RAVEN are that rare thing in music,  true originals – cut these guys with a razor and they will BLEED true heavy metal – a more intense live band does not exist on this planet!

Hailing from Newcastle Upon Tyne in North East England back in 1974 (yes – 46 YEARS ago!!!) the brothers Gallagher cut their teeth playing the pubs & clubs until solidifying their line up in 1980 with drummer Rob Hunter.

The trio went on to release three of the most influential metal albums of the NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) inspiring every band of that era and beyond.  Basically,  without Raven you just would not have thrash/speed metal…. after all, the band did give Metallica & Anthrax their first tours!

Following a tumultuous move to the USA, deals with Atlantic Records, indentured servitude and commercialism,  Rob left the band in 1987 to be replaced by drummer extraordinaire Joe Hasselvander, who had made his name in cult doom band Pentagram, Savoy Brown and his own solo projects, adding a new dimension to the band.

In 2001,  guitarist Mark Gallagher was involved in a near fatal accident – but fought his way back from the brink and the band proved they were stronger than ever!  This renewed spirit and attitude was reflected in the title of their 2010 album “WALK THROUGH FIRE” and in the career overview DVD “ROCK UNTIL YOU DROP”.

2014 found the band opening for Metallica (the band that Raven took on their first tour back in 1983) in Sao Paulo in front of 70,000 fans, and completing their finest album to date – ExtermiNation” which was released to universal acclaim from fans & critics alike in 2015!

After a serious heart attack in May 2017 Joe Hasselvander has had to unfortunately relinquish the drum stool….taking over drum duties is the phenomenal  Mike Heller (Fear Factory, Malignancy) who has immediately injected high energy into the band!

Following an insane blur of world touring over the last 3 years including a 40th anniversary All for One tour; the lads are set to release the next RAVEN opus, “All Hell’s Break Loose” on June 30th, 2023…a scorcher of immense proportions!

In a cynical musical landscape these days, where bands are not “gangs “but faceless corporations, RAVEN are a band that are REAL not FAKE – and proud of it!

JOHN GALLAGHER: Lead Vocals, Bass, 12 String Bass

MIKE HELLER: Drums

MARK GALLAGHER: Guitar, Vocals

Amulance is a heavy metal band based out of Aurora, Illinois, founded by guitarist, Bob Luman. After several personnel changes, the classic lineup of Amulance was formed in 1986 which consisted of Bob Luman (guitars), Thom Braddish (bass), Eric Wedow (drums), Vince Varriale (guitars), and Rick Baez (vox).

A six track demo in 1986 led to the release of the album “Feel The Pain” through New Renaissance Records in 1988. Unable to tour, Eric Wedow departed in 1988. After nine months, Amulance recruited drummer, Tony Divozzo and was able to record pre-production tracks for what later came to be known as “The Aftermath” sessions before the band unceremoniously folded in early 1990.

The band’s six track demo “The Rage Within” was re-released in 2007 through metal label StormSpell Records on the CD titled “The Rage Within: and the Aftermath” along with six bonus tracks from “The Aftermath” pre-production sessions as well as two live video performances circa 1988 & 1989. The release of this CD found Amulance momentarily reunited and gearing up to go overseas in 2008. Divozzo pulled out of the show a month prior to the band’s first overseas appearance for personal reasons. Varriale left shortly after and declined to rejoin when asked in 2009 in an attempt to again reunite the band.

In 2009, drummer Ed Foltz (DSG) and guitarist Pat Cassidy were recruited in order for the band to fulfill their commitment to playing at the Headbanger’s Open Air Festival (HOA) in Germany. Amulance also began working on what was intended to be a full-length CD but then changed to the “Deutschland” EP due to a lack of time; however Amulance finally made it to Germany in 2010. Upon their return to the U.S., Amulance once again went into hiatus; this time re-emerging in 2013 with news of Thom Braddish’s departure from the band and the addition of bassist, Chuck Hamilton.

Chicago trio Lethal Shöck drinks from the purest well of heavy metal glory and pisses out their own brand – atomik metal. A bastardization of d-beat, speed metal and heavy metal with majestic guitar solos, they definitely don’t re-invent the wheel, they just cover it with spikes, light it on fire, and hurl it down a mountain towards a church picnic while slamming Coors & hailing the goat

At the outermost fringe of the universe, far beyond the range of sentient thought, they were born. Four beings, spawned forth from the unholy union of dark matter and the semen of God. For eons they have grown powerful beyond comprehension, enveloping stars, entire solar systems, with their presence. They have eaten suns. They have shat galaxies. They have tasted the sweat of the purest virgins.
The collective consciousness of the demigods has encompassed all of time and space. Knowledge of the dawning of life and of six different apocalypses fills their minds. Their gargantuan and pulsating influence yet expands, even to the mortal realm, silently but swiftly penetrating the spongy and waiting minds of the human race. Women lie with their clothes rended from their bodies, their naked flesh exposed and their minds rotted, maniacal babble exploding from their lips. They speak of lands undreamed, creatures blacker than the deepest abyss, and a name: Baldor…