January 17, 2019
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THE RAVEN AGE, the U.K.-based band led by IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris's son George Harris, has shared the official lyric video for its new song, "Fleur De Lis". It is the third THE RAVEN AGE track with Matt James as vocalist, following the previously released "Surrogate" and "Betrayal Of The Mind", and the next dose of what to expect from the band's second album, "Conspiracy", which is due on March 8 via the group's own label Corvid Records.
The "Fleur De Lis" clip creatively features stunning, fantasy animations representing the tale of French heroine Joan Of Arc. The track and visuals fall in line with the historical myths and legends that form the entire album and are the core influence of THE RAVEN AGE's lyrics and themes.
THE RAVEN AGE released its critically acclaimed debut album, "Darkness Will Rise", in 2016. It saw them championed by the likes of Metal Hammer and Planet Rock, who crowned them "Best New Band 2017" at their awards, and earned them slots at festivals such as Bloodstock, Hellfest, Wacken Open Air, Rock Am Ring/Rock Im Park and Download.
The band has continued to spread its wings, honing its craft, perfecting its sound and identity, and with the recent addition of vocalist Matt James (a.k.a. MJ) and guitarist Tony Maue bringing a new dimension and diversity to the band's songwriting and sound, they've created the new era of THE RAVEN AGE which is evident throughout the entirety of "Conspiracy".
George Harris explains: "We're so proud of it. It's definitely keeping within the spirit of the band but we've really expanded what we can do and delved into new topics and sounds. A lot of that is to do with what MJ has brought to the band. With him on board we've grown enormously from the first album."
Drawing inspiration from their interest in historical myths and conspiracies, lyrically the tracks tell stories of desperation and inhumanity throughout different periods of time, delving into the lives and experiences of people from years ago.
The album is the second part to their story, where clues are left in everything from the artwork to the lyrics which point to what may later come to pass, and interlock with what THE RAVEN AGE is all about. They've created something more than just a record, but instead an artistic, conceptual identity as they set to write their own legacy.
"I've always been fascinated by the legend of the ravens of the Tower of London," continues George. "The fact that the collective noun for ravens is a Conspiracy really inspired the album, the title and the artwork around it. In this fantasy world the ravens are actually being held captive at the Tower, they aren't there of their own accord. Their wings have been clipped and they're prisoners of the Tower to keep Britain from falling. This record develops the story with all sorts of twists and tangents."
The album opens with a harmonious instrumental, equipped with delicate guitar lines and an accompaniment of euphoric synths and strings before yielding into recent single "Betrayal Of The Mind", which was written as a result of mental health issues, spreading awareness through the lyrics of how it affects so many people in different ways.
It then leads into the raging metal riff of the aforementioned "Fleur De Lis" and "The Day The World Stood Still", which enters with a melodious dynamic, creating space between the album's brutal moments, soaring into a momentous chorus showcasing James's vocal capabilities.
Elsewhere the racing Christian mysticism inspired "Stigmata" is filled with thunderous drum patterns from Jai Patel and heavy bass parts from Matt Cox, while the haunting intro of "Seventh Heaven" explodes into a colossal outbreak of commanding riffs expertly executed by guitarists George Harris and Tony Maue before dropping to a stripped-back section with James's exposed vocals taking center stage.
Continuing their running theme of historic references, the calmer "The Face That Launched A Thousand Ships" draws inspiration from the legend of Helen of Troy, whose incomparable beauty resulted in a fleet of a thousand ships setting sail to rescue her leading to the Battle Of Troy. Similarly, "Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier" is named after the U.S. monument which stands in tribute to those exhumed and unidentified from battles over the years.
Also included is "Surrogate", the album's debut track from earlier in 2018, and the sharp and fierce "Scimitar" before the epically sullen, grand finale "Grave Of The Fireflies", which resumes the dynamic rise and fall that resonates throughout the whole of Conspiracy.
"Conspiracy" track listing:
01. Bloom Of The Poison Seed
02. Betrayal Of The Mind
03. Fleur De Lis
04. The Day The World Stood Still
05. Stigmata
06. Surrogate
07. Seventh Heaven
08. Forgotten World
09. The Face That Launched A Thousand Ships
10. Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier
11. Scimitar
12. Grave Of The Fireflies
THE RAVEN AGE will head off on its biggest European headline tour in March and April before joining IRON MAIDEN for a huge leg across North and South America.
