TRACK LISTING:

1. DESTROY ALL MONSTERS
2. TOMORROW
3. IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GOT
4. FIGHT
5. BATTLEMARCH/TANK TREADS (THE BLOOD RUNS RED)
6. FEEDING THE MONSTER
7. FIRE BURNS WITHIN
8. SCREAM
9. ONE MORE DAY
10. THUNDER DOWN UNDER
11. GOLDEN DAWN
12. SILVER BULLET
13. RIVER OF NO RETURN
14. BONUS: MALICE IN GEORDIELAND

RELEASED: 2015
LABEL:  SPV/SteamHammer (USA/Euro), Spiritual Beast (JAPAN), Die Hard (S. America)

PRODUCER: Raven with Kevin 131
ENGINEER: Kevin 131
MASTERING: Bob Wolf/Wolf Wolf Productions             
RECORDED: Assembly Line Studios, Vienna, VA, USA

 

JOHN'S NOTES
One of those times where everything just came together, albeit with a lot of hard work! We put an inordinate amount of time into the writing, pre-production & rehearsal on this album..and it paid off in spades! 

Writing & rehearsal took place at “The Etching Tin” Studios in Richmond VA (where we recorded the Party Killers album) which has a great vibe.  We worked on material over (I think) three separate sessions.

 

Then, we went back to the scene of the “Walk Through Fire” crime – Assembly Line Studios & Kevin 131 ..who went above & beyond on this project!!!

The sounds are just better..and the performances have that live edge…and the songs kick ass -  and are great to play live! 

Just to note: ”Thunder Down Under” is our tribute to Bon Scott..and “Malice in Geordieland” is our tribute to our hometown!

 

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Custom homemade flying V bass

Schecter 5 string bass (used on 2 notes lol)

Oktober custom 8 string bass on “River of No Return”

12 string acoustics on “Golden Dawn”

Synths and wacky noises

 

MARK:
Oktober custom MG telecasters

JOE:
Sonor double kit consisting of 2x24” kick drums, 10”, 12”, 13”, 14” mounted toms, 16” floor tom

Various cymbals of all shapes & sizes….and percussion odds & sods

TRACK LISTING:

1. FIREBALL (Cover, DEEP PURPLE)
2. BAD REPUTATION (Cover, THIN LIZZY)
3. HE'S A WHORE (Cover, CHEAP TRICK)
4. IN FOR THE KILL (Cover, BUDGIE)
5. IS THERE A BETTER WAY? (Cover, STATUS QUO)
6. OGRE BATTLE (Cover, QUEEN)
7. QUEEN of MY DREAMS (Cover, EDGAR WINTER)
8. TOO  BAD, SO SAD (Cover, NAZARETH)
9. COCKROACH (Cover, SWEET)
10. TAK ME BAK 'OME (Cover, SLADE)
11. HANG ON TO YOURSELF (Cover, DAVID BOWIE)

RELEASED: 2015
LABEL:  Self-printed

PRODUCER: RAVEN
ENGINEERING:  Ian Whalen

MASTERING: S.A. Adams          
RECORDED at Etching Tin Studios,  Richmond, VA, USA

 

JOHN'S NOTES
When a song request at a party in Germany resulted in a emptying of the dance floor…the seeds of this project was born – songs to kill ANY disco!!

Near & dear to our hearts….these songs continue to inspire us – our roots !!! Recorded as a “perk” for our Kickstarter contributors, this album was  recorded in a matter of days as was a great way to warm up for the “EXTERMINATION” recording!

 

 

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Custom home made flying V bass

Custom Explorer bass with tremolo (intro to “OGRE BATTLE” & 1st solo on “TOO BAD, SO SAD”

Schecter 5-string bass

 

MARK:
Oktober custom MG telecasters

JOE:
Sonor double kit consisting of 2x24” kick drums, 10”, 12”, 13”, 14” mounted toms, 16” floor tom

Various cymbals of all shapes & sizes….and percussion odds & sods

TRACK LISTING:

1. INTRO
2. AGAINST THE GRAIN
3. BREAKING YOU DOWN
4. UNDER YOUR RADAR
5. WALK THROUGH FIRE
6. BULLDOZER
7. LONG DAYS JOURNEY
8. TRAINWRECK
9. GRIP
10. RUNNING AROUND IN CIRCLES
11. HARD ROAD
12. ARMAGGEDON (The BEGINNING)
13. ATTITUDE
14. SPACE STATION #5 (Cover, MONTROSE)
15. THE KING (Live)

