Rock Until You Drop

Before the Metalliclones began their bay-area thrashing, rock’s original Gallagher brothers (confusion with a band like Oasis might net you a black eye) were absolutely stirring things up across the water. Most metalheads who want to try Raven will be doing so after having been introduced to the style by later bands, and as such, it’s useful to talk about Raven in terms of later acts. The closest approximation would be some amalgam of Dave Mustaine and Axl Rose - think “Peace Sells” meets “It’s So Easy,” add a healthy dose of humor, and you’ll have “Lambs to the Slaughter.” Raven’s unpretentious brand of “athletic rock” (their term) is a welcome burst of musical yang, particularly in light of the current “nu”-metal’s seeming fixation on the depressing plight of existence. Raven offers a blood-curdling motorcycle ride through early metal; the song titles and the album cover here are perfect guides to the music within. For what it tries to be, this album achieves its goal as perfectly as is possible.