makes it easier to differentiate between the two vocalists.
Before The Sea Was Built
Before the Sea Was Built
Before the Sea Was Built is the fourth and last album by UK sludgecore band Raging Speedhorn, released in 2007. Before the Sea Was Built is the final Raging Speedhorn album, following the departure of original members Frank Regan and Daz Smith, and the first for members vocalist Bloody Kev , and...
was the only album the band produced with Larry Hibbitt, of Hundred Reasons
Hundred Reasons
Hundred Reasons are an English rock band from Farnborough, Hampshire, composed of Colin Doran , Larry Hibbitt , Andy Gilmour , Andy Bews and Ben Doyle . Originally, the band was signed to Columbia Records in mid April 2001, after fourteen months of near-constant touring...
. It was released on 11 September 2007 through Steamhammer, a subsidiary of SPV Records.
On 25 March 2008 it was announced the band was to split after a final tour. The band are now spread far and wide, including Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
and Stockholm, Sweden.
Final line-up
- John Loughlin - vocals Box, Murder OneMurder OneMurder one is another term for first-degree murder.Murder One may also refer to:*Murder One , a television series in the United States*Murder One , a book store in London...
The Rabhus - Bloody Kev - vocals Hard to Swallow, 666Dead, Dead InsideDead InsideDead Inside is a horror/fantasy role-playing game published by Atomic Sock Monkey Press based around the concept of characters who have lost or were born without their souls. These "Dead Inside" strive to regain or rebuild their souls...
, Wives of Seth, Shackle Me Not, Ray Reardon Youth, Among the Missing, SeasonsofSix - Gareth Smith - guitar Soulceller, Victims, Rowdy Ramblers, Ghosts of the Terror, Leonard LakeLeonard LakeLeonard Lake was an American serial killer. He often used the alias Leonard Hill. The crimes he committed with Charles Ng became known when Lake committed suicide by taking a cyanide pill shortly after being arrested for a firearms offense.-Life:Lake was born in San Francisco, California...
, Ricardo Gonzalez Band, Drep De Kristne - Jay Thompson - guitar DefenestrationDefenestration (band)Defenestration were a UK heavy metal band from 1999 to 2004, based in the Northamptonshire town of Kettering.In their short career the band managed to play over 300 shows across the UK and Europe touring with the likes of Raging Speedhorn, Will Haven, lostprophets, Napalm Death, Earthtone9,...
, Bastard Arsehole, I'm Fashion, You're Victim Blacklight Pioneer - Dave Thompson - bass I'm Fashion, You're Victim, Marla Singer, DefenestrationDefenestration (band)Defenestration were a UK heavy metal band from 1999 to 2004, based in the Northamptonshire town of Kettering.In their short career the band managed to play over 300 shows across the UK and Europe touring with the likes of Raging Speedhorn, Will Haven, lostprophets, Napalm Death, Earthtone9,...
Blacklight Pioneer - Gordon Morison - drums Box, Viking SkullViking SkullViking Skull is a 5-piece heavy metal band, originating in the UK.-History:Viking Skull was formed in 2002, by Raging Speedhorn members Gordon Morison, Darren Smith and Frank Regan, along with their Guitar Tech, Roddy Stone, and Merchandiser, Waldie....
Tony Loughlin left the band and was replaced by Jay Thompson (formerly of Defenestration
Defenestration (band)
Defenestration were a UK heavy metal band from 1999 to 2004, based in the Northamptonshire town of Kettering.In their short career the band managed to play over 300 shows across the UK and Europe touring with the likes of Raging Speedhorn, Will Haven, lostprophets, Napalm Death, Earthtone9,...
) who also presently plays in Blacklight Pioneer. Frank Regan left the bands in June 2005, who's now currently plays with Thunder Horse. Bloody Kev has now replaced Frank Regan's vocal position. Darren Smith has also left the band, with Jay's brother Dave Thompson the new bass guitarist, who also plays with Jay in Blacklight Pioneer.
