UMUR
"Wiped Out" is the second full-length studio album by UK heavy metal act Raven. The album was released through Neat Records in June 1982. It´s the successor to "Rock Until You Drop" from 1981. An album which put Raven firmly on the early 80s heavy metal/NWoBHM map.
Stylistically "Wiped Out" is a continuation of the raw, energetic, and pounding heavy metal style of "Rock Until You Drop" (1981), but it´s even more crude, primitive, and noisy (almost garage sound quality). I´m not sure if it´s true but it almost sounds like the album was recorded live in the studio with very few overdubs, and you can often hear songs being counted in or talk from the band members between the tracks, giving the album that live in the studio atmosphere. The riffs are hard rocking, the rhythm section close to sounding out of the control because of the beastly energy, and lead vocalist/bassist John Gallagher has a strong voice and quite the versatile delivery, able to sound raw but also deliver high pitched screams.
Raven deserve praise for their unrelenting energy and raw authentic performance, but their songwriting is honestly not that strong and few of the tracks are memorable beyond their playing time, although all are simple vers/chorus structured tracks are build to sing and shout along to. Compared to the output of the major contemporary NWOBHM artists this just can´t compete. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.
