Raging Speedhorn
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1998 in Corby, Northamptonshire, England |
| Headquarters | Corby , England |
Area served | United Kingdom |
| Products | Extreme metal music |
Raging Speedhorn is an extreme metal group originating from Corby, Northamptonshire, England, established in 1998.
Career
The band came together in August 1998 through the fusion of two acts, Soulcellar and Box, swiftly gaining prominence within the UK's metal community.
Embracing a dual-vocalist setup inspired by the UK hardcore outfit Hard to Swallow, Bloody Kev joined as a second frontman following Frank Regan's exit in 2005. Their debut single, "Thumper," produced by Marc Heal, debuted in 2000 and received widespread praise. In 2001, they achieved a position on the UK Singles Chart with the track "The Gush."
Their initial recordings are marked by aggressive bass patterns, heavily distorted guitar work, and lyrical themes revolving around indulgence, substance use, aggression, and disdain for major record companies.
The album Before the Sea Was Built, crafted under the guidance of Larry Hibbitt from Hundred Reasons, was released on 11 September 2007 via Steamhammer, an imprint of SPV Records.
A tour alongside Trophy Scars was scheduled for March 2008. However, on 25 March 2008, the band announced their disbandment following plans for a farewell tour, which was canceled that same day due to conflicts with scheduling and promotion. Nonetheless, a concluding tour took place between October and November 2008 across the UK, Ireland, and Japan. Afterward, members became involved with other projects based in Cardiff and Stockholm. By 2013, John Loughlin, Jay Thompson, and Dave Thompson were active within the metal ensemble The Death of Us.
On 18 February 2014, Raging Speedhorn reunited to perform at the November edition of Damnation Festival, featuring John Loughlin and Frank Regan sharing vocal duties and focusing on material from their first two albums. They also appeared during the UK segment of the 2014 Sonisphere festival.
A hometown show supporting The Darkhorse and Heart of a Coward sold out on 3 July 2014 ahead of Sonisphere. Subsequently, an eleven-date UK tour was announced on 7 July 2014.
In January 2016, the group recorded Lost Ritual with producer Russ Russell at Parlour Studios located in Kettering.
On 14 September 2018, guitarists Jim Palmer and Jamie Thompson exited the band. The original lineup reunited on 6 October 2018 for a special performance celebrating their 20th anniversary at London's Electric Ballroom.
By December of that year, James Palmer and Dave Leese had joined as guitarists. In September 2019, Daniel Cook took over vocal duties from John Loughlin after his two-decade tenure.
Musical style
Raging Speedhorn's initial release showcased a nu metal approach. Over time, their sound has incorporated influences from hardcore punk, extreme metal, as well as sludge and stoner metal genres.
Current
- Gordon Morison – drums (1998–2008, 2014–present)
- Frank Regan – vocals (1998–2005, 2014–present)
- James Palmer – guitar (2018–present)
- Daniel Cook – vocals (2019–present)
- Andy Gilmour – bass (2019–present)
- Daf Williams – guitar (2022–present)
Former
- John Loughlin – vocals (1998–2008, 2014–2019)
- Gareth Smith – guitar (1998–2008)
- Tony Loughlin – guitar (1998–2006)
- Darren Smith – bass (1998–2006)
- Kevin "Bloody Kev" Greenham – vocals (2005–2008)
- Jay Thompson – guitar (2005–2008)
- Dave Thompson – bass (2008)
- Anthony Elsayed – guitar (1998–2000)
- Dave Leese – guitar (2018–2022)
Studio albums
- Raging Speedhorn (2000)
- We Will Be Dead Tomorrow (2002)
- How the Great Have Fallen (2005)
- Before the Sea Was Built (2007)
- Lost Ritual (2016)
- Hard to Kill (2020)
- Night Wolf (2025)
Live albums
- Live and Demos (2004)
- 20 Year Anniversary Show (2018)