Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Raging Speedhorn - How The Great Have Fallen - 2005 - SPV

Track Listing1. A Different Shade Of Shit 2. Oh How The Great Have Fallen 3. Dead Man Walking 4. Master Of Disaster 5. Snatching Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory 6. How Much Can A Man Take 7. Fuck You Pay Me 8. Slay The Crowd 9. The Infidel Is Dead 10. Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down

This English band has been on the top of everyone's who's who list. Combining on the most sinister of Sabbath thunder and mixing it with the likes of Motorhead, Mastodon, and even High On Fire, "How The Great Have Fallen" is simply a dirty, heavy metal record that is really going to cater to those stoner metal fans, those of you who don't need it polished and shiny to strike gold. Raging Speedhorn is simply a chaotic band, from top to bottom filling this album with the most noisy riffs to date. The garage sound of the whole thing just leaves me confused, but nevertheless you can't judge the band for this is their creative vision. Obviously this is the type of sound the band is looking for, that stripped down, barrel heavy scope that really seems to add in a good bit of underground punk to the mix.

"How The Great Have Fallen" marks the group's third record to date and first for label SPV and North America. After creating a stir in their country and touring with UK OzzFest, Raging Speedhorn now has an American audience. It will be interesting to see how fans react to this one, with so much chaotic energy on display here. The band never quite gets in the groove that I like, with my stoner doom niche really sticking to the more traditional of doom and gloom. But the band do hit some monumental strides here, especially with "Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down", a wicked trip through the most frenzies of Sabbath wrenchings. The group also seem to pull off the dirtiest of hard rock sounds, clearly evident on "Master Of Disaster" and "Slay The Coward". But for the most part the band just builds on an un-organized frenzy, almost too messy for their own good. Cuts like "Fuck You Pay Me" and "A Different Shade Of Shit" just border on mindless. But for those of you into groups like Mastodon and High On Fire, then this will be an asset if anything.

--EC 06.05.05