Palehorse

Palehorse is a UK metal and noise group from London, active from 2000. The London band forms in 2000 out of members of several UK hardcore groups, including Abjure, Kneejerk and Sunstarvedday. Its line-up changes over time, but Ben Dawson, Mark Dicker and Tom Fowler are key members in the group’s history, alongside musicians including Seedi, Nikolai Grune, James Bryant and John Atkins.

Formation and early line-up

The original line-up includes vocalists Sandro Ferramacho and Seedi, bassists Tom Fowler and John Atkins, and drummer Ben Dawson. Dawson also plays in other acts including Million Dead, Armed Response Unit, Queen of Swords, Mothlite, Thanksfornothing, Sunstarvedday, The Aftermath and Mongol Horde. Fowler’s other credits include Abjure, The Record Buying Public, Million Dead and Queen of Swords. Seedi also performs with Dawson in Armed Response Unit.

The band plays its first gig at the Red Eye club on Copenhagen Street in North London and becomes known for very loud performances and heavy riffs.

Releases and recordings

In 2003, Palehorse releases Gee, That Ain’t Swell on DryRun Recordings. The label also releases records by Jesu and Red Stars Parade. After this release, Nikolai Grune joins on vocals after having worked with Dawson and Fowler in the short-lived grind project Onaprienko.

The band later pauses when Dawson’s commitments to Million Dead make it difficult to continue. During this period, Fowler joins Million Dead as guitarist after Cameron Dean leaves.

Palehorse reconvenes in 2005, with James Bryant replacing Fowler. The group then records and releases the EP Habitual Linestepper on Eyesofsound in 2008. The EP includes a backward version of the final track from Gee, That Ain’t Swell, retitled “Waited”, and four other tracks, one of which is written with Bryant while the others date from earlier sessions with Fowler.

After the EP, Seedi leaves the band. The later line-up includes Ben Dawson on drums, Nikolai Grune on vocals, James Bryant and John Atkins on bass, and Mark Dicker on vocals and electronics. The band then releases Soft as Butter; Hard as Ice on Eyesofsound.

Later activity

Palehorse continues to write and record after Soft as Butter; Hard as Ice. In 2011, the group is writing songs for a split release with Connecticut band Unforgiven and for a new full-length record.

Other Palehorse groups

There are also two other bands using the name Palehorse: a hardcore band from Connecticut and a Finnish metal band that was previously called Amendfoil.