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Metal City is the fourteenth studio album from venerable British band Raven and continues in the same tradition as their last album and, hell, ALL their albums. John Gallagher's piercing vocals (how he can still hit those high notes nearly 50 years after starting out is a mystery) and pummeling, acrobatic bass along with brother Mark Gallagher's wild and crazy guitars have been and always will be what makes Raven sound like Raven and no one else. New drummer Mike Heller keeps up admirably and even injects some near-blast beats into the tried-and-true formula. Classic Raven anthems like "The Power" will be recognizable even if the last album you heard by them was from 1983's All for One as it features a powerful riff and catchy vocal hook that sticks like glue. The speed-fests continue with cuts like "Break" and "Motorheadin'" which display all the rambunctious, rocking spirit the band is known for. John and Mark always asserted that Raven is a rock band and somewhat reluctantly accepted being lumped in with the NWOBHM movement and you can hear their '70s hard rock roots on the superlative "Battlescarred," a song that deftly combines the melodic sensibilities and heavy bombast of Deep Purple.

Raven is an institution, one that you probably love or really don't bother with. If you are in the former camp, as I am, you will undoubtedly enjoy Metal City as it is Raven being Raven. Some songs are better than others but that's nothing new for the lads from Newcastle. The good stuff is really good, and the energy is electric and infectious and that's where Raven has always delivered.