RAVAGE - Wrecking Ball 12" Vinyl LP Album

- The Relentless 1986 Thrash Metal Statement from Chicago’s Underground

large album front cover photo of: Wrecking Ball by Ravage

"Wrecking Ball" is the one and only album released by the Chicago Heavy Metal band "Ravage". It has been recorded and released in 1986. It has been recorded, mixed and mastered in the Fantasy Studios, Pierce Arrow Recorder, Solid Sound Studio. Album cover artwork was done by Guy Aitchison.

RAVAGE - Wrecking Ball: A Thrash Metal Time Capsule
Album Description:

Emerging from the vibrant 1980s metal scene, RAVAGE's "Wrecking Ball" stands as a testament to the era's raw energy and unbridled passion for heavy music. This 12" vinyl LP, released in 1986, captures a pivotal moment in the evolution of thrash metal, showcasing a band determined to make their mark on the genre.

Historical Context and Musical Exploration

The mid-1980s was a fertile time for metal, with various subgenres vying for attention. Thrash metal, characterized by its aggressive tempo, fast guitar riffs, and often politically charged lyrics, was gaining momentum. Bands like Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth were already carving their names into the annals of metal history. RAVAGE, hailing from Chicago, entered this scene with a hunger to prove their mettle.

"Wrecking Ball" is a relentless sonic assault, showcasing RAVAGE's mastery of thrash metal's core elements. The album is packed with fast-paced drumming, intricate guitar work, and vocals that range from raspy shouts to soaring screams. The band's songwriting delves into themes of social unrest, personal struggles, and the dark side of human nature. While not reinventing the wheel, RAVAGE's music is a solid representation of the thrash metal sound that was defining the era.

Production and Recording

The album was recorded at several studios, including Fantasy Studios, Pierce Arrow Recorder, and Solid Sound Studio. These studios had a history of working with diverse artists, contributing to the album's polished sound. The production team, including engineer Judd Sager and mixer Peter "The Butcher" Leonardy, ensured that RAVAGE's raw energy was captured while maintaining a level of sonic clarity that was essential for the genre.

Album Cover Art

The cover art for "Wrecking Ball" is a visual representation of the album's sonic intensity. Created by artist Guy Aitchison. The imagery is both symbolic and literal, reflecting the destructive force of the music contained within the grooves of the vinyl.

Genre and Controversies

RAVAGE's music firmly falls within the thrash metal genre, with elements of speed metal and traditional heavy metal woven into their sound. Their lyrics, while not overtly controversial, touch on themes of rebellion and societal disillusionment that resonated with many metal fans at the time.

Album Fact Sheet: RAVAGE - Wrecking Ball

Music Genre:

 Heavy Metal 

Album Production Information:

The album: "RAVAGE - Wrecking Ball" was produced by: Ravage

Sound/Recording Engineer(s): Judd Sager at Solid Sound Studio, Hoffman Estates, IL

Remixed and engineered by: Peter "The Butcher" Leonardy at Pierce Arrow Recorders, Evanston, IL

This album was mastered at: Fantasy Studios by George Horn

George Horn is a legendary Chief Mastering Engineer renowned for his work at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley and CBS Studios in San Francisco. His precision, sonic artistry, and deep collaborations in the heavy metal scene have left a lasting legacy on vinyl. Read the full biography.

Logo and cover artwork: Guy Aitchison / Guilty and Innocent Productions:

Guy Aitchison has been designing and drawing Heavy Metal album covers during the mid to late-1980s. During this period he has drawn numerous album covers. Since 1988 he apprenticed in Chicago at Bob Olson's Custom Tattooing and became a tattooist. Guy Aitchison has been working often together with Steve Fontano, Dino Alden, and George Horn on the same heavy metal albums.

Album cover photography: Mike Barwacz

Record Label & Catalognr:

 RoadrunneR Records – RR 9672

Record Format:

12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record

Total Album (Cover+Record) Weight: 230 gram

Year & Country:

  1986 Manufactured in the Netherlands
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: RAVAGE - Wrecking Ball
    Band-members, Musicians and Performers
  • D.D. Rand (real name: Doug Theiner) - Guitar
  • Kyle Michaels - Lead Vocals
  • Jayson Gray - Bass, Vocals
  • Dale Clark - Drums
  • John Sweeney - Drums, Vocals
  • Backing vocals: Hipmunks!, Amazing Dick, Five Buck Bill and Cardinal Ky Jonesin.
Complete Track-listing of the album "RAVAGE - Wrecking Ball"

The detailed tracklist of this record "RAVAGE - Wrecking Ball" is:

Track-listing Side One:

  1. 69
  2. Bloodshot
  3. Battle Stations
  4. Fire & Fury
  5. Killer On The Loose
  6. Keeper Of The Night

Track-listing Side Two:

  1. Kissing The Black
  2. Passion Web
  3. Raise Some Hell
  4. Snake Bite
Front cover of RAVAGE - Wrecking Ball 1986 LP showing a spiked wrecking ball smashing through a brick wall, with bright yellow and purple explosive energy and debris flying in all directions

The album cover for RAVAGE - Wrecking Ball is a dramatic explosion of energy and destruction. Dominating the center is a massive, dark blue spiked wrecking ball, depicted mid-impact as it smashes violently through a wall of golden-orange bricks arranged in a grid pattern, each resembling a window or panel. The impact releases a burst of brilliant yellow light and violet electric energy, radiating from the center outward. Shards of glass, debris, and fractured masonry scatter across the foreground, enhancing the explosive feel.

