You probably couldn’t understand the elation I had when I got the new Raven CD for review. I have been a fan of Raven since the early eighties. I mean who wouldn’t with such classics albums as “Crash, Bang, Wallop”, “Rock ‘Til You Drop”, “Wiped Out”, “All For One” and “Stay Hard”? If you are unfamiliar with Raven then the album titles I just mentioned probably mean nothing to you but they are key albums in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement. If you are unfamiliar with this movement then I suggest you stop reading this review.
It has been 10 years since we have last heard from Raven with their CD “One For All”. Unfortunately the delay has been in large part due to an accident guitarist Mark Gallagher had when a wall fell on him and crushed his legs. In this following decade he has had the laborious task of rehabilitating and getting back to health. Well, all I can say is that the past ten years has been well worth the wait for these guys with the release of their newest Metal Blade album entitled “Walk Through Fire”. John Gallagher’s voice sounds as good as it has ever sounded, Mark’s guitar playing and sound in top notch and drummer Joey Hasselvander is right in time with the keeping up with the chaos that Raven is notorious for creating. From the opening song “Against the Grain” the listener is graced with an album of 13 soon to be classic songs and live recordings of “Live at the Inferno” and “Rock Until You Drop”. Highlights include the title track “Walk Through Fire”, “Trainwreck” and “Attitude” which are Raven tunes to the core.
To all you Raven Lunatics your day is at hand with the release of the new CD “Walk Through Fire”. One cannot accurately describe Raven, they must be experienced first hand. So if you are a fan of Raven or just love good ole fashioned metal then I would highly recommend “Walk Through The Fire”. Bravo Raven you have created a masterpiece that should be enjoyed for the years to come. Hopefully we aren’t going to have to wait ten years for the next one though.