JAPAN EXTRA TRACK
NECESSARY EVIL

Released 2009

LABEL:  Metal Blade (US), SPV/Steamhammer (Euro), King Records (Japan)

PRODUCER: Raven with Kevin 131
ENGINEER: Kevin 131
MASTERED: Bill Wolf/ Wolf Productions          
RECORDED at Assembly Line Studio, Vienna, VA, USA

 

JOHN'S NOTES
Well...after such a long gap between albums we had to pull out all the stops…this was amazingly satisfying to have this album come together…recorded in Vienna VA with Kevin 131 at the helm

 

We touch on our roots with a few songs & with the combo of killer sound & breakneck performances, but stretch out a bit without losing the “Raven” feel - we took time in the writing & final touches but got the live feel also!

Intro: we wanted a little “fiddly bit” to start off proceedings- jungle drums, guitars, sound effects and yes... violin (I tracked it at home to spare everyone else the horror...)

 

Against The Grain: rip yer face off!!! Love this one, great riffs, pummeling drums!! Breaking you down: already a live fave, a slightly more mid tempo beatdown!

 

Under Your Radar: upping the speed & no messing around, some fun unison bass/guitar runs in the middle and I get to scream…a lot!

 

Walk Through Fire: sums up the last few years nicely... sick riffs & breaks!

 

Bulldozer: opens with impending doom... then break out the swagger!!! Almost a blues shuffle beat - right in yer gut! And theres a 12 string bass solo..and why not?

 

Long Days Journey: atmospherics... love the way this builds…fun to play live also - great solo from Marcus Algerius...

 

Trainwreck: Brittany who? we wrote this just before we went in ..inspired by the tabloids..

 

Grip: a relentless churning rifforama... Joe destroys on this...

Running Around in Circles: a shade more melodic - but still kicks, one of the first ones we did!

 

Hard Road: very biographical lyrics... sick guitar sounds on this...

 

Armageddon: a bit of an epic mate... imagine if one of those “the end of the world is nigh” guys was actually right??

 

Attitude: title says it all - a forearm smash in the kisser...

 

Necessary Evil (Japan only): our glam roots are showing!

 

Space Station #5: during the end of the session... me: ”hmmm... can we do Space Station #5?”
Mark & Joe ” sure...’ then we tore it a new one…!
Montrose - the one & only!

 

 

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Hamer 12 string bass

Conklin 7 string bass

Custom Explorer bass with tremolo

Synths & Violin

 

MARK:
ESP custom Telecaster guitars

Hamer Californian guitars

Veleno Aluminum guitar

 

JOE:
Tama kit with 2 x 24” kick drums, 12”, 13”, 14” toms, 16” floor tom, various cymbals

TRACK LISTING:

1. SEVEN SHADES
2. DOUBLE TALK
3. ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES
4. GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING
5. TO BE BROKEN
6. DERAILED
7. HUNGER INSIDE
8. TOP OF THE WORLD
9. IN THE LINE OF FIRE
10. KANGAROO
11. NEW RELIGION
12. LAST RIDE

Released 2000

LABEL:  Metal Blade (US), Massacre (Euro), Pony Canyon (Japan)

PRODUCER: Michael Wagener

ENGINEER: Michael Wagener
MASTERED: Michael Wagener            
RECORDED at Wireworld Studio, Nashville, TN, USA

 

JOHN'S NOTES
Magical!!! (which partly explains the throwback to the “All for One” in the album title!!!)

We hooked up with Mike Waegner once again & did the album in his studio - just the best!!! We were able to concentrate on the music - not the technology, which Mike uses brilliantly.

I feel this is the best album we have done in many, many years and captures exactly what we set out to do! Live, we’ve done “Seven Shades”, “Double Talk” and “To Be Broken” and have to break in a few more!!

Just a great combination of good songs, good playing & good sounds and attitude!!