Above the wrecking ball, a thick chain links it to an unseen crane or ceiling. Hovering over this chaotic scene is the band’s name, RAVAGE, emblazoned in large, angular red letters with sharp, metallic edges. At the bottom, the album title WRECKING BALL appears in the same bold red font, positioned against a dark backdrop for maximum contrast. The entire scene is set against a smoky black and deep violet background, giving it a nightmarish industrial feel.

Album Back Cover  Photo of "RAVAGE - Wrecking Ball"
Back cover of RAVAGE - Wrecking Ball 1986 LP featuring band photos, tracklist, credits, and a chained spiked wrecking ball design at the top center against a spotlighted metal background

The back cover of RAVAGE - Wrecking Ball presents a structured, high-contrast design against a sleek, gunmetal gray background illuminated by radial beams of white light. At the top center hangs a metallic black spiked wrecking ball, suspended by a heavy steel chain, visually linking the cover to the album’s destructive title and theme.

Four individual portrait photos of the band members are arranged in a grid across the middle section, each framed in red. From left to right: guitarist D.D. Rand is shown holding a white Flying V guitar with a serious expression; vocalist Kyle Michaels appears with voluminous curly hair and a commanding look; bassist Jayson Gray is captured in an aggressive pose mid-shout with his bass; and drummer John Sweeney is leaning forward intensely, drumsticks in hand.

To the left, the full track listing for both sides of the album is displayed in blue text. On the right, detailed credits are printed in yellow and white, highlighting the studios, engineers (including George Horn and Peter “The Butcher” Leonardy), photographer Mike Barwacz, and cover artist Guy Aitchison. At the bottom, acknowledgments, fan club contact, and copyright details complete the layout. The logo of Roadrunner Records with catalog number RR 9672 is positioned in the top-right corner.

Photo of "RAVAGE - Wrecking Ball" 12" LP Record - Side One:
Side A label of the 1986 RAVAGE - Wrecking Ball LP on Roadrunner Records featuring tracklist and credits printed on a white center label

This image shows the Side A of the RAVAGE - Wrecking Ball 12-inch vinyl LP, pressed on standard black vinyl. The record’s glossy surface is clean and reflective, with the grooves clearly visible around the central label.

The center label is white with black text, framed by a fine red circle along the edge. At the top, the Roadrunner Records logo appears in bold red lettering inside a double-bordered box. The left side lists "SIDE A" and "STEREO," while the right includes the catalog number "RR 9672" and "33 RPM" speed designation.

Beneath the album title "WRECKING BALL", the track listing for Side A is printed, showing five tracks: "69", "Bloodshot", "Battle Stations", "Fire & Fury", and "Keeper of the Night." Song durations and composer credits (Rand, Michaels, Gray) are also noted.

The label includes production and publishing credits at the bottom, identifying © 1986 and ℗ 1986 by Hong Kong Live! Music Productions B.V., and specifying that the album was manufactured in the Netherlands. The spindle hole is perfectly centered, indicating a well-preserved copy.

Photo of "RAVAGE - Wrecking Ball" 12" LP Record - Side Two:
Side B label of the 1986 RAVAGE - Wrecking Ball LP on Roadrunner Records showing tracklist, catalog number RR 9672, and publishing details on a white label

This image displays Side B of the RAVAGE - Wrecking Ball 12-inch vinyl LP, a glossy black record with visible audio grooves encircling a centered, matte white label. The reflective finish of the vinyl emphasizes its well-preserved condition.

The center label design mirrors Side A, with the Roadrunner Records logo prominently printed in red within a rectangular box across the top. Surrounding the label is a fine red border containing copyright warnings. On the left, "SIDE B" and "STEMRA" are printed; on the right, "RR 9672," "STEREO," and "33 rpm" are clearly noted.

Below the bolded album title "WRECKING BALL", the track listing for Side B is printed, detailing four songs: "Kissing the Black," "Passion Web," "Raise Some Hell," and "Snake Bite." Each entry includes songwriting credits and song duration, emphasizing the contributions of band members Rand, Michaels, and Gray.

Additional credits indicate the album’s publishing was handled by Roadster Music and that the release was © and ℗ 1986 by Hong Kong Live! Music Productions B.V. The pressing was manufactured in the Netherlands, as printed at the label’s bottom edge.