They may be a new name to most, but The Raven Age are about to have the kind of year that few young bands would dare to dream about. Founded by guitarists Dan Wright and George Harris in 2009, the band have recently hit their stride and begun to pick up prestigious support slots with the diverse likes of Tremonti, Mastodon and Delain. But this year, The Raven Age will embark on their first world tour, supporting Maiden on their guaranteed-to-be-epic Book Of Souls excursion. In musical terms they are a perfect fit: a young melodic metal band with elements of modern and old-school heaviness in their sound, as showcased on their 2014 debut, self-titledEP.But, this being the age of constant online chatter, they may find themselves confronted with a degree of cynicism, if only due to the fact that George’s father happens to be Steve Harris. Yes, that one.
“A lot of people tend to check us out because they may have heard about the connection, which is great because to convert people to fans, you first need them to be aware your band exists!” George tells us. “On the other hand, some people have preconceptions and turn their noses up before giving us a chance. First, give us a listen, and then judge us all you want! But I’d be doing this whether my dad was famous or not. Music is definitely in my blood, it always has been. It’s what I love to do.”
Music is in my blood. It’s what I love to do
Ultimately, you would have to be a frothy-lipped misanthrope to begrudge George and his bandmates – Dan, bassist Matt Cox, singer Michael Burrough and drummer Jai Patel – the chance to see the world and refine their craft in front of huge, demanding audiences. Maiden crowds haven’t always received support bands with enthusiasm, but The Raven Age are plainly prepared to fight for some respect, but only if they can contain their excitement as they wait for the tour to begin.
“Ridiculously excited would be an understatement!” George laughs. “We still can’t believe it, and probably won’t until we walk out on stage at that first gig in Ft Lauderdale and see the size of the crowd. It’s such an unbelievable opportunity for us and we couldn’t be more grateful for it. But yes, of course, we are very nervous and the closer we get, the more the nerves will kick in I’m sure. Our goal is to turn as many Maiden fans as possible into our fans!”
With plans to release their full-length debut album later this year, The Raven Age could well be the UK’s next brightest metal hope. A bit of that legendary Harris determination should take them a long way.
The Raven Age will release their debut album in 2016
