RAVEN — Rock Until You Drop (review)

Album · 1981 · NWoBHM

5/5 · 2017-08-19
Unitron

Forming in 1975, Raven blasted onto the NWoBHM scene in 1981 with the release of their debut studio album Rock Until You Drop. These guys are pure old school heavy metal, owing much of their sound to Judas Priest while already having their own identity to make them stand out as one of the leading figures of the quickly growing 80's British metal scene.

Most of the album displays a perfect performance of classic heavy metal at it's finest, with influences of late 70's Priest and sometimes a nod to the catchy hard boogie rock of Bon Scott-era AC/DC, with opener "Hard Ride" in particular. It sounds right out of one of those classic AC/DC albums complete with gang shouts and some pretty Angus Young-esque guitar riffs. Speaking of riffs, Mark Gallagher is a master, just take a listen to the godly riff during the bridge of "Over the Top" or the epic gallop at the end of "For the Future". These two tracks are contrasted with a nice little classical guitar interlude "39/40" placed in the middle of the album.

John Gallagher and Rob "Wacko" Hunter provide a killer rhythm section that sounds very loose and free-flowing, which fits perfectly for an album that just wants you to rock till you drop. The bass has a nice thump throughout the album, while you can hear how "Wacko" probably got his nickname with an absolutely pummeling drum performance. John Gallagher's vocals are a bit like a punky Rob Halford, this punk edge can be heard especially in "Hellraiser/Action". Occasionally the band gets into some proto-thrash areas, mainly in the riff during the bridge of "Lambs to the Slaughter".

Every song on the album is killer, but if I had to pick highlights I'd choose "Hard Ride", "Hell Patrol", "Over the Top", the infectiously catchy title track, "Lambs to the Slaughter", and the epic album finisher that is "Tyrant of the Airways". The title track is a slamming rocker that immediately starts the headbanging, and "Tyrant of the Airways" is like a driving drill with a great mellow bridge as contrast.

Already on their debut Raven were at the top of their game, and Rock Until You Drop is easily one of the best records of the NWoBHM. If you're looking for some raw and pure heavy metal, check this killer album out. Hope you found this review helpful, feel free to comment!

more than 2 years ago
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voila_la_scorie wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Raven is one NWoBHM band that I kind of missed. I had one album, "Stay Hard" was it? It didn't do anything for me. But I've heard the previous albums were much better. I should give this one a listen then.

adg211288 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Thanks. I've heard a later Satan album (Atom by Atom) but obviously that's not tagged as NWoBHM.

Unitron wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Oh, and Diamond Head's Borrowed Time is also a favorite of mine, way too underrated.

Unitron wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Here's some pretty essential albums:
Saxon - Wheels of Steel
Diamond Head - Lightning to the Nations
Raven - All for One
Tygers of Pan Tang - Spellbound
Satan - Court in the Act

And here's a few of my favorites:
Saxon - Power and the Glory
Girlschool - Demolition, Hit and Run
Def Leppard - On Through the Night, High 'n' Dry
Jaguar - Power Games
and then of course this Raven album.

Hope you enjoy some of these!

adg211288 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Sure thing. Here's my ashamedly short list of NWoBHM ratings on RYM: https://rateyourmusic.com/collection/adg211288/strm_h/nwobhm/1

Unitron wrote:

more than 2 years ago

You should definitely do that, I can recommend you some essential and favorite albums if you want.

adg211288 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I've neglected listening to a lot of the NWoBHM era bands and classic albums aside from Iron Maiden. I'll definitely have to look Raven (and others) up sometime.