RAVEN Signs U.S. Deal With METAL BLADE RECORDS

Legendary British/American heavy metal trio RAVEN has inked a deal with Metal Blade Records for the U.S. release of its new album, "Walk Through Fire". The CD, which came out in Japan in March 2009 via King Records, was recorded at the Assembly Line Studios with engineer/mixer Kevin 131 (PROJECT: FAILING FLESH, DECEASED, DYSRYTHMIA, GARDEN OF SHADOWS).

Due in the U.S. on March 30 (one day earlier in Europe through SPV/Steamhammer),RAVEN's first album since 2000's "One for All" contains 14 new songs and two live bonus tracks.

"Walk Through Fire" track listing:

01. Intro
02. Against the Grain
03. Breaking You Down
04. Under Your Radar
05. Walk Through Fire
06. Bulldozer
07. Long Day's Journey
08. Trainwreck
09. Grip
10. Running Around In Circles
11. Hard Road
12. Armageddon (The Beginning)
13. Attitude
14. Space Station #5 (MONTROSE cover)
15. Live at The Inferno **
16. Rock Until You Drop **

** Bonus Live Tracks

"Against The Grain" audio stream:

Vocalist, bassist, and founding member John Gallagher comments: "We are ecstatic. We go way back with Metal Blade (we've known Brian [Slagel, Metal Blade founder] since meeting him backstage at one of our shows in the U.K. in 1982!!!) so there's mutual respect.

"We feel that having this killer new album, 'Walk Through Fire', and a relationship with Metal Blade, an outfit that lives and breathes this music — that UNDERSTANDS where we have been and what we've been through, will show that we are not trading on past glories but that we are a band that continues to be relevant… and kicks ass more than ever before!

"We've set the bar high here with this album and are happy to have a partner willing to get it out there to the metal fans and spread the word. This is the RAVEN album the diehards have been beating us up for… and then some!"

Metal Blade Records' Michael Faley comments: "We are excited and proud to be releasing the new album by RAVEN entitled 'Walk Through Fire'! This record has garnered tremendous reviews worldwide and combines all the strength and power that only the Gallagher brothers can deliver, rock-solid METAL! With a career that has spanned over 25 years, RAVEN is back with a CLASSIC album."

In an April 2009 interview with Powerline A.D., RAVEN bassist/vocalist John Gallagher stated about "Walk Through Fire", "We took a lot longer to get this one done... and usually after you record an album, you mix it quick and its done. We had the chance to sit with it and tweak it, if needed. I don't think we have ever had that luxury before, so it's got the good songs that were worked on over years in some cases — but recorded in a burst of lunacy — and then listened to and polished to a fierce shine. This album just rocks from start to finish and sounds and feels fresh — it's the real deal. It's varied but it's all 100% RAVEN!"

Regarding the band's decision to cover MONTROSE's "Space Station #5" for the new CD, John said, "We used to do it back in the clubs in the northeast of England. It seems we always come up with a fun cover and this one was cool to do. The middle part is nuts with the crime jazz/surf guitar and fretless bass, but overall it's pretty brutal."

Upcoming RAVEN shows:

Apr. 03 - Lübeck, Germany - Rocktower Festival
Jun. 12 - Sölvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival
Jun. 18-20 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
Jul. 29 - Brande bei Elmshorn, Germany - Headbangers Open Air

Following a forced layoff through half of the last decade due to Mark Gallagher's long recuperation from a serious accident where Mark's legs were crushed after a wall collapsed on the musician, the band has fought back with a number of European festival appearances, a U.K. tour in 2008 and a triumphant jaunt to Japan in 2009.

RAVEN is:

John Gallagher - Vocals, Bass
Mark Gallagher - Guitar
Joe Hasselvander - Drums