The Metal Crypt on Facebook  The Metal Crypt's YouTube Channel
Review: Raven - Walk Through Fire
Raven
www.ravenlunatics.com
Walk Through Fire

Label: Metal Blade Records
Year released: 2010
Duration: 62:16
Tracks: 16
Genre: Heavy Metal

Rating:
4/5


Review online: May 12, 2010
Reviewed by: Michel Renaud
Readers' Rating
How do you rate this release?

Rated 4/5 (80%) (24 Votes)
Review

I was surprised to see a new Raven album out, and even more surprised when I saw it had 16 tracks totaling just over one hour. That yells "filler", and it's the case here: You have some very strong and fun Heavy Metal rocking tracks – which thankfully are in the majority here – but the few filler tracks popping up here and there really break the mood of the album and make the ensemble feel weaker. Say what you will, but "Running in Circles" almost kills this album by itself. Some of the songs are more like "half-filler" – "Hard Road" is one. Then you get a couple of bonus live tracks at the end – cool tracks, but by that time I'm ready to turn in for the night.

Anyway, that's the bad and your tolerance to that stuff will vary. Other than that, Walk Through Fire is a collection of strong Raven tracks that sound practically as good as the material they were putting out in the 80s. Energetic, fast-paced, heavy, fun and catchy Heavy Metal with powerful vocals. Raven haven't lost their touch when it comes to writing songs that will appeal to both heavy metallers and hard rockers – there's something to unite both clans here. Songs like "Against the Grain", "Breaking You Down", "Walk Through Fire", "Trainwreck" and "Attitude" are among the best here, the kind of songs that stick in your head after hearing them just once – solos aplenty, insane pounding drums are vocals catchier than the common cold. You throw this on at a party that needs some infusion of life.

Had this album been around 45 minutes long – basically free of the filler material and a couple of the weaker songs, this would be near perfect. Still, overall this is one damn good slice of Heavy Metal that Raven fans probably already own, and anyone who's into Raven's brand of fun, pounding, energetic metal should check out.

More about Raven...
Review: All For One (reviewed by Michel Renaud)
Review: All Hell's Breaking Loose (reviewed by Michel Renaud)
Review: All for One (2021) (reviewed by MetalMike)
Review: ExtermiNation (reviewed by Luxi Lahtinen)
Review: ExtermiNation (reviewed by MetalMike)
Review: Metal City (reviewed by MetalMike)
Review: Wiped Out (reviewed by MetalMike)
Interview with vocalist/bassist John Gallagher on May 4, 2015 (Interviewed by Luxi Lahtinen)
Click below for more reviews
Latest 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Various Books/Zines 



The Metal Crypt - Crushing Posers Since 1999
Copyright  © 1999-2024, Michel Renaud / The Metal Crypt.  All Rights Reserved.