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Hamer 12 string bass

Custom Explorer bass with tremolo

ESP custom bass with tremolo

 

MARK:
ESP custom Telecaster guitars

Hamer Californian guitar

 

JOE:
Ludwig Hercules kit with 2 x 26” kick drums, 12”, 13”, 14” toms, 16” floor tom, various cymbals

TRACK LISTING:

1. FIREPOWER
2. DON'T NEED YOUR MONEY
3. SAVAGE & THE HUNGRY
4. NIGHTMARE RIDE
5. GET IT RIGHT
6. ON & ON
7. EXTRACT THE ACTION
8. BARBARIAN
9. THUNDERLORD
10. GIMME A BREAK
11. MOVE OVER
12. WHITE HOT ANGER
13. ALTAR
14. TIE YOUR MOTHER DOWN (Cover, QUEEN)

 

JAPAN EXTRA TRACKS

1. ALL FOR ONE
2. YOUNG BLOOD

 

EURO EXTRA TRACKS

1. ARCHITECH OF FEAR
2. ENEMY

Released 1999

LABEL: SPV/Fresh Fruit, Metal Blade

PRODUCER: Raven
ENGINEER: various
RECORDED: various
MASTERED: S.A. Adams

 

JOHN'S NOTES
This grew out of an idea from the company that put out the “Atlantic” cd’s in 1998. They wanted to do a “greatest hits” thing called “Stark Raven Mad”

The record company dropped off the planet and we decided to do a “box set without the rip-off” and complied this collection of demos/bootlegs/live & unreleased material!! Sound quality varies - but thats why its called “raw tracks”!!

Some great stuff here... the “Stay Hard” material sounds wild live…and the ‘89 shows are insane! “Move Over” was one of the 1st things we did with joe (why it never came out i’ll never know..) there are 2 versions of this cd with varying tracks for the last 2 tracks...!

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Hamer 12 string bass

Custom Explorer bass with tremolo

ESP custom bass with tremolo

MARK:
ESP custom Telecaster
Fender Strat
ESP Strat

JOE:
Sonor 24" double kick kit

TRACK LISTING:

1. BLIND EYE
2. NO PAIN, NO GAIN
3. SWEET JANE
4. HOLY GRAIL
5. HUNGRY
6. INSANE
7. EVERYTHING LOUDER
8. ??? (Instrumental)
9. BETWEEN THE WHEELS
10. LOSING MY MIND
11. GET YOUR FINGERS OUT
12. WILDERNESS OF BROKEN GLASS
13. !!! (Instrumental)
14. FINGERS DO THE WALKING
15. BONUS

Released 1997

LABEL: SPV/Fresh Fruit

PRODUCER: Raven
ENGINEER: Kevin Barnes
RECORDED at ClearSound Studios, Manassas, VA, USA

 

JOHN'S NOTES
This is pretty much the '90s version of "Wiped Out" for us ..a little more varied - but after the success of the "Destroy All Monsters" 1995 live cd... we wanted this album to reflect the feeling on the live album... and we succeeded!

Highlights: "Blind Eye" with my air raid siren intro.. "No Pain, No Gain" easily THE most nuts song we'd done in years...although "Insane" gives it a run for its money.

Some mid tempo rockers like "Hungry" & the mini-epic "Wilderness of Broken Glass" round it out - look for the bit of Queen finishing "Get Your Finger Out"...Joe's take on 30's movie dialog...and the horror of our rehearsing!

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Hamer 12 string bass

Custom Explorer bass with tremolo

 

MARK:
Ludwig Hercules kit with 2 x 26” kick drums, 12”, 13”, 14” toms, 16” floor tom, various cymbals

 

JOE:
Ludwig Hercules kit with 2 x 26” kick drums, 12”, 13”, 14” toms, 16” floor tom, various cymbals

TRACK LISTING:

1. LIVE AT THE INFERNO
2. CRASH BANG WALLOP
3. TRUE BELIEVER
4. Medley: INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH/HARD AS NAILS/DIE FOR ALLAH
5. GUITAR SOLO
6. Medley: SPEED OF REFLEX/ RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP/MIND OVER METAL
7. GIMME A REASON
8. INQUISITOR
9. FOR THE FUTURE
10. BASS SOLO
11. ARCHITECT OF FEAR
12. WHITE HOT ANGER
13. DRUM SOLO
14. BREAK THE CHAIN

Released 1995

LABEL: SPV/SteamHammer, Zero Record (Japan)

PRODUCER: Raven
MIXING: Vinny Esposito, Split Decision Studios,  W. Babylon , NYC, USA
MASTERED: Michael Sarsfield at Frankford Wayne, NYC
RECORDED at Live at the Club Citta, Tokyo, Japan on May 13, 1995

 

JOHN'S NOTES
I love this as its blistering!!!!.. although i’m not in good shape on the vocals(could not even TALK before we went on... so its a miracle i sing on this at all!)

