2016 is lining up to be a classic year for album releases. We have already seen in the past 12 months some of the strongest albums of many an established bands career. Just look at Slayer, Megadeth, Killswitch Engage and Fear Factory – who said metal was dead? The announcement then that the reformed Raging Speedhorn (with new guitarist Jim Palmer and a returning Frank Regan) were to release a new album is going to be met with a mixture of trepidation and excitement. Based on the calibre of the last few months they have a lot to live up to but add to that the realistic quandary that reformed bands bringing out albums years after their ‘heyday’ can always be problematic.
The guys have financed this new release via the ever popular Pledge campaign so they will not want to disappoint. You can forget that trepidation straight away Raging Speedhorn have absolutely nailed it with Lost Ritual. This record is huge, triumphant and vital. This sounds like a band that have unfinished business and I promise you, you are going to love it. There have been many colourful superlatives to describe the live experience over the years everything from raging rhinos to making a noise that could drive dictators from their homes. So don’t think for a minute this is going to be just another Raging Speedhorn nostalgia tour and accompanying record. You need this record. On the day it comes out, buy it and play it to death so you can fall in love with them all over again.
You’ll be glad to know that none of the anger has been subdued by their prolonged absence and with titles such as “Dogshit Blues”, “Shit Outta Luck” and “Halfway to Hell” they have not gone middle aged and cheery on us either. It’s an unambiguous start to the album, with a single guitar chugging along before a scream and the rest of the band ing in its almost melodic metal, but it is not long before you are completely drawn in by those trademark double vocals. It turns out to be a brilliant introduction to the album, it’s got melody, bucket loads of ion, its increases in intensity as the track progresses. Addictive stuff already.
You may already be familiar with the 2015 single “Halfway to Hell”. If you are, you will know that this is a corker of a track. New guitarist Jim, has stamped all across this track and the punctuated vocals just make you want to jump into that pit and pump your fists. It’s the pace of these new Raging Speedhorn tracks that are so spot on. They create an atmosphere that is euphoric, yet intense, joyful but full of venom. Such ion, come on now, we are “Half-way to Hell”!
“Motorhead” isn’t a tribute to Lemmy but a track about pretty much being a petrol head. Not sound like what you expect? Don’t worry this is definitely single material, the pace of the song replicates the feel of the drive, the riffs chug on relentlessly like rubber on the tarmac and with an ever increasing intensity. This has a great sing along chorus and will be great live.
How many times have we asked this about ourselves and those that we know? “Evil or Mental” introduces the first of perhaps the more sludge like side to Raging Speedhorn and its a welcome pace change. Its track’s like these and the even more sludgey / doomy “Ten of swords” that makes this such a great album. For me the pace of this record is just spot on and whereas these tracks are not as full on they are just as welcome and enjoyable a listen. I also love the doom side to Raging Speedhorn and it’s no surprise that the doomiest title on the album “The Hangman” fits firmly in this camp. This is dark, not just musically but the overall feel of the lyrics, it’s almost demonic and very definitely claustrophobic.
As befitting a song entitled “Dogshit Blues” we are back in killer riff territory on this little number. Vocally the mix of the scream and the pretty melodic chorus works really well. Just a great rock and roll song. Another great example of what Raging Speedhorn do so well, they take you to that brink where you think the track is either going to go absolutely mental or completely breakdown and then they pull you back from that and start the build up again. Genius, the teases.
“Shit Outta Luck” reminds me very much of Suicidal Tendencies at their catchiest. This is yet another song that you will getting stuck in your head as an earworm long after you have heard it. If they were looking to create the raging rhino dancing like a wild banshee but with surprising grace and form type of feel on this record, then they certainly have cracked it. On the more stoner rock, bluesy feel of coming home it’s again the chemistry between the t vocalists that captures your attention. Its rather apt that the final track of the album is the longest track, the sludgiest and definitely the post pub/comedown track of the album. Ofcourse its dark but what else would you expect?
The best accolade that I can give this album is that when the Editors at Moshville Times asked where the review was I had to it to being a little tardy in its production, not because of the usual reasons, too busy, too lazy, got my head in a vice but because I was too busy listening to it and enjoying it! Raging Speedhorn are back and you are not for second are you going to regret having pledged and being part of that force that got them here. Raging Speedhorn are back and this makes for a better world.
It’s not too late to the Pledge campaign and grab yourself some Raging Speedhorn goodies. Catch them headlining the fourth stage on the Friday night at next weekend.
Raging Speedhorn: facebook | reverbnation
