Raging Speedhorn – Night Wolf
Raging Speedhorn – Night Wolf
Spinefarm Records
Release Date: 07/03/2025
Review by Beth Morait
9/10
Rising once again out of the sludgy swamps of Northamptonshire, Raging Speedhorn are back with their latest offering of fuzzy, grimy Extreme Heavy Metal. And I really think you’re going to love having their boggy ooze filling your lugholes. Do you like meaty riffs? Do you like being dragged through Sludgy, Doomy basslines? Are you tempted into the night by the tortured growls and painful screams of banshees and demons? If you answered ‘Yes’ to any of these questions, then “Nightwolf” is definitely the album you’ve been looking for.
Opening with ‘Blood Red Sky’, RSH instantly set the tone-o-meter to ‘Doom’ with atmospheric ambience and Sabbath-esque Bass tones, which are tracked by the chunky guitar riffs. But it’s got the pace of Heavy Metal in the choruses, and the tortured vocals of Death, just to give a big ‘F*** YOU’ to genre gatekeepers the world over. Over the next few tracks, we’re treated to some Classic Heavy Metal guitar tones, Progressive rhythms, and Hardcore vocals just for good measure, with ‘Can’t Stop’ being a great example of the latter.
In a violent, but jesting response (I’m guessing) to Elton John’s ‘Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting’, Track 5, ‘Every Night’s Alright For Fighting’ launches things into a higher tempo to start, creating a more Thrashy Heavy Metal number that Lemmy (RIP) would’ve be proud of. But we do still get down and dirty half-way through the song, with everything being dragged kicking and screaming back to the sludge, as the tempo winds further and further down to the end of the song.
If you weren’t already pulling your ‘fucking boom’ face by now, and making some dirty shapes on the dancefloor (or in your living room – delete as appropriate) then ‘DOA’ will correct that. It’s a very danceable ditty, that punishes with brutal vocals, while lifting you up with pace, and sexy, schmaltzy riffs. ‘Comin’ In Hard’ is probably the most radio-friendly track on the album, as it’s pretty accessible for everyone who likes Heavy Metal. The vocals are less Brutal, the pace is constant, and there are some killer riffs throughout. It would be a good tune to stick on your workout playlist – just the right tempo, and no random shifts.
But don’t be concerned if Brutal is your bag, because the penultimate track takes us straight back there. And the album comes to a close with the brief, but perfectly formed ‘Dead Reckoning’, which is just downright filthy!
Another great album from these seasoned professionals!
TRACKLISTING:
01. Blood Red Sky
02. Buzz Killer
03. The Blood Code
04. Can’t Stop
05. Every Night’s Alright For Fighting
06. Night Wolf
07. DOA
08. Comin’ In Hard
09. Dead Men Can’t Dance
10. Dead Reckoning
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Beth Morait and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
