Raven Records Review: Record Shop, Coffee Shop and Alcohol-free Bar
Ah, Raven Records in Camden Town, London – a place where the spirits of metal and caffeine intertwine in a symphony of dark delight. Chernoglav and I recently visited it as we heard it was a place where echoes of heavy metal resonate through the air, and the coffee is as black and potent as the heart of Hades.
Upon entering this hallowed ground, I was immediately enveloped in an atmosphere that was both wickedly welcoming and deliciously dark, but extremely well lit! Owners Ben and Chloe, the high priests of this temple, have masterfully blended their passion for metal with a sanctuary for those seeking refuge from the alcohol-laden world. Ben, armed with 16 years of sobriety, and Chloe, a sorceress of the DJ realm, have created more than a shop – they've birthed a heavy metal haven. What’s more is this is just stone’s throw from the Black Heart and The Underworld.
The vinyl collection was like a dark library of arcane knowledge, each record a tome of auditory magic spanning from the depths of death metal to the soaring heights of power metal (but you all know how I really feel about power metal…). I instantly got lost in searching through the records where I found YET AGAIN another Origin of Feces with the original artwork, Steele’s gaped anus with the “scratch and sniff” sticker placed just over the button. I knew at once this was a place of fine art!
Once we released we arrived to a record store with a ten pound note and a lot of pocket lint we purchased a half-pint of alcohol-free beer. That’s right this place also doubles as an alcohol-free hang out for metal heathens. And let’s be honest for us older more health-focused metal heads we want the occasional taste without the buzz, bad decisions, liver failure, arrest warrants and all the other fun after-party great shit that may come with drinking.
But the true dark magic lay in their coffee offerings. Chernoglav and I dared to imbibe the Messe Noire and Versvs Christvs, two Behemoth-inspired brews that promised a caffeine kick strong enough to wake the dead. And oh, did they deliver! Each sip was like a dark ritual for the taste buds, a caffeinated conjuration that would make the Nergal nod in solemn approval as he did a ridiculous yoga pose with his cat, fully nude as we all know he does. These brews were not just coffee; they were liquid adrenaline, jam-packed with enough caffeine to fuel a night of relentless headbanging.
Ben & Chloe - Raven Records
And let's not shy away from the aftermath – these potent potions ensured that my digestive system embarked on its own epic journey. The bowel movements that followed were nothing short of monumental, a testament to the coffee's power. It was as if the dark lords of metal themselves had orchestrated a symphony in my gut.
The owner Ben was even nice enough to show us his favourite spot, the basement! Descending into the bowels of Raven Records we saw there was a big black upside-down cross which could be illuminated to cast a sinister red glow. This was the heart of Raven Records, a den where the most devout disciples of metal could gather and bask in the unholy glow.
The pilgrimage to Raven Records was a very rewarding experience that I highly recommend. The vinyls, the non-alcoholic elixirs, and the Behemoth-inspired coffees created a trifecta of metalhead ecstasy. Ben and Chloe thanks for opening a place where we could chill pre-show before the Black Heart or Underworld and we wish you nothing but the best.
