The Raven Age

The Raven Age is a heavy metal-cum-hard rock band from the U.K. Their sound is rich in intricate yet accessible melodies and vocal harmonies, a wide dynamic palette, clean lead vocals, twin lead guitars, and up-mixed drumming. The sound of 2017's Darkness Will Rise, their debut album, updated the New Wave of British Heavy Metal aesthetic from the late '70s and early '80s, balanced by the theatrically styled songwriting prowess of Ronnie James Dio and the musical sophistication of Fates Warning. 2019's Conspiracy was more progressive, with strings and other atmospherics; it was their first album to feature lead vocalist Matt James (formerly of Wild Lies). 2021's Exile was even more progressive, juxtaposing elaborately layered acoustic interludes and diverse instrumentation with multi-part vocal harmonies and melodic hooks, while 2023's Blood Omen took a stronger political stance while adding string arrangements to their music for the first time.