One of the earliest bands on the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene, Raven is not to be overlooked. Forming in 1974, they would be the inspiration and influence of countless other bands that followed thanks to their heavy, thrashy sound and ability to meld in more progressive elements. Pioneers, they are also rather prolific, releasing fifteen studio albums… from 1981’s Rock Until You Drop through to their recently released All Hell’s Breaking Loose.
A product of hard work and determination, Raven’s core is and always will be brothers, John and Mark Gallagher. Excited about their new album, and with no plans of slowing down, John Gallagher recently took the time to talk about the band’s history, writing music, plus a whole lot more.
Cryptic Rock – Raven has been going strong for nearly five decades. A highly influential Metal band who has consistently released music and toured through the years, how would you describe the incredible journey of Raven to this point?
John Gallagher – Well I think you pretty much summed it up right there. I think we are a testament to just rolling up our sleeves and doing the work. The majority of bands kind of curl up and die when faced with the BS that we have managed to deal with!
Cryptic Rock – Yes, and that is a testament to the band’s longevity. Raven has always had a unique style to other Metal bands from the late ’70s into the ’80s era. What inspired the band’s creative direction to be open to melding different styles?
John Gallagher – We were always casting a wide net when we were young regarding influences, but eventually narrowed it down to energy! As a young band doing covers it would be “Highway Star,” not “Smoke on The Water”… know what I mean? The early ’70s bands were entertainers – they connected with the audience. I mean the first show Mark and I went to as kids was Slade; and the opener was The Sensational Alex Harvey Band… just life-changing! How Alex handled a basically disinterested audience and one by one captivated every one of them was a masterclass in stagecraft!
So we went to see every band we could. We learned from this big time… as well as serving our apprenticeship by playing in the North East working men’s clubs. There, you won over the crowd or died trying! (Laughs) I think being a three-piece is another part of the puzzle – everyone has to be “on.” There’s no safety net and no passengers!
Cryptic Rock – It sounds like the band really came from a working-class background. Many would look at 1985’s Stay Hard album as a turning point for Raven early on. Being the band’s first album released within the USA, looking back, how would you describe that time for the band?
John Gallagher – It was a turning point in many ways. We had a big stage show, but musically… not really as it was a continuation of what we’d done with All for One (1983), which was big songs, lots of hooks, and still some “edge.” The album that was a big change, and in a negative way due to label pressure and finagling, as well as our own naivety, was The Pack Is Back (1986). We learned after this that pleasing ourselves musically was the most important thing. From the Mad (1986) EP onwards we’ve done just that.
Cryptic Rock – It sounds like it was a good learning experience that led to many more years of solid Raven material. As we all know trends change over time, and in the ’90s the tides shifted in the world of Metal. Many ’80s bands took a break during this decade, but Raven trucked on and released three studio albums in that span of time. That said, what was the ’90s period like for the band?
John Gallagher – It was tough. We did a lot of work in Europe and when Grunge / Nu Metal kind of poisoned the water there for a while, we did a lot in Japan. Having been around the block a few times we figured the wheel would turn and things would change. By 1997 we were out doing a successful Euro tour with HammerFall and Tank opening. Basically, we just kept going!
Cryptic Rock – It is great that you weathered the storm because true Metal never dies. Raven is now set to release their fifteenth studio album All Hell’s Breaking Loose on June 30th. This album is yet another full-on Metal assault with killer riffs, strong vocals, and well-written songs. What was the writing and recording process like for this album?
John Gallagher – Exactly as it was conceived! Ten songs… thirty-five to forty minutes long so it hits hard and fast; all killer and zero filler! We followed the writing template from what we’d learned doing the last few albums. We are brutal in the arrangements and self-editing process and will rewrite a song over and over until it’s the best it can be, and it pays off. This time however we had Mike (Heller) ‘in at the ground floor; so, he contributed song ideas and riffs as well as arranging ideas so kicking the songs around between the three of us from ground zero was a big deal. We did the album at Mike’s studio in L.A. and it was just the three of us. Mike did a fantastic job engineering and recording and production-wise; we just pushed each other to get the best out of each other!
We had a pool of about thirty songs for this album. Some were more fully formed than others, but we were able to go. “Ok… which songs would work as an opener? What would follow that? What would be a great end song?” We kind of ‘pre-sequenced’ the album… it’s certainly not a case of chucking your ‘best’ songs up front. There’s a narrative of sorts you need to create so the album works as a whole.
Cryptic Rock – Right, and this album gels together well. What is exciting and refreshing about All Hell’s Breaking Loose is that it does not fold to current trends. Sounding crisp and clean, it does not fall victim to modern recording techniques which make many modern Metal records sound over-produced. How important is it to the band to stay true to your sound and not polish a record too much?
John Gallagher – It’s very important to be as ‘real’ as possible. During recording we always leave about 20-30% to chance; we improvise and try stuff as opposed to just laying the bricks y’ know? There’s always got to be that “let me try this” element as that’s where the magic happens! We had this incredible guy Mike’s been working with – Lasse Lambert – do the mix, and he just killed!
Cryptic Rock – That is great to hear. This will be your second studio album you have recorded with Mike Heller. Heller is a seasoned drummer with a ton of experience. What has it been like working with him?
John Gallagher – Mike brings a lot to the table; frightening technique, boundless enthusiasm, and energy. As he’s a younger guy, he has a set of influences that don’t always mesh with ours, and that’s cool as it “widens our net” yet again. We were able to ‘raise the bar’ on this album as we’d played almost three hundred gigs as a band. So, that certainly helps cohesion and mindset!
Cryptic Rock – It seems like the partnership is working well. Through the years of Raven, the foundation has always been yourself and brother Mark. What is it like having such a long-standing working relationship with one person, let alone your brother?
John Gallagher – It’s incredibly helpful. We are certainly different people, but have a shared mindset when it comes to the band. We can argue over stuff then forget it and get back to work. It’s pretty crazy to realize the band will be fifty years old next year!
Cryptic Rock – That is truly a great accomplishment. Raven has always been known for highly powerful live shows. This said, can we expect more tour dates announced in support of the new record?
John Gallagher – Absolutely! I can’t wait to play some of these new songs live! We have a few shorter Euro runs coming up in July and September. There will then be a full US tour starting in October. Then we are working on more Euro dates, Japan, and Australia for 2024!
Cryptic Rock – That is exciting to hear and something to look out for. Last question. If you are a fan of Horror and/or Sci-Fi movies, what are some of your favorites and why?
John Gallagher – Sci-fi definitely! Love the Christopher Nolan stuff; those are movies that force/make you think! Horror… the more traditional as opposed to the “saw up yer mother” types. I saw one on the plane the other day called Smile, that was creepy as fuck!
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