Search - Raven :: Life's a Bitch

This is Raven done right

ctlr | 11/28/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Unlike the earlier releases on Atlantic (Stay Hard and The Pack is Back), Raven had complete control over the production of Life's a Bitch. There were no record execs pressuring them to sound commercial and "sell, sell, sell". No heavy-handed producer was brought in to take over the project and make them use synthesizers and horn sections (ala The Pack is Back). In fact, Atlantic had all but given up on Raven and pretty much let them do whatever they wanted on their final Atlantic release. The result was quite possibly the best Raven album of their career.



Start to finish, Life's a Bitch shows Raven in peak form. The songs are loud, insane, and catchy. The guitar solos are larger than life. The arrangements are fresh and varied. You have 2-and-half minute slam-fests like "You're a Liar" and epic prog-like rockers like "On the Wings of an Eagle". Of course the usual Raven lunacy is on proud display in "Overload", "Pick Your Window", "Life's a Bitch", and "Playing with the Razor". There honestly is not a weak track on here. No filler, no shortcuts, no disposable over-produced yawners. This is Raven doing penance for the earlier Atlantic releases, which quite frankly really weren't their fault.



You can imagine being young starving musicians, coming to a new country, with a new record deal, and your bosses telling you what to do. Raven was at the mercy of Atlantic and did what they were told and recorded The Pack is Back. But for that, the band was summarily dismissed as sell-outs by the fans and dumped by Atlantic. It's unfortunate, because since then all Raven has done has put out one stellar release after another.



Life's a Bitch is the meaner, wiser, hungrier re-birth of Raven. No fan of NWOBHM metal should miss this. It truly was a landmark recording for this British trio."

Great Raven

Thomas Lhamon | Flat Rock, MI United States | 02/21/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Other "hard core" fans have panned this album as a sell-out, but I find it to have their strongest and catchiest song writing. Did they sell-out? You can't sell out if you don't make any money. I'd say it's their best. The bonus track "Speed of The Reflex" is a different side of Raven with flip-flop tempos and an ambitious arrangement."

A TOTALLY ROCKING AND POWERFUL ALBUM!

Thomas Lhamon | 08/18/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love this disc, it rocks the only thing is that when they rereleased it they left off "FINGER ON THE TRIGGER" -My favorite from this disc.It was a bonus track in the first place"on cassette" I wish they would have kept it on but the rest of the tracks rock-A must have-enjoy!"