Music > Live Reviews

Raging Speedhorn

09/12/14

Success in the music industry, as many bands will testify, is a fickle mistress. One minute you’re on top of the world supporting bands like Slipknot and Rammstein, the next… Such is the ever shifting sand of musical fashion. It’s a cautionary tale that makes musicians everywhere wake up in a cold sweat and one that Raging Speedhorn could tell you all about. Not that five albums and a ten year career is anything to sniff at, but after a six year hiatus, not only did I feel inclined to attend when I heard that they were going to headline a show in the Waterfront Studio, but I kinda also wanted to give them a bit of a hug.

I arrived to a room no more than half full of people ready to witness the re-birth of the Corby Grindcore Bruisers. I couldn’t believe more people weren’t there, but when I thought of angrily calling up mates to query why they weren’t present to represent our fine city, I realised that in the last six years we’ve all got, well, old. I’m not going to tell you how old, but let’s just say that I know far too much about school policies and pension plans.

As the sad fact sunk in that I’m part of a generation that increasingly can’t handle a school night, I was shaken from this melancholic awakening by support band Sworn to Oath, who were impressively heavy and energetic for a three piece outfit. I’m not going to say much more than that, but considering that I never usually mention the support act, you should take this as high praise indeed.

With Frank Regan joining fellow growly-front-man John Loughlin in providing the extreme dual vocals that the band was renowned for, the original line-up was re-united. I’d be lying if I said that six people didn’t look a little cramped on what is probably the smallest stage they’ve played in years, but they squeezed on like they gave not one fuck, and if all they cared about was showing everyone that they were as damn good as they ever were, well, they succeeded.

The bass was stoner fat, the guitar work was spot on, the vocals were superb and the drums*… Well, we’ll come back to that, but let’s just say it was all there as they launched into a face melting set of songs from the first two albums. By the time they were two songs in, it felt like the crowd had doubled as everyone got into it, loosened up and moved closer to the stage. By the time they were playing hits like Gush and the Hate Song, they had generated enough energy for a substantial circle pit, and by the time that the set was wrapping up, everyone – on and off stage – was having a great time.

*Special mention goes to Gordon Morrison on drums - I’ve never before seen anyone simultaneously down pints and play drums without missing a beat.

I don’t know what they’ve been up to for six years, but what they haven’t done is lost their touch. The stage and the crowd may have been smaller, but if this performance was anything to go by, these guys are on their way back up. Other bands beware – they’re coming for your fans, because they just proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that not only have they still got it, they’ve got so much of it that they could bottle it and sell it for fucking Christmas. Welcome back boys, it truly was a pleasure.