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It is always a pleasure to return to Groove Estudios, a venue that has become one of the essential pillars of live music in the Basque Country. With a constant and varied schedule, Groove has spent years supporting both legendary names and rising underground acts, maintaining an intimate atmosphere and affordable prices that help keep the local concert scene alive.

This particular night was brought to life by Manguales Extreme Metal Union, a promoter that continues to strengthen its position within the Spanish underground circuit thanks to its intense activity focused on specialized and underground metal. With an increasingly ambitious calendar of concerts and festivals, Manguales is slowly becoming one of the most recognizable names within the national extreme scene.

The bill brought together three bands perfectly connected through classic heavy metal spirit and energy: the British legends Raven, the Catalan newcomers Razers, delivering direct and old-school influenced heavy metal; and Sons of Cult, a Spanish band combining heavy metal and hard rock.

Attendance started somewhat modestly during the early hours of the evening, but the venue slowly filled up as the concerts progressed, eventually gathering around one hundred people inside the room. Perhaps not the crowd a legendary band like Raven deserves, but enough to create a warm, passionate and committed atmosphere among those who were there.

Opening the night were Razers, a very young band from Barcelona who, despite still having very little material released, immediately showed enormous determination and attitude. Playing straightforward heavy metal deeply rooted in old-school influences and clearly connected to the spirit of bands like Raven, it was obvious that opening for such an iconic NWOBHM act meant a great deal to them.

On stage they looked genuinely excited and fully committed, enjoying every minute both during their own set and later while watching Raven from the crowd. The band transmitted fresh energy, supported by strong chemistry between the members and a clear passion for performing live. Featuring a lineup made up mostly of women — except for the drummer — Razers delivered a very entertaining performance that connected well with the audience.

Since their catalogue is still fairly limited, the set also included a few covers, something perfectly understandable for a band still taking its first steps. Nevertheless, they left behind very positive impressions and the feeling that they have more than enough potential to keep growing within the scene. Now it is simply a matter of waiting for new material and seeing how far they can go if they continue working with the same passion and enthusiasm they showed at Groove.

The second act of the evening was Sons of Cult, a band from Las Palmas that, despite only being active since 2020, already features highly experienced musicians from the Spanish metal scene. Among them is Vicente Payá, known for his work with Golgotha and Unbounded Terror, something that immediately becomes noticeable in the confidence and solidity they display on stage.

With one full-length album and two EPs already released — the latest one recorded live precisely at Groove — the band clearly felt at home. That comfort translated naturally into the performance, with the musicians appearing relaxed, confident and strongly connected both to the venue and to part of the audience, where several loyal followers of the band could easily be spotted.

Musically, they delivered a powerful and very solid set, backed by the experience of musicians who clearly know exactly how to handle this kind of material live. Sons of Cult left behind very good impressions and confirmed that they still have plenty of room to grow, especially with expectations already building around what could become their second full-length release.

Finally, it was time for the most anticipated moment of the evening with the appearance of Raven, true legends of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and one of those bands that, decades after their formation, still defend heavy metal with a passion and intensity that feels completely genuine.

Personally, it had been many years since I last saw them live, so expectations were extremely high, especially considering how important Raven have always been within my own history as a heavy metal fan. Once again, they proved exactly why they remain absolutely essential on stage.

Led by brothers John Gallagher and Mark Gallagher, the true heart and soul of the band since the very beginning, the concert became a constant demonstration of chemistry, experience and pure love for music. It is impossible not to notice the connection between them on stage: the way they enjoy playing together, communicate with each other and interact with the audience while still performing with almost youthful energy despite having dedicated their entire lives to heavy metal.

Alongside drummer Mike Heller, who joined the band in 2018, Raven delivered an authentic lesson in classic, technical and explosive heavy metal. The setlist was essentially a nonstop parade of genre-defining anthems including “The Power”, “Can’t Take Away the Fire”, “Rock Until You Drop”, “On and On” and “All for One” — songs that still stand today as timeless heavy metal classics.

The audience response remained constant throughout the entire performance, singing along to almost every song and completely surrendering to a band that knows exactly how to connect with people. One of the most fun and celebrated moments of the night came with a medley featuring classics by UFO, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath, received with enormous enthusiasm by the crowd.

Musically, Raven remain on a truly extraordinary level. Both the guitar solos and the bass solos made it clear that these are musicians operating far beyond the ordinary, with complete mastery of their instruments and the kind of technical ability that only comes from a lifetime devoted to heavy metal.

It was impossible not to feel some sadness seeing the relatively small attendance for a band of such historical importance, something Mark Gallagher himself commented on during the show, lamenting how nowadays many people seem to prefer staying home watching Netflix instead of attending concerts like this. Honestly, after witnessing the monumental performance Raven delivered at Groove, it is difficult not to agree with him.

But because of that, the night also felt even more special. Barely one hundred people had the privilege of witnessing one of the greatest bands in heavy metal history in such an intimate setting, inside a venue with excellent sound, fantastic lighting and the perfect atmosphere to fully immerse yourself in Raven’s energy.

Watching Raven live remains an absolute privilege. A band that not only preserves its essence intact, but somehow seems to enjoy being on stage more than ever. A spectacular concert from beginning to end and another reminder that you should never miss the chance to see these legends live whenever possible.

And of course, huge thanks to John Gallagher for making it possible for us to cover such a special night. Hopefully we will cross paths with Raven again very soon on another tour.