A British metal institution.
For over two decades, Raging Speedhorn have embodied the spirit of underground British metal - ferocious, unpretentious and utterly deafening. Born in the bleak industrial heartlands of Corby, Northamptonshire, in 1998, they quickly carved out a reputation for sheer brutality. Low-end grooves, two snarling vocalists trading off screams, and a relentless live show full of beer-drenched violence.
Their self-titled debut was loud, ugly, and completely uncompromising, catching the attention of fans craving something darker and filthier than the mainstream metal acts of the time. By the mid-2000s, they were rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in metal, landing support slots with Slipknot, Slayer, Korn, and Biohazard, and were a staple of the festival circuit, wrecking stages at Download and Ozzfest whilst remaining stubbornly underground. Where other bands tweaked their sound for radio play, Raging Speedhorn doubled down on brutality and grime with no glossy production, no clean-sung choruses, and absolutely no compromise.
However, after four albums and years of carnage, the chaos caught up with them. The sheer intensity of the Speedhorn lifestyle led to a split in 2008. For a while, it seemed like the band’s reign of destruction had come to an end. But the beast wasn’t truly dead.
After seven years of silence, Raging Speedhorn reformed in 2014 with a mix of original and new members, louder and more dangerous than ever.
Some bands soften with age, but Raging Speedhorn came back heavier, meaner, and more focused than ever. While many of the bands of their generation either faded away or rebranded to chase trends, they settled into something that now feels like the truest form of British metal. Marking their return, Lost Ritual (2016) reintroduced their signature sluge metal sound with renewed vigour, whilst Hard To Kill (2020) introduced new vocalist Dan Cook. Set to release on March 6 via Spinefarm Records, Night Wolf is poised to be the ultimate testament to Raging Speedhorn’s enduring legacy, promising a blend of sludge, crushing doom, and high-energy, dirt-fueled rock ‘n’ roll riffs, solidifying their status as legends in British heavy music.
We spoke to Gordon Morison (drums) about the past and the future of Raging Speedhorn:
Since the reformation in 2014, Raging Speedhorn’s sound has only become more refined - but never less aggressive. What’s changed in how you approach songwriting and recording compared to the early years?
With writing I think everyone has more of a say nowadays, and we’re all up for trying new things when it comes to recording. I think the sound has got bigger sounding since we started working with Russ Russell.
How have you all managed to resist the temptation to ease up and dial things back?
It’s never crossed our minds to do that. we just go into the practice room and see what comes out. We don’t think too much about it. If we like it we go with it. It’s our sound so why try and change?
The dual-vocalist setup has always been a defining trait of the band. How would you say Frank and Dan’s styles compliment each other?
I think Frank is more Phil Anselmo-sounding and Dan is more Hardcore-sounding. But with this record they’ve worked hard together lyrically and sound wise to compliment each other and I think they’ve don’t that, and think it sounds better than ever.
Lost Ritual was the comeback statement, Hard to Kill made it clear that speedhorn was here to stay, what does Night Wolf represent for the band?
That we’re having fun and just enjoying being together.
Raging Speedhorn’s recent releases feature no djent, no metalcore breakdowns, and very little in the way of modern influence. Is that a conscious decision, or do you just write what feels best?
Why do want your band to sound like everyone else? That’s the best thing about this band we write music for ourselves and to be honest with you, we don’t really like much new music nowadays. We’ve never followed a trend and that’s why we sound like we do. As I’ve said we go into a room and see what comes out...we don’t think too much about any other bands.
Which do you prefer, massive festival stages or tiny club venues?
We like both. It’s amazing to play big festivals and see all them people going crazy but it’s also amazing to play small venues and hang out with your fans.
Are you all as violent in real life as tracks like ‘hard to kill’ and ‘every night’s alright for fighting’ suggest?
HAHA. No, not really, we are nice guys really. Or are we??
For anyone who’s never seen raging Speedhorn live, how would you describe the experience in a single sentence?
A band that likes having fun on stage with loads of big riffs and crazy crowds.
What are some of your favourite venues to play in the Uk?
London Underworld, London Blackheart. Glasgow Cathouse. Norwich Waterfront. Exeter Cavern.
What is the ultimate goal of Raging Speedhorn?
To get MASSIVE and make loads of money. HAHAHA