Anyway, this ROCKS from start to finish & the “Glow” material sounds fine on here - great version of “Gimme a Reason” for instance... also the “Jaws/Nails/Allah” medley is outrageous! But my fave is the “Break the Chain” opus... as a lot of the middle was improvised!!! The whole trip was really amazing & the Japanese were so into the music - very special!!!

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Kramer 8-string
Explorer (Red with trem bar)
Bass pedals (Moog Taurus knockoffs)
Fender precision fretless bass
Ibanez 8-string bass
ESP Precision bass

MARK:
ESP custom Telecaster
Fender Strat
ESP Strat

JOE:
Sonor 24" double kick kit

TRACK LISTING:

1. WATCH YOU DROWN
2. SPITE
3. TRUE BELIEVER
4. SO CLOSE
5. AFTER
6. THE DARK SIDE
7. THE ROCKER (cover, THIN LIZZY)
8. TURN ON YOU
9. FAR and WIDE
10. VICTIM
11. GIMME A REASON
12. SLIP AWAY

Released 1994

LABEL: SPV/SteamHammer, Zero Record (Japan)

PRODUCER: Raven
ENGINEER: Ben Elliot
RECORDED at Showplace Studios, Dover, NJ, USA

 

JOHN'S NOTES
After 1993’s litany of woe (houses burning down... demos being damaged..guitars being stolen...) it was great to get in & get this done!!!

 

The studio was quite amazing, especially as you can walk through the recording room straight into a strip club!!!!!

Needless to say, it was tough rounding up people to listen to mixes!!

 

We tried a wide variety of styles on this... pretty successfully!! Everything from ballads(!!) to slow & heavy. And on a spur of the moment, did Thin Lizzy's “The Rocker”...one of our childhood faves!

 

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Hamer 12 string bass

Custom Explorer bass with tremolo

MARK:
ESP custom Telecaster guitars

Hamer Californian guitar

 

JOE:
ESP custom Telecaster guitars

Hamer Californian guitar

 

 

TRACK LISTING:

1. HELL ON EARTH
2. WORLD COMES TUMBLING
3. STAY HUMAN
4. STILL HUNGRY
5. ALL FOR ONE (Live 1991)
6. INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH
7. CAN'T RUN & HIDE (Live 1991)

Released 1991

LABEL: SPV/SteamHammer

PRODUCER: Raven
ENGINEER: Detlef Mohrman, Heimi Milkus
RECORDED at  Mohrmann Studio, Witten, Germany

 

JOHN'S NOTES
These were songs we didn't finish on “Architect” that we finished up & added some live material from soundboard tapes recorded on tour in 1991

Love Joe’s intro to “World Comes Tumbling”, taken from a band rehearsal tape!!!

“Stay Human” was a great song to do live... maybe we should bring that one back..! The cover art was a piss take on the death metal album sleeves... except we were the ones getting torn up!!!

 

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Kramer 8-string bass

Hamer 8 string bass

Custom Explorer bass with tremolo

 

MARK:
ESP custom Telecaster guitars

ESP M1 custom guitar

 

JOE:
Sonor 2x24” kick kit with 12”, 13”, 14” toms, 16” floor tom, various cymbals

TRACK LISTING:

1. INTRO
2. ARCHITECH of FEAR
3. DISCIPLE
4. GOT THE DEVIL
5. PART OF THE MACHINE
6. UNDER THE SKIN
7. WHITE HOT ANGER
8. CAN'T RUN & HIDE
9. BLIND LEADING THE BLIND
10. RELENTLESS
11. JUST LET ME GO
12. HEART ATTACK
13. SOLD DOWN THE RIVER

Released 1990

LABEL: SPV/SteamHammer

PRODUCER: Raven
ENGINEER: Detlef Mohrman, Heimi Milkus
RECORDED at  MohrmannStudio Witten, Germany

June /July 1990

 

JOHN'S NOTES
Wow - this was an experience!

We’d hooked up with Kreator’s management in Germany & they brought us over to do the album there... a very loonie month!!!

The studio was small but sounded great & Detlef & Heimi (singer from german band Risk) did a fine job.

I'd come down from singing & find Mark & Joe lost in horror movies on the VCR. A local English guy dragged his new synth in & we used it for a few bits here & there

This is one heavy album!!!!

