Count Raven
Storm Warning (CD) 1990 Hellhound
This is the first release from the Swedish band Count Raven and this is the only cd which features Christian Lindersson on vocals. After the intro, we hear traditional doom metal all the way. Slow, really heavy (Heavier than some people might expect actually ) and clean vocals in Ozzy's style. Some people described this band as a Sabbath clone, but this is way slower and ‘depressing' than Sabbath. There are a few similarities, but which traditional doom band isn't influenced by Sabbath? Eight great songs and, as I said before, one intro. Lyrically they are pretty negative concerning the world we live in, and especially concerning corrupt politicians, and 80's glam rock bands that are more concerned about their looks than about their music. On the fifth song, it's the guitar player, Dan Fondelius, who does the vocals. He even sounds more like Ozzy than Christian (this isn't any criticism in case you thought so). The seventh song, 'A Devastating Age', is a song which uses a lot of keyboards and it sounds almost like a doom ballad. And the keyboards are used again in the last song 'Social Warfare' as an intro. This somehow reminds me a lot of the soundtrack of Lucio fulci's Zombie movies. But I guess that's just me. Great cd and highly recommended.	1. Intro: Count Raven 2. Inam Naudemina 3. True Revelation 4. In The Name Of Rock 'N' Roll 5. Sometimes A Great Nation 6. Within The Garden Of Mirrors 7. A Devastating Age 8. How Can It Be 9. Social Warfare Approx. 58 minutes
Reviewed by: Jacob Remery
Destruction of the Void (CD) 1993 Hellhound
No matter what anybody says to me, or how much evidence they show me, I am still convinced Ozzy secretly did the vocals for Count Raven. But more seriously, Count Raven is one of the best traditional Doom bands of all time and 'Destruction of the void' only confirms this. Their second release is an epic slab of Doom if ever I heard one. Highly enjoyable Doom with easy to follow rhythms and melodies topped off by Oz.. eer I mean Dan Fondelius`, wonderful vocals. There really is not a lot more to ask for as a traditional doom fan. The absolutely stunning riffing is complimented with, although sometimes a bit outdated, easy to understand lyrics about daily pain and suffering. As such the lyrics follow the idea of the rest of the music; easy, down to earth and simple (and I mean that as a compliment). This is simply ear candy Doom, a nice relieve from overly complex Doom that challenges your eardrums with every single beat. Sometimes the lyrics can get a little silly, like on 'Let the dead bury the dead'. The first few times I heard Dan Fondelius sing "You are an asshole. You're the worst kind of worm that have crawled out of the ground" with his Ozzy-like voice, it put a giant smile on my face. Perhaps not something you'd expect from doom, but I could not help myself. However if you're not familiar with Count Raven, don't worry. This truly is a doomy album. Perhaps however it can best be classed as "Traditional doom light". With the track 'Northern Lights' Count Raven take a short break from their "Doom Light" and treat us to a wonderfully atmospheric instrumental that would have done well as a movie score. Just ambient sounds and wonderful keyboard arrangements. Very well executed and not something you hear a more rock 'n roll inclined traditional doom act do every day. Personally I think whatever type of music fan you are, Count Raven belongs in your music collection. But I am realistic enough to realise they will mainly appeal to fans of traditional doom and doom rock. Still I would like to encourage everybody who has not experienced Count Raven to at least give them a listen (yes, I am a fan!).	1. Until Death do us Part 2. Hippies Triumph 3. Destruction of the void 4. Let the Dead bury the dead 5. Northern Lights 6. Leaving the Warzone 7. Angel of Death 8. The Final Journey 9. No Ones Hero 10. Europa Approx. 57 minutes
Reviewed by: Aldo Quispel
High on Infinity (CD) 1994 Hellhound
'Jen' was the first song I ever heard of Count Raven, and I have been sold ever since. Count Raven's third full-length studio release 'High in Infinity' is a clear continuation of their previous effort 'Destruction of the Void' and holds 13 doomy candies. These days when we talk about Doom-metal or even about traditional Doom, there are so many different developments, some which stray very far from the original Doomy path. There also are a host of "proto-doom" acts, which can feature too much rock, blues or heavy metal influences for some fans. Count Raven in all this is a shining beacon of DOOM-METAL! Whenever I think of a band that embodies all that I myself associate with traditional, old school Doom, then I think of Count Raven. 'High on Infinity', and esp. the opener 'Jen', perhaps illustrates this best. The slow pace of the music, the heavy riffs, the lyrical topics, everything just breathes Doom. Count Raven are daring enough to experiment (like the use of keys on 'The Dance') but stay within the boundaries of Doom-metal. Overall this album illustrates well how to make Doom-metal without fusing with other genres, yet also sounding fresh and original. This is a rare gift within any musical genre and I do think Count Raven is under appreciated, their talent ignored by many newer doom-fans. Compared to their previous 'Destruction of the Void' it's a little better on both overall sound and individual songs. More songs on 'High on Infinity' just stick with you, while the overall feel is a bit more continuous. Overall however, both albums don't differ that much in quality from one and other. If you are looking for a pure slab of doom, then find yourself some Count Raven. They remain the musical ear candy of the doom world (perhaps together with While Heaven Wept) and to this day it is a true shame the band is no more. Unless you're truly just into one of the fringe genres of doom-metal (from Stoner to extreme death/doom or gothic/doom) and absolutely don't care for anything else, Count Raven is worth investing in and you can't go wrong with 'High on Infinity'. Searching on web sites like Ebay will really pay off and you won't be disappointed! Although you can't go and claim your money back from me if you are :).	1. Jen 2. Children's Holocaust 3. In Honour 4. The Madman from Waco 5. Masters of all Evil 6. Ode to Rebecca 7. High on Infinity 8. An Ordinary Loser 9. Traitor 10. The Dance 11. The Coming 12. Lost World 13. Cosmos Approx. 67 minutes
Reviewed by: Aldo Quispel
Messiah Of Confusion (CD) 1996 Hellhound
This is the last album of Count Raven and it is the only one I heard. But it is an awesome effort. In 1998 Count Raven broke up and Dan Fondelius formed Doomsday Government. This album features 10 songs clocking about an hour of high quiality traditional doom metal. Count Raven are not the slowest band out there, they only tune down to D, but they are one of the doomiest and heaviest bands I ever heard. They remind me a lot of Black Sabbath, especially vocally, where Dan Fondelius reminds of Ozzy like no other (Steve Hennessey of Sheavy is the second that comes close), but the music is much more metal, especially because of the double bass drumming. Dan also plays the guitar, and I wonder how could he manage to sing and blast those riffs at the same time. On 'Fallen Angel' he's even singing during the solo's . The band sounds very tight, I like the shifting of pace in the songs a lot, which are more or less consistent. Two songs that are different, are 'Mountain Spirit' which is a synth only instrumental and the closer: 'Viking Sea', which is an 11 minutes epic with keyboards all the way through. The album ends with a beautiful bagpipe instrumental (at least I think it's a bagpipe) marking the end of a great band.	1. Prediction 2. Shadow Box 3. The Loneliest One 4. Fallen Angels 5. Mountains Spirit 6. The Lie of Life 7. P.S.I. Power 8. Shine 9. The Divided World 10. The Viking Sea Approx. 60 minutes
Guest review by baron-sam