RAVEN · Stay Hard | TRANSLUCENT YELLOW LP

Translucent yellow vinyl.

Background information about 'Stay Hard'

Raven's third studio album "Stay Hard" from 1985 represents a pivotal moment in the band's evolution, showcasing their transition from pure NWOBHM roots toward a more polished, arena-ready sound. The Newcastle trio, led by the Gallagher brothers John and Mark, delivers ten tracks of unrelenting heavy metal fury that perfectly captures the mid-80s metal zeitgeist. Opening with the thunderous title track "Stay Hard", the album immediately establishes its intent with driving rhythms and soaring vocals that would become the band's signature. Tracks like "When the Going Gets Tough" and "Power and the Glory" demonstrate Raven's ability to craft anthemic choruses while maintaining their raw, energetic edge.

The album's production, handled by the band alongside engineer Kevin Beamish, strikes an ideal balance between clarity and aggression. Songs such as "Restless Child" and "Extract the Action" showcase the band's technical prowess without sacrificing the immediacy that made them darlings of the underground metal scene. The closing track "The Bottom Line" serves as a perfect culmination, summarizing everything that makes this album essential listening for metal enthusiasts. This reissue on translucent yellow vinyl brings new life to these classic tracks, allowing both longtime fans and newcomers to experience Raven's most commercially successful period in stunning analog quality.

For fans of: Accept, Judas Priest, Saxon, Anvil and Diamond Head

Track listing

1. Stay Hard
2. When the Going Gets Tough
3. On and On
4. Get It Right
5. Restless Child
6. Power and the Glory
7. Pray For the Sun
8. Hard Ride
9. Extract the Action
10. The Bottom Line

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