Four albums and an EP from Raven who were very much part of the NWOBHM movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s. With John Gallagher on bass and vocals, and Mark Gallagher on lead guitar, they played their first gig in 1976, building up a loyal following across the North East of England. A demo recorded in 1978 brought them to the attention of the newly formed Neat Records, by which time they had formed a power trio with Rob "Wacko" Hunter on drums. Neat Records released their debut 45 'Don't Need Your Money' in 1980, followed by the albums Rock Until You Drop, Wiped Out and All For One, plus the concert collection Live At The Inferno, becoming a huge influence on the emerging American thrash and speed metal bands such as Slayer, Megadeth and Metallica. Championed by Kerrang! And Sounds in the UK, Raven could now been found in the pages of Circus and Hit Parader across the pond. Inevitably attracting the attention of major labels in the United States, they were snapped up by Atlantic Records, relocating from Newcastle to New York in 1984. Their Atlantic debut, 1985's 'Stay Hard' (CD1), featured the single and MTV favourite 'On And On'. Recorded in New York, 'Stay Hard' found Raven moving towards a more commercial sound with the singles 'Restless Child' and 'Pray For The Sun', as well as a reworking of 'Hard Ride', originally from their Neat debut LP. After making a significant dent in the Billboard 200, 'Stay Hard' was followed by 'The Pack Is Back' (CD2), released in 1986. Recorded at the famed Bearsville studio with renowned producer Eddie Kramer, 'The Pack Is Back' featured a more radio-friendly sound, featuring the singles 'Gimme Some Lovin' and 'The Pack Is Back'. Eschewing the more commercial direction they had taken with their first two Atlantic albums, the five track 'Mad' EP (CD2) was produced by the band themselves in 1986. Raven left Atlantic following 1987's 'Life's A Bitch' (CD3), their last record to feature drummer Rob "Wacko" Hunter. Influential American rock and metal label Combat Records were the perfect home for their seventh full-length album, 'Nothing Exceeds Like Excess' (CD4) in 1988. Now featuring Pentagram drummer Joe Hasselvander, Raven had once again opted to produce the album themselves. As well as an extensive essay from NWOBHM expert John Tucker, this 4CD set also features an extensive booklet featuring rare imagery and memorabilia.

Track List

1. Stay Hard
2. When The Going Gets Tough
3. On and On
4. Get It Right
5. Restless Child
6. Power And Glory
7. Pray For The Sun
8. Hard Ride
9. Extract The Action
10. Bottom Line
11. The Pack Is Back
12. Gimme Some Lovin'
13. Screamin' Down The House
14. Young Blood
15. Hyperactive
16. Rock Dogs
17. Don't Let It Die
18. Get into Your Car
19. All I Want
20. Nightmare Ride
21. Speed Of the Reflex
22. Do or Die
23. How Did Ya Get So Crazy
24. Seen It on The T.V.
25. Gimmie Just a Little
26. The Savage And The Hungry
27. Pick Your Window
28. Life's A Bitch
29. Never Forgive
30. Iron League
31. On The Wings of An Eagle
32. Overload
33. You're A Liar
34. Fuel to the Fire
35. Only the Strong Survive
36. Juggernaut
37. Playing with the Razor
38. Behemoth
39. Die for Allah
40. Gimme A Break
41. Into the Jaws of Death
42. In the Name of The Lord
43. Stick It
44. Lay Down the Law
45. You Got a Screw Loose
46. Thunderlord
47. The King
48. Hard as Nails
49. Kick Your Ass

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