Dead Horse (band)

Dead Horse

Company type	Independent
Industry	Music
Founded	1987
Defunct	1997, 2019
Fate	Disbanded (twice), multiple reunions planned
Headquarters	Houston , United States
Products	Music albums, EPs, live DVDs
Website	www.deadhorsehouston.com

Dead Horse is a thrash metal group originating from Houston, Texas, USA. The band was initially active between 1987 and 1997, reunited from 2011 until 2019, and announced plans for another reunion in 2025. Their sound merges elements of death metal and crossover thrash, while also integrating influences from country music and Texan heritage, as demonstrated in songs like "Hank" from the album Horsecore and "Chiggers" from Feed Me.

Early years (1987–1997)

In 1989, Dead Horse independently launched their first record, Horsecore: An Unrelated Story That's Time Consuming. This was followed by their widely distributed LP Peaceful Death and Pretty Flowers in 1991, released through the independent label Big Chief with distribution handled by Metal Blade Records under the umbrella of Warner Bros. Records. In 1993, they self-funded the EP Feed Me, which served as a demo aimed at securing a deal with Interscope Records, though it did not attract major label attention. During this period, lead vocalist and guitarist Michael Haaga exited the band; he was succeeded by Austin-based musician Scott Sevall (formerly of Force Fed). The group then re-recorded the demo BOIL, which garnered favorable critiques in Metal Maniacs magazine by late 1995. The following year, Dead Horse recorded the EP BOIL(ing) with producer Tim Gerron and released it through Beermoment Music via Sound Virus Records.

Activities after disbandment (1998–2010)

Following Dead Horse’s breakup, Haaga established the band The Demonseeds alongside drummer Joseph Fazzio and bassist Craig Cazaubon. They produced one album titled Knee Deep in Hell's Grasp in 1999. In 2000, Houston Press nominated them for "Best Metal/Hard Rock"; they won the "Critics Choice" award but did not secure the "Readers Choice."

Haaga also contributed as bassist and backing vocalist on Superjoint Ritual’s debut album, Use Once and Destroy, although his credit appears low on the list. In late 2004, he released a solo album called The Plus and Minus Show, featuring support from musicians based in Houston and Austin. This album earned four accolades at the 2005 Houston Press Music Awards: Album of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year, and Local Artist of the Year. Guitarist Kelly Doyle, who performed on this record and played with Houston bands such as Three Fantastic and Clouseaux, received the Best Guitar award that same year. The band disbanded shortly thereafter.

Ronnie Guyote served as drummer for Houston metal outfit nOthing, which remained active until internal conflicts caused its dissolution in 2005. Around that time, Guyote and nOthing bassist Mike Lucas joined forces with Mike BBQ to revive Houston’s industrial band Death Kultur BBQ. This group has performed intermittently since 2005, including a show in 2014.

In 1999, Relapse Records reissued both Horsecore and Peaceful Death and Pretty Flowers. The re-release of Horsecore featured all tracks from Death Rides a Dead Horse as bonus material along with hidden slowed-down and real-time versions of "French Fry." Meanwhile, the reissue of Peaceful Death and Pretty Flowers included a song from Feed Me, demo recordings from 1990, plus a concealed slowed spoken-word track derived from "Peaceful Death."

Subsequently, Greg, Scott, and Ronnie formed Pasadena Napalm Division alongside D.R.I. frontman Kurt Brecht and nOthing bassist Mike Lucas. After Lucas’s departure, George D. took over bass duties. In 2013, original Dead Horse bassist Allen Price joined Pasadena Napalm Division, which released its self-titled album on Minus Head Records that same year.

Reunions (2011–present)

In 2011, members from the Boil(ing) period of Dead Horse reunited, featuring Mike Argo on lead vocals, and reissued their final album BOIL(ing). The group performed reunion concerts in Houston, at Austin's FunFunFunFest, and at The Rail Club in Fort Worth. November 2012 saw the release of the DVD Making a Dead Horse LIVE, showcasing live performances by the revamped lineup, which they promoted through shows in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston.

On July 4, 2014, Dead Horse unveiled Loaded Gun, a CD that combined four newly recorded tracks with ten live recordings from the DVD. During breaks between tours, they played across the southern United States and collaborated with D.R.I. vocalist Kurt Brecht under the name Pasadena Napalm Division.

Their first studio release in over two decades, The Beast That Comes, was launched on September 15, 2017.

The band dissolved once more in 2019 but declared a second reunion scheduled for September 2025. This lineup change introduced guitarist Chris Forshage and drummer Jason Allen as replacements for Greg Martin and Ronny Guyote.

Current members

• Allen "Alpo" Price – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Scott Sevall – guitar, lead vocals
• Michael Argo – lead vocals
• Chris Forshage – guitar
• Jason Allen – drums

Former members

• Michael Haaga – guitar, vocals (1987–1994)
• Greg Martin – guitar, vocals
• Ronnie Guyote – drums, backing vocals

Discography

• Death Rides a Dead Horse (demo, 1988)
• Horsecore: An Unrelated Story That's Time Consuming (1989, independently released; reissued 1999 by Relapse)
• Peaceful Death and Pretty Flowers (1991, Big Chief/Metal Blade/Warner Bros.; reissued 1999 by Relapse)
• Feed Me EP (1994, independently released)
• BOIL (ing) (1996, Sound Virus / Beermoment Music; reissued in 2011 by Abbyss Records)
• Loaded Gun (2014, independently released)
• The Beast That Comes (2017, independently released)

Filmography

• When We Ruled H-town – The story of the 90's Houston Music scene
• Making A Dead Horse Live! (November 2012, independently produced) DVD

External links

• Dead Horse on Facebook
• Dead Horse on Metal Archives
• News about Dead Horse DVD
• Official Dead Horse website