Raging Speedhorn | facebook | twitter | bandcamp |
By: Andy Little
Formed in 1998 Raging Speedhorn went on to become an influential band on the UK metal/hardcore scene, even becoming a fixture in the UK’s official top 100 single and album charts. Announcing a break up before commencing on a final tour in 2008, it has now been 2 years since they reformed to play the Damnation Festival in 2014, to then proceed with further tours. But this year heralds the arrival of their first new record since the bespoke return. Titled Lost Ritual it is expecting to hit the shelves on 15th July but available a week earlier to those who participated in the funding of the album through Pledge Music. Also, with an accompanying forthcoming tour in July to support this new release, the timing seemed perfect to chat with guitarist Jim Palmer, who reveals all about the reformation, the making of the new album, the state of current extreme metal/hardcore music, and more besides.
(((o))): It was some explosive performance at Desertfest in the Underworld. There was a really good turnout. It looked like you really had a good time, the mosh pit definitely did. How has the reaction been so far since your return?
Jim: The reaction has been insane so far. Every show has been crazy. It’s surprised us all, I think. We knew there was a lot of interest in the band reforming, but the reaction from the fans has been next level. We really are very lucky to have such amazing fans.
(((o))): Can you tell us about the circumstances how the band reformed?
Jim: Well, basically the band had been getting lots of messages and requests to do something during the hiatus, and it just came to a point where Gordon [Morison, drums], decided to at least explore the possibility of doing something, even if it was just a few shows. It was decided early on that it had to be the original singers; Frank and John. So Gordon contacted them to see if they would both be up for it. They both agreed, a meeting was had with the rest of the band, I was drafted in and we set about our first practice. It just instantly seemed right and felt good, so we booked some shows with no real aim other than to re-live some old songs and have a good time. We certainly didn’t plan on writing anything new, and we didn’t have our sights set too far into the future at that point.
(((o))): Are there any specific reasons why you have reformed?
Jim: Like I said, there was no real master plan and still isn’t really. We just wanted to play some shows and have a good time, and knowing that so many people wanted the band back meant that we knew the shows had potential to be good.
(((o))): Are there any key differences between the UK hardcore scene when you originally formed in 1998 and now in 2016?
Jim: There’s lots of things that have changed. I think the main difference though is that bands have a much better chance to self-promote and self-release. With the world of social media and other tools available a band can very quickly get music and merchandise out there, and have a bigger reach without having to tour constantly. It’s also much easier to keep fans updated and therefore interested now too.
(((o))): Would you agree or disagree with anyone who says the current UK hardcore scene is lacking in character?
Jim: I wouldn’t know as I’m old and don’t get out much (laughs)! Seriously though, there’s plenty of good bands out there, and there are still plenty of the old guard/characters knocking about, so I’d have to disagree. I think the notion that it lacks character is maybe just a failure in people to move forward and maybe hanging on to the past a little too tightly.
(((o))): You are an influential band. Do you see any noticeable impact you have had on the hardcore scene? Any bands who have cited yourselves as an influence?
Jim: I don’t really see Speedhorn as a hardcore band, to be honest. There are elements of what we do which is hardcore, but just as much as metal and sludge, and good old fashioned rock and roll. I think that is what is so appealing about the music, the crossing of genres within genres and appealing to a wider audience. We get told a lot by other bands that we have influenced them, which is wonderful. Especially when it’s a young band, as it means your music has passed on and lasted the test of time. There can be nothing better than knowing that you’ve had an influence on someone and all the blood, sweat and tears means something. As for naming bands who have cited us as an influence, I’m not vein enough for that (laughs)!
(((o))): You are due to release a new album worldwide on July 15th titled Lost Ritual. Can you enlighten us more on the recording process, producer, song themes etc? Are there more tails of hedonistic excess or any other subject matters tackled?
Jim: The album was written pretty much in a weekend. We spent the best part of a year collecting riffs and jamming ideas when we felt the urge, then we got together the week before we’d booked to record and just wrote nine songs. It just seemed to work better that way, as the songs, other than Halfway to Hell, which had already been recorded and played live, were fresh and new to us. We recorded the album with Russ Russell (Napalm Death, Evil Scarecrow) at Parlour Studios, as he’s an old friend of ours, but also because he’s an amazing engineer and producer. The atmosphere he makes in the studio lends itself perfectly to creativity, and we had an amazing time recording with him.
The song themes are based around what we’ve always written about; life, hedonism, death, good times and bad, and just a general outpouring of our collective souls, but with a slightly older and wiser outlook I think. Well, for the most part.
(((o))): Can you tell us more about the album title and the artwork which accompanies it?
Jim: Like the recording we wanted the artwork to be spontaneous as such, so we contacted Dominic Sohor, who’s an amazing artist who’d done t-shirt designs for us and the Halfway to Hell record cover. We basically gave him free reign to come up with an initial concept and we liked it that much we stuck with his first design. The album title we came up with after we had the artwork and the recording done. It just seemed to fit both music and artwork perfectly. Lost Ritual seems, for me, to sum up perfectly the rebirth of Speedhorn. Raging Speedhorn finding its way again, and fans old and new rediscovering a band, which in hiatus, was lost.
(((o))): At Desertfest you played a new track from the new album, which is a tribute to much missed Lemmy. Was this the last track written for the album? Was it written before or after the legendary man departed? How much of an influence are Motörhead to Raging Speedhorn?
Jim: Both song and lyrics where written after Lemmy, or God as I like to call him, had sadly passed away. The song wasn’t written as a tribute to him initially, but as it developed and the lyrics where written it just grew and turned into ‘Motörhead’. I think the only way we could even think of doing the great man justice was to just write a full bore, old school rock and roll tune, and play it with some extra volume and middle finger raised.
The influence Motörhead, and indeed Lemmy as a person had on me, is immeasurable. As far as Speedhorn goes, Motörhead were a massive influence, and Lemmy remains a very sad loss to us all.
(((o))): The album was made with the help of Pledge Music. Was this the first time you have made an album this way. If so, how was this process? Can you tell us how it went or how different (if any) it is to make an album this way compared to previous methods?
Jim: We’ve never done anything like Pledge before. We’ve always released through a record label. The main difference for us was quite simply about control and content ownership. Through Pledge, the most basic of transaction that most bands dream of occurs. We write a record, the fans buy the record, we make the record funded by the fans, and give it back to the fans along with limited edition formats and merchandise. It really doesn’t get any better than that for a band, as you keep all the rights and you control how it looks and sounds. It works great for the fans too as they get exclusive updates and content from the band. Win win for everyone! What’s really amazing though is that without the fans this record probably wouldn’t be happening. That’s something that we are all massively thankful for.
The new album Lost Ritual is due out on 15th July. Catch Raging Speedhorn on their forthcoming tour in July, starting at Colchester Arts Centre 15th, Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach 16th, Liverpool Arts Club 17th, Glasgow O2 ABC 18th, Leeds the Key Club 19th, Birmingham O2 Academy 20th, Southsea Wedgewood Rooms 21st, Oxford the Wheatsheaf 22nd, London Underworld 23rd. But before then they are also supporting Funeral for a Friend at the Forum, London on 20th May and Download festival on 10th June.
