THE RAVEN AGE, the U.K.-based band led by IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris's son George Harris, has released the official music video for the song "The Day The World Stood Still". It is the fourth THE RAVEN AGE track with Matt James as vocalist, following the previously released "Surrogate", "Betrayal Of The Mind" and "Fleur De Lis", 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. "It's a track that our new guitarist Tony brought forward and it quickly became one of our favorites to play," comments George Harris. "It's a hard hitting, groove-orientated song with loads of catchy melodies, cool guitar work and also one of my favorite drum beats from Oats (Jai)... so hats off to Tony for writing this belter." "The Day The World Stood Still" is a melodic metal monster that is as brilliantly catchy as it is artfully heavy. It's equipped with epic guitar solos and powerful vocal lines that have the ferocity and theatrics of the likes of metal heavyweights AVENGED SEVENFOLD. The track reflects on some of the personal challenges the members of THE RAVEN AGE face during their relentless life on the road and how the passion for what they do helps to overcome these inner battles. "It was written whilst on tour," says Tony. "It's about being in a constant battle with your own mind, delving into dark places you didn't know you had. Simple things like sleep become a challenge when your mind's working on overdrive and it seems there's no light at the end of the tunnel. The fact that I was able to turn this into something positive and create music out of it was the escape I needed at the time to get me through it." 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 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 Having already built a solid live presence after touring the globe with the likes of TREMONTI, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, SHINEDOWN and MASTODON, to name a few, and appearing at a number of festivals, including Wacken Open Air, Bloodstock and Download, THE RAVEN AGE will support this release with its biggest headline run to date across Europe throughout March and April with support from DEFENCES. They will then continue the year as support to IRON MAIDEN on their North and South American leg of the "Legacy Of The Beast" tour from July to October.
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