Inbetween recording & mixing we went to Holland & did 3 gigs to blow off steam & play a couple of new songs - all on begged / borrowed and unpaid for equipment... we actually played the “cheese metal” festival in Gouda!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Kramer 8-string bass

Custom Explorer bass with tremolo

 

MARK:
ESP custom Telecaster guitars

ESP M1 custom guitar

 

JOE:
Sonor 2x24” kick kit with 12”, 13”, 14” toms, 16” floor tom, various cymbals

SIDE 1

1. BEHEMOTH
2. DIE FOR ALLAH
3. GIMME A BREAK
4. INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH
5. IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD
6. STICK IT

 

SIDE 2

1. LAY DOWN THE LAW
2. YOU GOTTA SCREW LOOSE
3. THUNDERLORD
4. THE KING
5. HARD AS NAILS
6. KICK YOUR ASS

 

CD REISSUE BONUS TRACKS

LAY DOWN THE LAW (Live)

 

Released 1988

LABEL: Combat Records/Nuclear Blast (Reissue)

PRODUCER: Raven
ENGINEER: Bob Ludwig, John & Mark Gallagher
MASTERING: Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk, NY
RECORDED: UCA Studios, Utica, NY, USA

JOHN'S NOTES
Wow…amazing time doing this!

Rob had left back in ‘87... after some uninspiring auditions, we tried our old mate: Joe “hasnobladder”!!!...perfect!

Worked on these songs & got the Combat deal.
Little to zero budget & went to a studio.

I’d done a project in earlier that year in Utica, NY. Convenient in that we had a apartment above the studio…lots of fiddling with the board behind the engineers back...! Whoops!

A really good album (check out the remastered CD on Century media - sounds WAY better).

I remember Mark, actually playing “Die for Allah” all the way through off the top of his head into a tape recorder... totally improvised on the spot!                                                                                        Joe sneaking back in the studio at 4.00am chased by someone's boyfriend... nuts!!!!!

 

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Kramer 8-string bass

Custom Explorer bass with tremolo

ESP 5 string bass

 

MARK:
ESP custom Telecaster guitars

ESP M1 custom guitar

JOE:
Ludwig Hercules kit with 2 x 26” kick drums, 12”, 13”, 14” toms, 16” floor tom, various cymbals

SIDE 1

1. THE SAVAGE AND THE HUNGRY
2. PICK YOUR WINDOW
3. LIFE'S A BITCH
4. NEVER FORGIVE
5. IRON LEAGUE
6. ON THE WINGS OF AN EAGLE

 

SIDE 2

1. OVERLOAD
2. YOU'RE A LIAR
3. FUEL TO THE FIRE
4. ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE
5. JUGGERNAUT
6. PLAYING WITH A RAZOR

 

CD REISSUE BONUS TRACKS

FINGER ON THE TRIGGER

 

Released 1987

LABEL: Atlantic Records

PRODUCER: Raven, Chris Isca
ENGINEER: Chris Isca, Thom Cadley
MASTERING: Dennis King at Atlantic Studios, NYC
RECORDED: Bearsville Studios, NY, USA

 

JOHN'S NOTES
A lot of tension in the air. Most of the album was written in the studio. It was becoming obvious Rob was becoming unhappy but still he played ferociously on this, possibly our most aggressive album!!

All our frustrations came out on this one. Some great songs & it holds together well; although our original track list was changed (savage & the hungry & overload were swapped... we wanted overload to start!)


At the time, they were pushing cassettes, so “Finger on the Trigger” was only on the cassette! It appeared on cd on the Mayhem 1998 re-issues)

Again, we were in Bearsville studios, Woodstock Ny.
This was in Nov / Dec of 1986 as I recall. I remember we lived in the “barn” a combination rehearsal / living area... pretty cool!

 

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Kramer 8-string bass

Custom Explorer bass with tremolo

ESP custom “flash” bass

ESP 5 string bass

 

MARK:
ESP custom Telecaster guitars

ESP custom M1 guitar

Roland Synth guitar

 

ROB:
Tama 24" double kick kit with Roto Toms

SIDE 1

1. SPEED OF THE REFLEX
2. DO OR DIE

 

SIDE 2

1. HOW DID YOU GET SO CRAZY?
2. SEEN IT ON TV
3. GIMME JUST A LITTLE

 

Released 1986

LABEL: Atlantic Records

PRODUCER: Raven
ENGINEER/MIXING: Nelson Ayres, Paul Higgins
MASTERING: Dennis King at Atlantic Studios, NYC
RECORDED: House of Music Studios, Pleasant Valley, NJ

 

JOHN'S NOTES
Licking our wounds after "The PACK is BACK" promo nightmare... we decided to do what WE wanted... and to celebrate & tie in with an upcoming tour with Twisted Sister(which unfortunately was canceled!)

