There will always be some debate as to the most important singles and bands to come out of the NWOBHM scene, but there is no doubt in most people’s minds that Raven’s “Don’t Need Your Money” will always be on that list, and that they had a major impact on the birth of thrash metal with Metallica supporting Raven on their first US tour and Anthrax on the second. I was so desperate to get a copy of their debut album, ‘Rock Until You Drop’, I phoned the label saying the record shops near me couldn’t get it and could I buy it directly from them? That release had a massive impact on me as I had never heard anyone else quite like them with the trio of John Gallagher (bass, vocals), Mark Gallagher (guitar) and Rob “Wacko” Hunter (drums) locked in tight, playing faster than other bands (back then branded ‘Athletic Rock’) and vocals which were higher and edgier than Geddy Lee. ‘Wiped Out’ and ‘All For One” were good, but not as essential, and then in 1984 they were signed by Atlantic.
That is where this set begins, as it features the material they recorded for that label, 1985’s ‘Stay Hard’, 1986’s ‘The Pack Is Back’, 1986’s EP ‘Mad’, 1987’s ‘Life’s A Bitch’ (which was the last to feature Hunter) and the 1988 Combat Records release ‘Nothing Exceeds Like Excess’ which now featured Pentagram drummer Joe Hasselvander. This 4 CD set includes extensive notes along with comments from John Gallagher, detailing the impact of the band at the time, plus various photos. I have been a fan of Raven for more than 40 years but for some weird reason this is the first time I have come across these releases, and to be honest I have not been missing out on much. I have no idea why some record labels sign a band not for who they are but for what they feel they can turn them into and here we have a prime example. There was no reason at all for Raven to re-record “Hard Ride” from the first album for ‘Stay Hard’, and there was no reason whatsoever for them to be moving in a poppier and more lightweight direction. In many ways it felt they were playing to what was expected from them in America from an American label, and it can be argued in some ways there was some success in that ‘Stay Hard’ was their highest ever chart listing in the States at #81, but to what cost?
When I was listening to this the first time, I noticed there were a block of tracks towards the end of the second CD which had the band back on fire and I was paying close attention, and I found it interesting that when I checked them out I realised it was the five songs which form ‘Mad’ which had gained my attention. After ‘The Pack Is Back’ the guys went into the studio to recapture the live feel and approach which had gained them so much attention in the early days, and there is no doubt they are the standouts on this 49-track 3 hour 12-minute-long album. This set is probably aimed at people like me who missed out on it the first time around and is curious to what they were releasing back then, but it unlikely I will be going back to it as apart from the ‘Mad’ set this feels like a great band being pushed in the wrong direction and just going through the motions.
Rating: 6/10
Raven: Mad (1986)
1. Speed of the Reflex 05:01
2. Do or Die 03:57
3. How Did Ya Get So Crazy 03:45
4. Seen It on TV 04:06
5. Gimme Just a Little 03:56
Raven: Nothing Exceeds Like Excess (1988)
1. Behemoth 01:05
2. Die for Allah 04:58
3. Gimme a Break 03:19
4. Into the Jaws of Death 06:08
5. In the Name of the Lord 03:46
6. Stick It 03:10
7. Lay Down the Law 04:45
8. You Got a Screw Loose 04:22
9. Thunderlord 04:30
10. The King 04:25
11. Hard as Nails 05:06
Links:
https://ravenlunatics.com/
https://www.facebook.com/HearNoEvilRecordingsLtd