Tours
- UK Tour with earthtone9Earthtone9earthtone9 is an alternative metal band hailing from Nottingham, UK. Their line-up on most of their major releases was Karl Middleton on vocals, Owen "Oz" Packard, Joe Roberts on guitar, Graeme Watts on bass and Simon Hutchby on drums .-History:Signing to Copro Records in 1998, the band's first...
in 1999 - UK Tour with Will HavenWill HavenWill Haven is a noise metal band from Sacramento, California, USA.-History:In 1995, Will Haven, named after a fictional, self-created character, formed and released a six-track demo. The band was formed from members of Sock, a band that was formed with Shaun Lopez of Far. Will Haven's debut...
and SkindredSkindredSkindred is a Welsh rock band from Newport. The band was formed in 1998 following the disbandment of vocalist Benji Webbe's previous band, Dub War. Skindred's musical style mixes alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and reggae...
in 1999 - UK Tour with Tribute To Nothing and Charger in 2000
- UK Tour with Medulla Nocte in 2000
- UK dates with KittieKittieKittie is a Canadian heavy metal band formed in London, Ontario in 1996. A quartet of women, the group rose to success in 1999 when the track "Brackish" from their debut album Spit became a hit single...
in 2000 - UK Headline Tour with Brutal DeluxeBrutal Deluxe-History:Formed in 1997, the band takes its name from the retro video game Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe. They have currently released two albums on Dream Catcher....
and DefenestrationDefenestration (band)Defenestration were a UK heavy metal band from 1999 to 2004, based in the Northamptonshire town of Kettering.In their short career the band managed to play over 300 shows across the UK and Europe touring with the likes of Raging Speedhorn, Will Haven, lostprophets, Napalm Death, Earthtone9,...
in 2000 - Europe Tour with BiohazardBiohazard (band)Biohazard is a band originally based in Brooklyn, New York. They are acknowledged as one of the earliest bands to fuse hardcore punk and heavy metal with elements of hip hop. The original lineup consisted of Vocalist/Guitarist Billy Graziadei, bassist/vocalist Evan Seinfeld, guitarist Bobby Hambel,...
and Nucleus in 2000 - Europe Tour with AmenAmen (band)Amen is a hardcore punk-influenced band formed in 1994.The band has an almost constantly rotating lineup, with founder Casey Chaos remaining as the only constant member throughout...
in 2000 - UK Headline Tour with Charger and Vex Red in 2001
- Europe Tour with MudvayneMudvayneMudvayne is an American heavy metal band. Their work is marked by the use of sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate visual appearance, which has included face and body paint, masks and uniforms...
in 2001 - Japanese Tour with AmenAmen (band)Amen is a hardcore punk-influenced band formed in 1994.The band has an almost constantly rotating lineup, with founder Casey Chaos remaining as the only constant member throughout...
in 2001 - Europe dates with SlipknotSlipknot (band)Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
in 2001 - OzzfestOzzfestOzzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
in the UK in 2001 - UK Headline Tour with Misdemeanor and Scurge in 2001
- "Tattoo The Planet" UK dates with SlayerSlayerSlayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
, PanteraPanteraPantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
, Cradle Of FilthCradle of FilthCradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal, and other extreme metal styles, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...
and more in 2001 - Summer Sonic FestivalSummer Sonic FestivalThe Summer Sonic Festival is an annual two or three-days rock festival held at the same time in Osaka and Chiba. The majority of the bands playing in Osaka the first day go to Chiba the following day and vice versa....
in Japan in 2002 - Scandinavia Tour in 2002
- Japanese Tour in 2002
- UK Tour supporting RammsteinRammsteinRammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte band from Berlin, formed in 1994. The band consists of members Till Lindemann , Richard Z. Kruspe , Paul H. Landers , Oliver "Ollie" Riedel , Christoph "Doom" Schneider and Christian "Flake" Lorenz...
in 2002 - Europe Headline Tour in 2003
- Download FestivalDownload FestivalThe Download Festival is a three day rock music festival held annually at Donington Park, England . It usually takes place in June...
in the UK in 2003 and 2005 - With Full ForceWith Full ForceWith Full Force is a metal, hardcore and punk festival held annually in Germany since 1994. The 2011 edition took place on July 1 and July 3 at the Roitzschjora airport in Löbnitz near Leipzig in the Saxon county of Delitzsch.-2010:...
in Germany in 2003 and 2005 - UK Headline Tour with Johnny TruantJohnny TruantJohnny Truant was a British, Brighton-based metalcore band, formed in 2000 under the name Severance. The band recorded 3 demos under this moniker before renaming themselves after the lead character of Mark Z. Danielewski's novel House of Leaves...
in 2005 - US Tour with NileNile (band)Nile is an American death metal band from Greenville, South Carolina, formed in 1993. Their music and lyrics are inspired by Ancient Egyptian/Near Eastern mysticism, history, religion, and art, as well as stories by H. P. Lovecraft.- History :...
