Chaos & Destruction for the British Music Scene
Raging Speedhorn have been hailed as the saviours of the British Rock scene, putting to rights the mess of the nineties left by 'dribbling metal boys' and 'empty headed grunge kids' among others and have had huge success so far both on the home scene and abroad. After a long struggle with the dreaded industry politics scenario that many bands dread, Raging Speedhorn have come out on top to deliver the fruits of their labour and frustration. Acclaimed for having redefined the face of British metal, they look destined to do it again with their new album, 'How The Great Have Fallen'.
The first track, 'A Different Shade of Shit' kicks in with explosive riffs that do well to upkeep the namesake of the band. Guitars and vocals rise from threatening embers to towering infernos that crash and burn with rage. The pace of the music is incredibly upbeat and exhilarating but with vocals that grate and screech like fingernails on a blackboard, there is evidence in the music to suggest that perhaps, there is little change here from what you may hear in the music of many other bands. Things do become a little more promising with the following track, which immediately pulls you into its slimy grip and refuses to let you go. The mood is incredibly dark and atmospheric, with a hint of gothic influence in the chorus. The general pace of the music is steady yet powerful and the synth chords blend in beautifully with the waves of overdriven guitaring. In this explosive demonstration of Raging Speedhorn's power, the vocals are also clearer but still retain a sense of madness and are wild and untamed, adding a touch of something esoteric and sinister to the quality of sound that delivers a fatal blow that could tear the wings from an angels back. The sheer power of 'Oh How The Great Have Fallen' will certainly bring more then just the great to their knees and shows an innovative side to this band that is unexpected but extremely refreshing.
'Master of Disaster' on the other hand, shows off an incredibly masterly ability to switch between time signatures with little to no disturbance at all, showing off both their raging and explosive speed-driven riffs and their slow and steady rhythms to the best of their abilities. The repetitive rhythms and catchy pace also work well in the favours of the chaotic nature of the song and does well to rise above and stand alone amongst the more mediocre tracks of the album. 'How Much Can One Man Take' is overflowing with burning hatred and strain. It reflects the mentality of a man on the edge, pushed to the sheer brink of his patience and endurance. Like the rest of the album, it echoes pure resentment and irritation towards previous hassles and problems of the past months. Here, however, it is much more evident in the music then with previous tracks, featuring speeding riffs bursting with pent-up tension and aggression and vocals that threaten to grate and tear away at the flesh of those who have wronged them.
'How The Great Have Fallen' is purely a reflection of the hardships and difficulties that Raging Speedhorn have faced but yet, it still maintains a certain kind of mediocrity that hangs around most bands of the genre. While I would not agree that Raging Speedhorn have ultimately changed the face of metal in general as has been claimed, due to the fact that there is a lot in their music that has already been done time and time again, it cannot be denied that they have done a lot for the British metal scene. That on its own is admirable and this new offering of aggression only serves to further prove their worth on the scene. Speedhorn's new album will definitely be a treat for those looking for something a little bit more aggressive from the British alternative movement.