Review: “Hard To Kill” by Raging Speedhorn

The return of Corby’s finest Raging Speedhorn following their 20th Anniversary original line up show at Camden Electric Ballroom has been a celebration of all things Metal. A new line up has brought fresh impetus and there have been a wealth of shows prior to this highly anticipated new album. So who is in the Sludge Metal Hardcore Punks now? Daniel Cook joins  Frank Regan as the duel headed hydra replacing John Loughlin at the vocal focal point, a new axe wielding partnership of James Palmer and Dave Leese were announced in December 2018 while the rhythm section of Andy Gilmour (bass) and Gordon Morison (drums) is the beating heart. The twelve legged, beer fueled monster returns and what’s more they’ve recorded this album as with their 2016 effort “Lost Ritual” with the legendary producer Russ Russell (At The Gates, Napalm Death).

First single “Snakebite” is an obvious place to start “Hard To Kill“, a high energy incendiary burst of vocal fire with that classic ‘Speedhorn feel. The interplay between the two vocalists is fierce, they don’t just trade verses or lines but often inject words into each others vocal phrasings. There was a certain weight of expectation with the last album and that simply doesn’t feel to be the case with this record. Instead, it feels the band have more freedom and after that opening cut that sounds like the band have Motorhead inspiration, “Doom Machine” slows things down for some Black Sabbath inspired, gargantuan stature riffs. The bluesy Stoner Metal vibe suits them well and they are less raw at this point than we’ve heard them in recent times. That flows nearly into “Spitfire” which has a more introspective lyricial flow, the dirty groove from bassist Gilmour adding fuel to the fire and enhancing the rock and roll swagger at the heart of the record. Title track “Hard To Kill” could reference the Steven Seagal film of the same name and the sentiment that the band just don’t die despite all the set backs over their career is felt within the beating heart of this one. Another throat ripping, blood thirsty affair it simply says we’re hear in spite of you, so get used to it. The central point of the album is “Hammer Down“, an occult lyrical themed rager that is is again full of dirty groove and intense sludge riffs. What makes it is the building of the mountains that give it a classic vibe in the genre.

Crowbar esq riffs bring in “Hand of God” and bring an instant warmth and huge stomp to proceedings, begging to be included in the bands live set. The higher tempo of that is maintained with the raging “Brutality” that sees the abrasive riffs and aggressive tendencies reach new levels as it roars through the place like a tornado at fairground. The howls from the bowls of hell that join a bruising extended breakdown section on this one as it closes make for one of the albums finer points. Slowing things down once more but crutially not losing any of that intensity, “The Beast” stomps in with an air of defiance and a clenched fist. A lyrical play on a metaphor, the beast itself is those who stand against Raging Speedhorn, the band themselves screaming “f*** the beast!”, something that they could easily find the fans screaming along to in the mosh pits and has a certain amount of Iron Monkey power to it. Closing with a cover of “Children of the Revolution” by T.Rex is something that has divided opinion. On the one hand, the riffs have been bolstered and remind of Led Zeppelin, particularly “Kashmir“, listening to it feels like the band may break into that song at any point. It may not add anything to the record as a whole and lyrically it flies in the face of it up to a point, but that is so ‘Speedhorn and it’s certainly not a bad cover, beefed up in every way except vocally. They may be elder statesman of the scene now, but they still have a Glasgow kiss or two in the locker [7.5/10]

Track listing

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

“Hard To Kill” by Raging Speedhorn is out now and available over at bandcamp