What makes Before the Sea Was Built by Raging Speedhorn notable?

The album marked a significant moment for Raging Speedhorn as it showcased their evolving sound within the extreme metal scene. Although it did not achieve mainstream commercial success, it garnered attention for its uncompromising style, helping to influence subsequent bands in the sludge and hardcore genres. Critics noted its raw energy and thematic depth, contributing to the band's reputation in underground circles. Before the Sea Was Built is Raging Speedhorn's third studio album, released after their 2005 effort, We Will Be Dead Tomorrow. This album came during a period where they were solidifying their sound, moving deeper into the realms of sludge metal while maintaining their hardcore roots. The band was also navigating lineup changes, which influenced this record's aggressive tone and lyrical content.

How many songs are on Before the Sea Was Built?

Before the Sea Was Built has 10 tracks, running approximately 28 minutes.

Before the Sea Was Built

Raging Speedhorn · 2007

28 min · 10 tracks · hardcore punk

A chaotic blend of sludge and hardcore punk, punctuated by raw vocals and relentless rhythms that embody emotional turmoil.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Everything Changes — This opening track sets a visceral tone with its explosive energy and poignant lyrics about transformation and loss, encapsulating the album's emotional core.
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Dignity Stripper — With its relentless pace and biting commentary on societal standards, this track exemplifies the band's hardcore influences blended with sludge elements.
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Who Will Guard the Guards? — This closing track stands out due to its reflective lyrics and dynamic shifts in tempo, serving as a powerful conclusion to the album's themes of struggle and resilience.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

50 /100

Foothills

Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

The album showcases a solid blend of sludge and hardcore punk, with dynamic vocal contrasts and effective pacing.

What we noticed

The album opens with a heavy, distorted guitar riff that sets a relentless pace, maintaining high energy through the first half.
Vocals alternate between guttural screams and melodic lines, creating a dynamic contrast within tracks.
Several tracks feature abrupt tempo changes, shifting from fast-paced sections to slower, sludgy breakdowns that emphasize emotional weight.
The final track ends with an extended instrumental outro, gradually fading out rather than concluding abruptly.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 2/10

Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

Before the Sea Was Built

The shift from a chaotic narrative to moments of introspection highlights a longing for understanding amid turmoil.

This structural change emphasizes a deeper exploration of vulnerability, contrasting the otherwise aggressive soundscape.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Everything Changes 3:19
2 Before the Sea Was Built 2:28
3 Dignity Stripper 2:29
4 Mishima 2:30
5 Last Comet From Nothingness 2:36
6 Born to Twist the Knife 2:10
7 Who Will Guard the Guards? 4:19
8 Too Drunk to Give a Fuck 2:05
9 Sound of Waves 4:32
10 Jump Ship 1:56

What to play next

Listen next

Lost Ritual

2016

Go back to

How the Great Have Fallen

2005

Full Raging Speedhorn discography Artists like Raging Speedhorn

extreme metal hardcore punk sludge metal

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata