Biography
Raging Speedhorn, sludge metallers from Britain known for dual lead vocals, placed the genre on U.K. charts during the first years of the 2000s through persistent touring combined with positive rock-press attention. Frequent lineup shifts helped sustain the Midlands act, enabling performances and recordings to continue well after a 2008-2014 pause and past the group's two-decade milestone. Drummer Gordon Morison served as the sole unchanging member from the 1998 formation through the sixth album, Hard to Kill, issued in 2020.
The band originated in Corby, Northamptonshire, by merging Soulcellar members Frank Regan, Gareth Smith on guitar, and Darren Smith on bass with Box participants John Loughlin on vocals, his brother Tony Loughlin on guitar, and Morison on drums. Because two drummers were now present, Regan moved to vocals. They adopted the name Raging Speedhorn from amphetamine-related slang, then cut two demos produced by Cubanate guitarist Roddy Stone. A third demo plus favorable coverage in the rock press began circulating the band's name. In July 1999 the group supported Ministry in London, followed by November dates alongside earthtone9.
Additional supports with Will Haven, Tribute to Nothing, and Kittie were scheduled around sessions for the self-titled debut album. Raging Speedhorn undertook their first headline U.K. tour in July 2000, with the record appearing the next month. A major European trek supporting Biohazard ensued, succeeded by lively European and Japanese shows with Amen. May 2001 found the band among the openers at the U.K. Ozzfest. In June the single "The Gush," produced by Biohazard's Billy Graziadei and Danny Schuler, reached the U.K. Top 50, prompting a swift reissue of the debut album. After Japanese Beast Fest and the U.K. portion of the Tattoo the Planet tour, the group entered the studio for We Will Be Dead Tomorrow, released in August 2002. That year's itinerary also included Scandinavia plus U.K. dates supporting German hard rock act Rammstein.
Ahead of Mark Daghorn-produced How the Great Have Fallen in May 2005, Raging Speedhorn issued the interim Live & Demos collection. Following the album's arrival, Regan departed and Bloody Kev of early influence Hard to Swallow took his place. Darren Smith later exited, succeeded on bass by Dave Thompson; Jamie Thompson then replaced Tony Loughlin on guitar. Nautically themed Before the Sea Was Built arrived in late 2007 to mixed notices, after which internal disagreements on future direction prompted an extended hiatus. During the break the two Thompsons and John Loughlin formed Death of Us, while remaining members joined projects in Sweden.
In 2014 Leeds-based metal festival Damnation organizers approached Morison about reforming Raging Speedhorn. He convinced Regan to rejoin, together with the three members from Death of Us, while guitarist Jim Palmer completed the lineup. After regaining live footing, the band recorded 2016's Lost Ritual at Kettering's Parlour Studios with producer Russ Russell. A turbulent stretch that included serious illness and family losses led Palmer to step away in September 2018, after which Jamie Thompson departed permanently. The following month Morison reassembled the original 1998 members—John and Tony Loughlin, Gareth and Darren Smith, and Regan—for a one-off 20th-anniversary show at London's Electric Ballroom, later released as a live album. Palmer returned later that year and was joined first by Thunder Hammer guitarist Dave Leese and then by Hundred Reasons bassist Andy Gilmour.
After 21 years fronting the band, John Loughlin retired from Raging Speedhorn in September 2019, with Daniel Cook—already a friend who had substituted for Regan on a 2016 tour—joining permanently. The resulting lineup of Cook, Regan, Palmer, Leese, Gilmour, and Morison reconvened with Russell to track Hard to Kill, ultimately released in late 2020.
The band originated in Corby, Northamptonshire, by merging Soulcellar members Frank Regan, Gareth Smith on guitar, and Darren Smith on bass with Box participants John Loughlin on vocals, his brother Tony Loughlin on guitar, and Morison on drums. Because two drummers were now present, Regan moved to vocals. They adopted the name Raging Speedhorn from amphetamine-related slang, then cut two demos produced by Cubanate guitarist Roddy Stone. A third demo plus favorable coverage in the rock press began circulating the band's name. In July 1999 the group supported Ministry in London, followed by November dates alongside earthtone9.
Additional supports with Will Haven, Tribute to Nothing, and Kittie were scheduled around sessions for the self-titled debut album. Raging Speedhorn undertook their first headline U.K. tour in July 2000, with the record appearing the next month. A major European trek supporting Biohazard ensued, succeeded by lively European and Japanese shows with Amen. May 2001 found the band among the openers at the U.K. Ozzfest. In June the single "The Gush," produced by Biohazard's Billy Graziadei and Danny Schuler, reached the U.K. Top 50, prompting a swift reissue of the debut album. After Japanese Beast Fest and the U.K. portion of the Tattoo the Planet tour, the group entered the studio for We Will Be Dead Tomorrow, released in August 2002. That year's itinerary also included Scandinavia plus U.K. dates supporting German hard rock act Rammstein.
Ahead of Mark Daghorn-produced How the Great Have Fallen in May 2005, Raging Speedhorn issued the interim Live & Demos collection. Following the album's arrival, Regan departed and Bloody Kev of early influence Hard to Swallow took his place. Darren Smith later exited, succeeded on bass by Dave Thompson; Jamie Thompson then replaced Tony Loughlin on guitar. Nautically themed Before the Sea Was Built arrived in late 2007 to mixed notices, after which internal disagreements on future direction prompted an extended hiatus. During the break the two Thompsons and John Loughlin formed Death of Us, while remaining members joined projects in Sweden.
In 2014 Leeds-based metal festival Damnation organizers approached Morison about reforming Raging Speedhorn. He convinced Regan to rejoin, together with the three members from Death of Us, while guitarist Jim Palmer completed the lineup. After regaining live footing, the band recorded 2016's Lost Ritual at Kettering's Parlour Studios with producer Russ Russell. A turbulent stretch that included serious illness and family losses led Palmer to step away in September 2018, after which Jamie Thompson departed permanently. The following month Morison reassembled the original 1998 members—John and Tony Loughlin, Gareth and Darren Smith, and Regan—for a one-off 20th-anniversary show at London's Electric Ballroom, later released as a live album. Palmer returned later that year and was joined first by Thunder Hammer guitarist Dave Leese and then by Hundred Reasons bassist Andy Gilmour.
After 21 years fronting the band, John Loughlin retired from Raging Speedhorn in September 2019, with Daniel Cook—already a friend who had substituted for Regan on a 2016 tour—joining permanently. The resulting lineup of Cook, Regan, Palmer, Leese, Gilmour, and Morison reconvened with Russell to track Hard to Kill, ultimately released in late 2020.
Albums
Singles
