Steamhammer/SPV Unleashes Two Monstrous Live Albums from Magnum and Raven
Feeling a little nostalgic for some classic rock and metal? Steamhammer/SPV has you covered with two live albums that have nothing to do with each other except relinquishing in the spirit of the concert experience.
Raven recorded songs from their concert at Aalborg, Denmark, on the band’s latest European tour while Magnum compiles two-CDs, three-LPs worth of material from their “Road To Eternity” tour. Both bands create rock and roll magic in their own way.
Raven – Screaming Murder Death From Above: Live in Aalborg
A staple in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Raven was and still is unstoppable. From the quintessential ‘80s metal album hit Stay Hard to their outlandish fashion statement, the ’80s may be history but their energy has not faltered. What you notice in their recording at Aalborg is the fury and quick transitions between songs, expelling metal chaos in their path.
The iconic “On and On” does not compare to the band’s opener of “Destroy All Monsters” which still lives up to its metal thrashing mad reputation. Yet the defining Raven song still proves as a prosperous anthem in its live capacity. The only thing missing is the call and response song expansion. Raven does not wear out its welcome, and that’s a good thing.
The Gallagher brothers rip through the title track of All For One, and it is a rager that suffices all of your expectation for classic metal mayhem. And then they dip back into their first album with “Rock Until You Drop.” John Gallagher’s pipes are still on cue as is the momentum of these relics. Adding Mike Heller (Fear Factory, Malignancy) to the drums after Joe Hasselvander’s career crushing heart attack in 2017, this live album proves that Heller keeps the Raven heart beat alive. Screaming Murder Death From Above proves Raven still has the power in their performance to fulfill all of your expectations as they spin through essential songs of their career.
Magnum – Live At Symphony Hall
Progressive rock band Magnum collects a setlist from their 20-album career and return home to Birmingham England’s Symphony Hall. The recording takes place on the last night of their Road To Eternity tour in 2018. The production is a full array of rock orchestration to an ecstatic level of ‘70s and ‘80s rock bliss from true professional entertainers.
The band spent years opening for a countless list of rock and metal greats and performing at legendary festivals like the Donington Monster of Rock tour in the ‘80s.
Not represented here are “Lonely Night” and “Midnight,” singles from their Polydor release Vigilante. But they do power through the title track and later resurrect “The Spirit” from Chase The Dragon before the curtains close. The crowd reaction is impressive. Even in their extensive numbers like “How Far Jerusalem” and “Don’t Wave The Lion,” there is a fascination of how mystical these songs come together and create a powerful rock aura. What it shows is that this Magnum had an insane amount of talent from the get go and they have an insane amount of distinction in how they present rock and roll today. Live at Symphony Hall breathes new life into some older material, as well as breathe new life into their recent material. This is just as good if not better than any of the Magnum live releases like Wings of Heaven, Invasion or Days of Wonder.
Raven Track List
Destroy All Monsters
Hell Patrol
All For One
Hung Drawn and Quartered
Rock Until You Drop
A.A.N.S.M.M.G.N.
Tank Treads (The Blood Runs Red)
Faster Than The Speed of Light
On and On
Break The Chain
Crash Bang Wallop
Raven – Hung, Drawn & Quartered (Official Live Video)
Magnum Track List
CD1
When We Were Younger
Sacred Blood ‘Divine’ Lies
Lost on the Road To Eternity
Crazy Old Mothers
Without Love
Your Dreams Won’t Die
Peaches and Cream
How Far Jerusalem
CD2
Les Morts Dansant
Show Me Your Hands
All England’s Eyes
Vigilante
Don’t Wake the Lion (Too Old to Die Young)
The Spirit
When the World Comes Down
Magnum – Lost on the road to Eternity Live
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