Raven are a group whose lean, tough sound defined the new wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM)and helped anticipate the rise of thrash metal, though they preferred to describe their energetic and physical sound as "athletic rock," inspired in part by their habit of wearing sports gear on-stage. Emerging in the late 1970s, Raven play with the raw energy and reckless power that epitomized the NWOBHM, and rode the crest of that movement with their 1981 album Rock Until You Drop, which is still considered a classic of the genre. The band struggled to adapt to the '80s pop-metal scene, and eventually returned to the no-frills, high-energy denim and leather sound that first won them favor. Despite experiencing injuries, lineup changes, and shifting popular music tastes, the group has endured well into the next century, issuing their 14th studio LP, Metal City in 2020, maintaining their reputation as a dynamic and vital live act.