According to the pages of the various metal media, the labels “LEGENDARY,” “INNOVATIVE,” “TRUE ORIGINALS,” as well as “LUNATICS!” have been rightfully pinned upon RAVEN over the years. In a music scene filled by clones nurtured with a cookie-cutter mentality, the unique personality, power and humor of the three band members has always shone through. The crazed vocals & bass playing of John Gallagher, the full frontal guitar assault of brother, Mark Gallagher, and the punishing polyrhythmic pounding of drummer, Joe Hasselvander, all combine to form a sonic battering ram unique in rock!
From the well documented early days as NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) frontrunners, RAVEN’s albums ROCK UNTIL YOU DROP, WIPED OUT and ALL FOR ONE virtually invented both the speed metal and power metal genres – during the trailblazing USA tours of the 80’s introducing the States to “Athletic rock” as well as giving opening acts like Metallica and Anthrax their first tours, through the doldrums of the late 80’s/early 90’s when a grunge obsessed media wrote off so many acts – RAVEN has consistently proved to be both survivors par excellence and in a genre of grim imitation – shown that they are “the real thing”. Where so many of their contemporaries have either faded creatively or become parodies of themselves, RAVEN have consistently pushed the envelope while retaining their unique sound and attack – both in the studio & in their true element, onstage!
Following a forced layoff through half of the last decade due to Mark Gallagher’s long recuperation from a serious accident where Mark’s legs were crushed after a wall collapsed on the musician, the band have fought back with a number of European festival appearances, a UK tour in 2008 and a triumphant jaunt to Japan in 2009.
In 2010, the band unleashed the best album they’ve done in many years, “Walk Through Fire” – quite simply, was the real deal – the right songs, the right sound and the right feel – that was guaranteed to rip yer head off! Raven are here to finally set to reclaim the title that is rightfully theirs – “the wildest band in the f**kin’ world!”
JOHN GALLAGHER – LEAD VOCALS/BASS
MARK GALLAGHER – GUITAR/VOCALS
JOE HASSELVANDER – DRUMS
Ukrainian independent metal label Dead Center prods announce signing with UK’s NWOBHM veterans RAVEN for official re-issue of their last album – Walk Through Fire on CD format. There will be limited to 500 hand-numbered CDs, with lyrics translation into Russian language + special message from musicians to ex-USSR fans!
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