RAVEN |
The work of rediscovery and record strengthening of gems (and certainties) from heavy metal fortunately continues. This time the worthy and essential Hear No Evil belonging to the most noble Cherry Red tradition, has released an indispensable box about Raven, a key band of the english heavy metal, which has been active since the far 1974. In this case the label’s proposal is focused on four records released by the legendary Neat Records between 1981 and 1984: the seminal Rock Until You Drop; the powerful Wiped It Out; the underrated as well as brilliant All For One and the forgotten Live At The Inferno closing of the quadrilogy. |
Continua, fortunatamente, l’opera di riscoperta e consolidamento discografico di perle (e certezze) dell’heavy metal. La meritoria e necessaria Hear No Evil, appartenente alla nobilissima tradizione Cherry Red, sforna stavolta un cofanetto fondamentale riguardante i Raven, formazione angolare dell’heavy metal inglese, attiva sin dal lontanissimo 1974. In questo caso, vengono appunto riproposti i quattro lavori usciti per la mitologica Neat Records tra il 1981 e il 1984: il seminale Rock Until You Drop, il potentissimo Wiped It Out, il sottovalutato e brillante All For One e il dimenticato Live At The Inferno (1984) a chiudere la quadrilogia. |
These reissues, in addition to be the outcome of an historical recovery which is never too praised, allow a relatively young audience to discover some old and relentless band like Raven, who have been an undiputable source of inspiration for many current groups, kings of an uncompromising sound, and in some ways near to Motörhead’s tough and brazen approach. All of the three studio albums for Neat Records, beyond the energizing live works, are a cornucopia of an old age of heavy metal, in particular of the english one; those were the years when some bands like this one from Newcastle upon Tyne could assume the right to fight against a certain glossy elegance of the impudent pop of that era, by naturally antagonizing with a brutal as well as enthralling energy. |
Queste ristampe, oltre ad un compito di recupero storico mai troppo lodato, consentono anche a un pubblico relativamente giovane di conoscere vecchie e indomite leve come i Raven, fonte di ispirazione innegabile per tante band odierne, leoni di un sound senza compromessi, per certi versi affiancabile all’approccio strafottente e ruvido dei Motörhead. I tre lavori in studio per la Neat, più il corroborante live, sono cornucopia di un periodo aureo dell’heavy metal, in particolare quello britannico; anni in cui band come quella di Newcastle upon Tyne potevano arrogarsi il diritto di contrastare una certa laccata eleganza del tracotante pop dell’epoca, contrapponendosi spontaneamente con cruda e trascinante energia. |