The creative ambition on display in the video is also evident throughout the forthcoming album Blood Omen, with the band pushing everything further than ever before. The choruses are made for arenas, the riffs are taut, direct and go straight for the jugular, and this time around the band were finally able to realise their ambitions of using real strings. “Watching a string quartet play along to our songs was a whole new experience,” says George. “They just made everything more dramatic.” The Raven Age worked with noted British cellist arranger Audrey Riley (Foo Fighters, Muse, Coldplay) at the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance studios in London. And with long-term producer Matt Hyde (Slipknot, Machine Head, Bullet For My Valentine) recording the record, final mastering was put into the treasured hands of Mika Jussila at Finnvox (Nightwish, Children of Bodom, HIM). Bringing these strands together The Raven Age have crafted a grand musical stage on which the record’s concept plays out, continuing the story of the Raven King which has been developing since Darkness Will Rise. And they will be delivering the same grand passion and power when they bring it to life on concert stages across the UK and Europe this year. Currently on tour with Iron Maiden, alongside playing some of the biggest rock and metal festivals this summer, The Raven Age embark on their own major headline tour in the autumn. THE RAVEN AGE TOUR DATES 2023
June
7th – Bergen, Koengen *
9th – Sölvesborg, Sweden Rock
11th – Leipzig, Quarterback Immobilien Arena *
13th – Krakow, Tauron Arena *
14th – Krakow, Tauron Arena *
15th – Dessel, Graspop
19th – Zurich, Hallenstadion *
21st – Hannover, Zag Arena *
23rd – Czech Republic, Basinfirefest
24th – Switzerland, Heavy Load Festival July
8th – London, O2 Arena *
11th – Amsterdam, Ziggo Dome *
13th – Antwerp, Sportpaleis *
15th – Milan, Return Of The Gods Festival
18th – Barcelona, Palau Sant Jordi *
20th – Murcia, Estadio Enrique Roca *
22nd – Bilbao, Bizkaia Arena Bec! *
25th – Dortmund, Westfalenhalle *
29th – Frankfurt, Festhalle *
31st – Munich, Olympiahalle August
1st – Lake Velenje, Metal Days Festival
2-5th – Wacken Open Air Festival *supporting Iron Maiden HEADLINE TOUR
October
12th – Krakow, Kamienna 12
15th – Helsinki, On The Rocks Club
17th – Stockholm, Nalen Klubb
18th – Copenhagen, Pumpehuset
20th – Berlin, Badehaus
22nd – Prague, Futurum
24th – Hannover, Musikzentrum
25th – Uden, Del Pul
27th – Paris, La Maroquinerie
29th – Milan, The Legend Club
30th – Zurich, The Plaza
31st – Munich, Strom November
2nd – Dortmund, FZW
3rd – Antwerp, Kavka
5th – London, Lafyette
7th – Manchester, Academy 3
8th – Glasgow, Attic
10th – Dublin, Academy 2
11th – Belfast, Limelight 2
13th – Birmingham, Asylum
15th – Bristol, Exchange |