RAVEN Launch Kickstarter; Set to Release "Party Killers" Cover Album
NWOBHM thrash godfathers RAVEN have launched a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign to fund the recording of their next studio album "ExtermiNation". The band has recorded a full-length cover album entitled "Party Killers" that is being offered as an exclusive Kickstarter reward for backers. "Party Killers" is available on CD and 12" vinyl. The band is also offering exclusive t-shirts, patches, and a 7" vinyl single via the campaign, which runs through November 28th.
The trio has been in heavy pre-production for the upcoming original studio album "ExtermiNation" due in early 2015. Somehow amid the writing and rehearsal process, the band also found time and energy to record the cover album. Further details will be released in the coming days, but it has been revealed that the track-listing will include covers of "Ogre Battle"(Queen) and "In For the Kill"(Budgie).
Vocalist and bassist John Gallagher comments on the album: "We were writing for the new album at a cool studio in Richmond, VA, and in the middle of jamming asked the engineer there if we could record a few cover tunes just for the hell of it. The sounds were so good we decided to do something we'd been threatening for many years: "Party Killers" - a collection of cover tunes guaranteed to deafen yer neighbors!! It's basically a peek into the little red 45rpm singles box we used to have at home...songs and bands that were very influential to us as kids, but given the Raven overhaul! I think it gives a nice insight to our roots and will be an excellent companion to the new album!"
RAVEN is currently on tour in the United States with support act NIGHT DEMON.
RAVEN “North American ExtermiNation Tour 2014″
10/10: Little Rock, AR @ Vino’s
10/11: Austin, TX @ Red 7
10/15: Mesa, AZ @ Club Red
10/17: Ramona, CA @ Ramona Main Stage
10/19: Las Vegas, NV @ Cheyenne Saloon
10/20: Los Angeles, CA @Whiskey a Go Go
10/22: Ventura, CA @ Bombay
10/26: Sacramento, CA @ Blue Lamp
10/27: San Francisco, CA @ The Elbo Room
10/29: Ashland, OR @ Club 66
10/30: Portland, OR @ Tonic Lounge
11/1: Vancouver, BC @ Media Club
11/2: Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
11/3: Boise, ID @ The Shredder
11/4: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Lo-Fi Cafe
11/6: Denver, CO @ TBA
11/7: St Louis, MO @ Fubar
11/9: Columbus, OH @ Shrunken Head
11/11: Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room
11/13: Indianapolis, IN @ Headquarters
11/14: Akron, OH @ Empire Rock Club
11/15: Toronto, ON @ Hard Luck
11/16: Chicago IL @ Reggie’s
11/18: Detroit, MI @ Token Lounge
11/19: Syracuse, NY @ Macs Bad Art Bar
11/20: Pittsburgh, PA @ Dead Horse
11/21: Brooklyn, NY @ St.Vitus
11/22: Philadelphia, PA @ Dobbs
11/23: Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery
11/24: Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter
11/25: Raleigh, NC @ The Maywood
According to the pages of the various metal media, the labels “LEGENDARY,” “INNOVATIVE,” “TRUE ORIGINALS,” as well as “LUNATICS!” have been rightfully pinned upon RAVEN over the years. In a music scene filled by clones nurtured with a cookie-cutter mentality, the unique personality, power and humor of the three band members has always shone through. The crazed vocals & bass playing of John Gallagher, the full frontal guitar assault of brother, Mark Gallagher, and the punishing polyrhythmic pounding of drummer, Joe Hasselvander, all combine to form a sonic battering ram unique in rock!
From the well documented early days as NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) frontrunners, RAVEN’s albums ROCK UNTIL YOU DROP, WIPED OUT and ALL FOR ONE virtually invented both the speed metal and power metal genres – during the trailblazing USA tours of the 80’s introducing the States to “Athletic rock” as well as giving opening acts like Metallica and Anthrax their first tours, through the doldrums of the late 80’s/early 90’s when a grunge obsessed media wrote off so many acts – RAVEN has consistently proved to be both survivors par excellence and in a genre of grim imitation – shown that they are “the real thing”. Where so many of their contemporaries have either faded creatively or become parodies of themselves, RAVEN have consistently pushed the envelope while retaining their unique sound and attack – both in the studio & in their true element, onstage!
