New Wave of British Heavy Steel legends Raven shall be marking 50 years as a band subsequent 12 months. Their early albums like Rock Till You Drop and Wiped Out are thought-about style classics. They not solely impressed and influenced a technology of thrash bands, but in addition had been a considerable affect on the ability steel style.
Raven was very prolific from the early ‘80s via the late ‘90s, releasing a brand new album yearly or two. After a decade lengthy hole, they’ve been issuing new materials since 2010. Their newest album All Hell’s Breaking Free is their fifteenth studio album.
The core of Raven from the start has been brothers John (vocals, bass) and Mark Gallagher (guitar). They’ve had a number of drummers over time, with Mike Heller (Fear Factory, Malignancy) on board since 2018. All Hell’s Breaking Free, Heller’s second album with Raven, was recorded in his L.A. studio.
The 2023 model of the band doesn’t stray removed from the musical path they solid within the heyday of NWOBHM whereas using their a long time of expertise together with trendy manufacturing when crafting the songs on All Hell’s Breaking Free.
John Gallagher explains the musical philosophy of the album: “You need a good construction. You need a good verse with hooks, a very good pre-chorus with hooks, an incredible refrain, and then you definately need little left turns right here and there to spice it up. In any other case it will probably sound boring. And you probably have too many left turns then it turns into jazz fusion, so it’s a humorous line you gotta dance on to have construction but in addition the chaos half as nicely.”
These hooks and choruses abound, as does ample heaviness and high quality riffs from Mark Gallagher. Whereas there are not any out and out duds on this assortment, some tracks do rise to the highest. That features the driving opener “Medieval” with an pressing tempo and memorable refrain.
“Flip of the Screw” has among the album’s greatest riffs, whereas “The Far Facet” is anthemic with a superb guitar solo. Heller shines on “Determined Measures,” showcasing plenty of creativity on the drums. “Invasion” has huge grooves and even greater hooks.
Despite the fact that they’ve been round for nearly a half century, the members had been younger once they began, so John Gallagher might be youthful than you assume he’s. At 64, he nonetheless has loads of energy and vary, and he makes use of his trademark falsetto recurrently all through the album.
There are a few songs that I wouldn’t fairly characterize as filler, however aren’t as memorable as the remainder of the tracks. Raven hold the pedal to the steel for many of the album, which makes for an brisk hear, however not as various as a few of their earlier information. Nonetheless, there may be loads for Raven and NWOBHM followers to get pleasure from on All Hell’s Breaking Free. At this charge, they may hold going for one more 50 years!