Mark had kidney stones as we were mixing and was stretchered out in the studio... ugh!!

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Kramer 8-string bass

Custom Explorer bass with tremolo

ESP custom “flash” bass

ESP 5 string bass

 

MARK:
ESP custom Telecaster guitars

ESP custom M1 guitar

Roland Synth guitar

 

ROB:
Tama 24" double kick kit with Roto Toms

SIDE 1

1. THE PACK IS BACK
2. GIMME SOME LOVIN' (cover)
3. SCREAMIN' DOWN THE HOUSE
4. YOUNGBLOOD
5. HYPERACTIVE

 

SIDE 2

1. ROCK DOGS
2. DON'T LET IT DIE
3. GET IN YOUR CAR AND DRIVE
4. ALL I NEED
5. NIGHTMARE RIDE

 

CD REISSUE BONUS TRACKS

1. HOW DID YOU GET SO CRAZY
2. SEEN IT ON TB

Released 1986

LABEL: Atlantic Records

PRODUCER: Eddie Kramer
STUDIO ENGINEER: Chris Isca
MIXING: Eddie Kramer, Larry Swisp at Bear Tracks Studios
MASTERING: Bob Ludwig
RECORDED: Bearsville Studios, NY, USA

JOHN'S NOTES
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times!!!!
What can i tell you? We did have a blast doing this although it took a little too long for my taste.

The album was done to a click track - 1st mistake as this effectively killed the “Raven” feel. The balance between heavy & melody was way too melodic.

 Some great songs like the title track, “Rock Dogs”(Eddie Kramer on piano!!) and the too poppy but perverse “Gimme Some Lovin” not to mention “Nightmare Ride”.

Eddie was pushing to make it even more commercial... so it was done & Atlantic basically did zilch to promote it... thanks a lot!!!

So a major rethink was in order. Still, after all this time I have more perspective. It's a slick professional effort with state of the art sound for then... but...

 

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Kramer 8-string bass

Custom Explorer bass with tremolo

ESP custom “flash” bass

ESP 5 string bass

 

MARK:
ESP custom Telecaster guitars

ESP custom M1 guitar

Roland Synth guitar

 

ROB:
Tama 24" double kick kit with Roto Toms

SIDE 1

1. STAY HARD
2. WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH
3. ON and ON
4. GET IT RIGHT
5. RESTLESS CHILD

 

SIDE 2

1. POWER and the GLORY
2. PRAY for the SUN
3. HARD RIDE
4. EXTRACT the ACTION
5. The BOTTOM LINE

 

CD REISSUE BONUS TRACKS

1. GIMME JUST a LITTLE
2. DO or DIE

 

 

Released 1985

LABEL: Atlantic Records

PRODUCERS: Michael Wagener, Raven
ENGINEERS: Michael Wagener, Norman Dunn
MASTERING: George Marino at Sterling Sound, NY
RECORDED: Pyramid Studios, Ithaca, NY, USA

JOHN'S NOTES
Our first major label album... plenty of pressure to “sell, sell, sell” but still vintage Raven although the sound does not rip like the previous album. Still a lot of killer songs and some fun on “The Bottom Line” “Power & the Glory” we’d had from the “All for One” sessions.
Mike Waegner was brought in at the halfway mark to do a couple of songs over & remix the rest. Against our better judgement we redid “Hard Ride”... hmmm... and after a frustrating few days we finally nailed “On & On” - very hard to get that one right... other that getting the arrangement to gel, there were about 24 tracks of vocals on that I had to do! aggghhh!!! The songs were really good to do live... see the “Raw Tracks” album!

 

INSTRUMENTS:

JOHN:

Kramer 8-string bass

Custom Explorer bass with tremolo

ESP Precision bass

 

MARK:

ESP custom Telecaster guitars

ESP custom M1 guitar

Squire Strat guitar

ROB:

Tama 24" double kick kit with Roto Toms

ROB:
Tama 24" double kick kit with Roto Toms

DEFCON 4

1. INTRO / LIVE AT THE INFERNO
2. TAKE CONTROL
3. MIND OVER METAL
4. CRASH BANG WALLOP
5. ROCK UNTIL YOU DROP
6. FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF LIGHT

 

DEFCON 3

1. ALL FOR ONE
2. FORBIDDEN PLANET (Guitar solo)
3. STAR WAR
4. TYRANT OF THE AIRWAYS
5. RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP

