by Ed RivadaviaHailing from Worcester, MA, Warhorse (not to be confused with the second-tier '70s supergroup featuring one-time Deep Purple bassist Nick Simper) was formed by Jerry Orne (bass/vocals) and Mike Hubbard (drums) in 1992. Having performed with a number of local death metal bands, the duo originally pursued a slower, more traditional style of heavy metal somewhere between Black Sabbath and sludge kings Crowbar. They soon found their calling in the doom metal scene, which by the mid-'90s had begun to coalesce around bands like Cathedral, Sleep, and Electric Wizard. Krista Van Guilder (guitars/vocals) joined the group in time for their self-financed 1998 self-titled debut, but was soon replaced by guitarist Todd Laskowski. After finding a home with the Southern Lord label, the trio returned to action in January 2001, releasing the grinding, doom metal masterpiece As Heaven Turns to Ash..., as serious a challenge to doom Gods Electric Wizard as the U.S. has managed to produce.