All for One

by Ed RivadaviaWhile it didn't quite measure up to their classic debut, Raven's All for One is a marked improvement over second album Wiped Out. Largely credited with sowing the seeds of thrash metal along with fellow New Wave of British Heavy Metal trio Venom, Raven's over-the-top riffing, cheesy lyrics and especially the ear-splitting falsetto of singer John Gallagher) have not aged very well. But for those more familiar with the N.W.O.B.H.M., standout cuts such as "Break the Chain," "Take It Away" and "Mind Over Metal" help make this disc quite a treat. Recently reissued with bonus tracks (including the spectacularly named "Ballad of Marshall Stack"), some featuring Accept screecher Udo Dirkschneider, the disc is now even more collectible.