A View From The Back Of The Room: Raging Speedhorn (Live Review By Rich Oliver)

Raging Speedhorn, Desert Storm & Sigiriya, The Bunkhouse, Swansea

Tuesday evening brought a rare trip west to Swansea. Despite having lived in Swansea years back it is rare I make a return trip down that way as there’s rarely much going on. Cardiff gets constantly missed and overlooked on the UK tours of many bands and for Swansea it is even worse so it was good to see a decent gig happening there for a change. Playing at The Bunkhouse were Raging Speedhorn with main support from Desert Storm and local support provided by Sigiriya and Suns Of Thunder. It was my first time attending The Bunkhouse and it is a nicely sized and shaped venue with a good wide stage area and walloping sound system.

Unfortunately due to working in the day time and the time it takes to travel to Swansea I completely missed Suns Of Thunder walking into the venue as they just finished their last song so the first band I got to see were Swansea stoners Sigiriya (7). Somehow I’ve never got the chance to see Sigiriya before but I enjoyed their chunky style of stoner metal. Their short set was packed with songs from their back catalogue and their soon to be released third album with stomping renditions of Godspeeder (which was dedicated to Reed Mullin), Obelisk and new tune Mantis.

Although the crowd strangely thinned out slightly this didn’t deter Desert Storm (8) who played a blinding set. With crushing riffage and bucketfuls of groove they had the whole room nodding along with Queen Reefer and Convulsion punishing eardrums before the devastating finale of Enslaved In The Icy Tundra. It had been many years since I last saw Desert Storm live but they have lost none of their potency. A brilliant band.

Bringing the night to a deafening close were Corby sludge merchants Raging Speedhorn (7). Raging Speedhorn are a band I am not too familiar with or paid much attention to but they brought an intense and energetic performance. They ramped up the volume to punishing levels and it was at times maybe just that bit too loud for comfort making the sound a bit distorted. I couldn’t tell you what songs they played as I don’t know their material but they played a bunch of new songs off their upcoming album and a load of older tunes which got roars of approval from the audience. Just over an hour of pummelling hardcore inspired sludge metal and the night was over with ears ringing all round. Not a bad way to spend a Tuesday night at all!