 

DEFCON 2

1. CRAZY WORLD
2. LET IT RIP
3. I.G.A.R.B.O. (Bass Solo)
4. WIPED OUT
5. FIREPOWER

 

DEFCON 1

1. DON'T NEED YOUR MONEY
2. BREAK THE CHAIN
3. HELL PATROL
4. LIVE AT THE INFERNO

 

Released 1984

LABEL: MegaForce Records
PRODUCERS: Raven

MOBILE ENGINEERS: Alex Perialas
STUDIO ENGINEER: Norman Dunn
RECORDED live on the USA tour 1984 (San Francisco, Chicago, NYC).

 

JOHN'S NOTES
In order to preempt our old record company putting out the inevitable “greatest hits”;  we basically did this album live & was part of our deal in getting away from Neat Records.

 

A great snapshot of what we sounded like right there on that 2nd USA tour!!

Back cover shot is from the Roseland NYC show we did with Anthrax & Metallica - where all 3 bands got signed... my favorite? “Let It Rip”!!

 

INSTRUMENTS:

JOHN:

Kramer 8-string bass

Custom Explorer bass with tremolo

ESP Precision bass

 

MARK:

ESP custom Telecaster guitars

ESP custom M1 guitar

Squire Strat guitar

ROB:

Tama 24" double kick kit with Roto Toms

 

SIDE ONE

1. TAKE CONTROL
2. MIND OVER METAL
3. SLEDGEHAMMER ROCK
4. ALL FOR ONE
5. RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP

 

SIDE TWO

1. HUNG, DRAWN and QUARTERED
2. BREAK THE CHAIN
3. TAKE IT AWAY
4. SEEK AND DESTROY
5. ATHLETIC ROCK

 

CD Reissue BONUS TRACKS

1. BORN TO BE WILD (featuring UDO DIRKSCHNEIDER)
2. INQUISITOR
3. THE BALLAD of MARSHALL STACK

Released 1983

LABEL: Neat/MegaForce Records

ENGINEERS: Micheal Wagener
PRODUCERS: Michael Wagener, Udo Dirkschneider for Double Trouble Productions
Recorded at Pineapple Studios, London, UK

 

JOHN'S NOTES
We’d had enough of the restrictions of our old studio & insisted the next album was done in a real studio with a real producer!
We loved the sound on the accept albums “Breaker” & “Restless & Wild” so we contacted Mike Wagener who was now partners with Udo from Accept.
We did a week's worth of pre-production with them in this horrible basement rehearsal studio, and recorded at a studio in the west of London. This was all a big step for us. We’d consciously slowed down the songs & made the arrangements more powerful... Mike brought that out even more!! We persuaded Udo to guest on a couple of songs released on singles later.
 Still possibly our fans fave album and I can see why!!

INSTRUMENTS:

JOHN:

Kramer 8-string bass

Custom Explorer bass with tremolo (solos on Run Silent Run Deep & Born To Be Wild)

Fender Precision bass

 

MARK:

ESP custom Telecaster guitars

ESP custom M1 guitar

Squire Strat guitar

 

ROB:

Tama 24" double kick kit

 

SIDE ONE

1. CRASH BANG WALLOP
2. RUN THEM DOWN

 

SIDE TWO

1. ROCK HARD
2. FIREPOWER

 

RELEASED: 1982

LABEL: Neat Records
ENGINEER: Keith Nichol
Recorded at Impulse Studios, Wallsend, England

 

JOHN'S NOTES
Basically we ran out of room on the “Wiped Out” album & thought it would be cool to put out an EP later on. The live photos are from a gig we did with Motorhead at Leeds Queens Hall in 1981. Mark sings lead on “Rock Hard” and sounds great!! The “Monty Python woman” rap on the title track was me & in an inspired moment was done in one take. The line that really killed everyone on that (and is probably buried under the guitar solo)is “sucking the brains out of dead turnips”... don't ask me!!!!

