Album Review: Raging Speedhorn – Hard To Kill (Red Weed Records)

The album title says it all – Raging Speedhorn return to action with the release of their killer new studio album ‘Hard To Kill’.

Over the course of 20 years Raging Speedhorn have built a solid and long-standing reputation as one of the UK’s leading metal outfits. Since the release of their eponymous debut in 2000, the sextet have enjoyed a career built on stunning, raucous live shows and albums to boot. A career that has seen the sextet play worldwide shows and festivals and sharing stages with the likes of Slipknot, Clutch, Enter Shikari and many more.

Hard to Kill – the follow-up to 2016’s ‘Lost Ritual’ is the first to feature new vocalist Dan Cook who replaces long-standing co-vocalist John Loughlin. John stood down after 21 years during the recording of ‘Hard To Kill’ leaving the mantle open for Dan. RSH also welcome new guitarist Dave Leese and former Hundred Reasons bassist Andy Gilmour who join founding drummer Gordon Morison and guitarist Jim Palmer.

Says founding co-frontman, Frank Regan:

This album is straight-up Raging Speedhorn – with added extras. Right now, the band is on fire, the vibe is amazing, and we’re so happy to be back playing music. Six albums in and we’re still loving what we do.

Hard To Kill’ will be released October 23rd 2020 on vinyl, CD, download and all streaming platforms via the band’s own label imprint Red Weed Records.

You can certainly say this is Raging Speedhorn with a brand new spring in their step while still being clearly the band many fell in love with two decades ago. That this is still very much the same raging beast is something they clearly want to make clear from the start. With the riotous opener that is Snakebite, the sticky filth of the groove that makes up the excellent Doom Machine and the hardcore fuzz of Spitfire.

It’s easy to see why Speedhorn chose the next track, Hard to Kill, as the first single they released. The self-referential title and lyrical content are a defiant call for this band and it’s a rocking banger to boot.

Whereas that previous track was the frantic rock and roll side of Speedhorn, Hammer Down and Hand of God are the opposite. A choice pairing of aggression that are methodical and crushingly heavy in all the right ways.

Another aptly titled effort breaks hard across the skull with Brutality before Speedhorn unleash The Beast. The filthiest of guitar groove, the most savage of vocal performances, the disciplined percussion… it’s a ‘take no prisoners’ finale. Confirmation, as if it was still needed, that Raging Speedhorn are still as hot as ever.

Although the actual finale is an unexpected, maybe unnecessary, cover of T.Rex’s Children of the Revolution. It’s not mind-blowing but it is fun.

Raging Speedhorn – Hard to Kill Full Track Listing:

1. Snakebite
2. Doom Machine
3. Spitfire
4. Hard To Kill
5. Hammer Down
6. Hand Of God
7. Brutality
8. The Best
9. Children Of The Revolution (T. Rex Cover)

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