Shortly after being fired by Deep Purple following their third LP in July 1969, bassist Nick Simper played in White Trash, the backing band for soul singer Marsha Hunt. He took on the task of finding suitable replacement musicians after various line-up changes: lead guitarist Ged Peck, drummer Mac Poole and Frank Wilson (Velvett Fogg) on organ and piano, who replaced the original keyboardist Rick Wakeman. Following the break-up of the backing band and the recruitment of Ashley Holt as singer and frontman, the new group Warhorse was born. In early 1970, the quintet signed a record deal with Vertigo, Philips’ new progressive label. The eponymous debut album was recorded in mid-1970 at London’s Trident Studios, produced by Ian Kimmet and the band.

It was then released in November on Vertigo with a gatefold cover photographed and designed by Keef. This first LP presents a style of hard rock with dark, progressive textures, dominated by hard, brilliant guitar riffs, a heavy organ and Ashley Holt’s powerful voice. Despite numerous comparisons with Deep Purple and a number of successful live concerts, this rather impressive hard rock LP did not attract many buyers. Nevertheless, the highly collectable UK first pressing on the legendary Vertigo Swirl label is a rare and impressive piece of British hard rock and proto-metal history from the early 1970s, as is their second album, Red Sea.