Titans of British heavy music Raging Speedhorn have been on a small tour of the country in celebration of the 25th anniversary of their debut self-titled album, and those of us North of the Wall were treated to an intimate show in Edinburgh’s Mash House.
Support came from Hull’s brilliant Mastiff (“a miserable band from a miserable city”) who absolutely decimated us with their own brand of sludge metal. A perfect opener for this evening’s double bill, Jim Hodges’ gruff vocals commanded the room, while the rest of the band delivered some epically face-melting riffs.
This was my first time seeing Mastiff live, and the already high expectations I had for them — honestly, they’re insanely good, and this year’s EP is phenomenal — were more than surpassed. I cannot wait to see them again!
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Next up were the mighty Raging Speedhorn. The amount of sheer, unbridled joy this band brings me is unmatched, and every time I see them live I’m reminded within seconds that gigs are my happy place.
They’re a bunch of pals having a good time, and this comes across so well in their performances. Plus, a RSH audience always gets super into it, limbs flying everywhere and bodies being thrown around from start to finish. Seeing them play is something special, and tonight’s gig was doubly so, as the band commanded the stage for the 45 minutes of mayhem that is their debut record Raging Speedhorn — dual vocals from Frank and Dan matching the intensity of the band’s riffs, and the crowd being absolute insanity from start to finish, meant tonight was an assault to the senses, in the best way possible.
With the album being less than an hour long, the set was over more promptly than I was ready for it to be, but this meant plenty of time for pints at Bannerman’s bar afterwards. The RSH and Mastiff guys all joined, and it was as chaotically fun an evening as one of their shows. RIP to my liver, and cheers to 25 years.
Raging Speedhorn: facebook | twitter | instagram | spotify | bandcamp | youtube
Mastiff: facebook | twitter | instagram | spotify | bandcamp | youtube