 

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Kramer 8-string bass

Custom Explorer bass with tremolo

Fender Precision bass

MARK:
ESP custom Telecaster guitar

Fender “The Strat” guitar

Sumbro copy Strat guitar

ROB:
Tama 24" double kick kit

SIDE ONE

1. FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF LIGHT
2. BRING THE HAMMER DOWN
3. FIREPOWER
4. READ ALL ABOUT IT
5. TO THE LIMIT - TO THE TOP
6. BATTLEZONE

 

SIDE TWO

1. LIVE AT THE INFERNO
2. STAR WAR
3. UXB
4. 20/21 (Instrumental)
5. HOLD BACK THE FIRE
6. CHAINSAW

 

CD Reissue BONUS TRACKS

1. CRASH BANG WALLOP
2. RUN THEM DOWN
3. ROCK HARD
4. 20/21 (Outtake)

 

 

RELEASED: 1982

LABEL: Neat Records
ENGINEERS: Keith Nichol
Recorded at Impulse Studios, Wallsend, England

 

JOHN'S NOTES
Insane... did all this & the “CRASH BANG WALLOP” ep in just over a week... Wrote most of “To the Limit” as we recorded it…I remember “Hold Back the Fire” during the solo's peak... Mark standing on the piano stomping (whole track is live except the short 1st solo... as was 90% of the album). We really intended to go “over the top” but were never really happy with the sound - (the wrong mix was pressed as the album... ) although the attitude makes up for it!! A good representation of our live show at the time... f**in nuts!!

 

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Kramer 8-string
Explorer Red with trem bar Chainsaw Intro
Bass pedals (Moog Taurus knockoffs)
Fender precision fretless bass
Ibanez 8-string bass

Classical guitar on “20/21”

MARK:

ESP custom Telecaster guitar

Squire Strat guitar

Sumbro copy Strat guitar

 

ROB - Tama 24" double kick kit

Side ONE

1. HARD RIDE
2. HELL PATROL
3. DON'T NEED YOUR MONEY
4. OVER THE TOP
5. 39-40 (Instrumental)
6. FOR THE FUTURE

 

SIDE TWO

1. ROCK UNTIL YOU DROP
2. NOBODY'S HERO
3. HELL RAISER/ACTION (Sweet cover)
4. LAMBS TO THE  SLAUGHTER
5. TYRANT OF THE AIRWAVES

 

CD Reissue BONUS TRACKS

1. WIPED OUT
2. CRAZY WORLD
3. INQUISITOR

 

Released 1981

LABEL: Neat Records
PRODUCERS: Steve Thompson, Raven
ENGINEER: Mickey Sweeney
Recorded at Impulse Studios, Wallsend, England

 

JOHN'S NOTES
Magic!! We were actually doing an album... although this was done off & on over a period of a few months whenever we could sneak in for half a day. That's why you can hear the band's sound evolving over this period.
Fave moments? Walking on plastic cups for the title track intro! Working title for “39/40"? “More ale landlord!!”

We knew it was a good album but it did so well, probably because it sounds like no-one else.

 

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Fender Precision bass
Fender precision fretless (on 39/40)
Ibanez 8-string bass(on Tyrant of the Airways)
Kramer 8-string (Rock Until You Drop solo)
Classical guitar (39/40)

MARK:
Fender Telecaster
No-name Strat copy

ROB - Tama 24" double kick kit

Side A
HARD RIDE

 

Side B
CRAZY WORLD

RELEASED: 1981

LABEL: Neat Records
PRODUCER: Steve Thompson
ENGINEER: Mickey Sweeney
Recorded at Impulse Studios, Wallsend, England

 

JOHN'S NOTES
We wanted another single..Hard Ride seemed the obvious choice..(I remember a good review given by Bruce Dickinson in an English magazine..).
Crazy world is just that…another review described this song as “makes the Bad Brains sound like they are standing still” !!!

 

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Kramer 8-string

MARK- Fender Telecaster, no-name Strat copy

ROB - Tama 24" double kick kit

Side A

DON'T NEED YOUR MONEY

 

Side B

WIPED OUT

Released 1980

LABEL: Neat Records
PRODUCER: Steve Thompson
ENGINEER: Mickey Sweeney
Recorded at Impulse Studios, Wallsend, England

 

JOHN'S NOTES
This was our first single & a song we were real happy with. It just has a magic feel that transcends the “low-fi” production... it just bursts out of the speakers! The b-side “Wiped Out” was also done the same day. If you turn up the very end of the track, you hear where we threw a garbage can down the stone steps of the studio & then one of our roadies screams “what the f**k was that?” - priceless!!! Initally both songs had extended mid sections that we were advised to ditch... and rightly so!
To save trax Mark & John did the harmony lead bit on "Wiped Out" together.

 

INSTRUMENTS:
JOHN:
Fender Precision bass  (1972)

MARK:
Fender Telecaster, no-name Strat copy

ROB - Tama 24" double kick kit