, HypocrisyHypocrisy (band)Hypocrisy is a melodic death metal band from Sweden. It was formed in 1990 in Ludvika, Sweden by Peter Tägtgren.Musically, the band started off with a traditional death metal sound on their first albums, and soon drifted to become a melodic death metal band. The lyrics in their early stages -...
, Soilent GreenSoilent GreenSoilent Green is a grindcore and sludge metal band that hails from Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans.-Overview:Soilent Green was founded in 1988. Their début album wasn't released until 1995, when Pussysoul came out on Dwell Records...
and more in 2006 - Europe Tour with Twelve TribesTwelve Tribes (band)Twelve Tribes was a metalcore band, from Dayton, Ohio, USA. Originally established in 1998, the group is currently signed to the independent record label Ferret Music...
and Bridge To Solace in 2007 - UK Headline Tour with Shaped by FateShaped by FateShaped By Fate are a 5 piece metalcore band from South Wales , formed in late 2001 and lauded as "the future of British Metalcore" by Kerrang! magazine which described the band's music as "some of the tastiest, heaviest, most shredding metal this island's seen in a long time".-History:Shaped By...
in 2007 - UK shows supporting Dir en greyDir en greyDir En Grey is a Japanese metal band formed in 1997 and currently signed to Firewall Div., a sub-division of Free-Will. As of 2011, they have recorded eight full-length records...
in 2007 - Europe Tour with CarnivoreCarnivore (band)Carnivore was an American crossover thrash band formed in Brooklyn, New York by Peter Steele , and was formed out of the ruins of the Brooklyn hard rock group Fallout in 1982.-History:...
in 2007 - Scandinavian Tour with Victims in 2008
- Final Europe Headline Tour with My City Burning in 2008
- Final UK and Ireland Headline tour with Take A Worm For A Walk Week and The Mirimar Disaster in 2008
- Final Japanese Tour with Palm in 2008
Albums
- Raging SpeedhornRaging Speedhorn (album)Raging Speedhorn is the eponymous debut album by UK sludgecore band Raging Speedhorn.-Track listing:*1. Super Scud*2. Redweed*3. Knives and Faces*4. Mandan*5. Random Acts of Violence*6. Thumper*7. Necrophiliac Glue Sniffer*8. Dungeon Whippet...
(2001) - We Will Be Dead TomorrowWe Will Be Dead TomorrowWe Will Be Dead Tomorrow is the second album by UK sludgecore band Raging Speedhorn.-Track listing:#"The Hate Song"#"Scrapin' The Resin"#"Me and You Man"#"Scaramanga"#"Chronic Youth"#"Iron Cobra"#"Heartbreaker"#"Fuck the Voodooman"#"Spitting Blood"...
(2002) - Live and DemosLive and DemosLive and Demos is an album of live cuts and demos by UK sludgecore band Raging Speedhorn. Disc one comprises live performances, while disc two comprises demos.-Disc one:*1. Crowd Noise [Live At Manchester University 27 October 2002]...
(2004) - How the Great Have FallenHow the Great Have FallenHow the Great Have Fallen is the third album of by UK sludgecore band Raging Speedhorn.-Track listing:*1. A Different Shade Of Shit*2. Oh How The Great Have Fallen*3. Dead Man Walking*4. Master Of Disaster*5. Snatching Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory...
(2005) - Before The Sea Was BuiltBefore the Sea Was BuiltBefore the Sea Was Built is the fourth and last album by UK sludgecore band Raging Speedhorn, released in 2007. Before the Sea Was Built is the final Raging Speedhorn album, following the departure of original members Frank Regan and Daz Smith, and the first for members vocalist Bloody Kev , and...
(2007)