As hungry as the band for a taste of raw, bloody-as-hell American success

[Vladv1]

"A truer sense of the new album’s very different approach was felt more immediately by how much – and how quickly – it began to sell. By the end of August, Highway To Hell had reached No. 8 in the UK albums chart. It was also in the US Top 40 by then, cause for huge celebration over at Rockefeller Plaza if not at the 48th Street apartment Mutt Lange had recently returned to. He hadn’t sweated blood to make a Top 40 album. As hungry as the band for a taste of raw, bloody-as-hell American success, it wasn’t until September, with the band back touring there and the album perched at No. 17 in the US chart, that Mutt – and with him Phil Carson and Jerry Greenberg and Peter Mensch – finally felt able to breathe out again. By the end of the year, Highway To Hell would also take AC/DC back into the Australian charts, reaching a restrained but pleasing No. 24, their highest chart placing back home for three years".
Mick Wall, "Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be".
Could you please reword the bolded? Can't get a coherent meaning.

 

[teechar]

As hungry as the band for a taste of raw, bloody-as-hell American success, it wasn’t until

Even though the band was very eager to achieve big success in America, it wasn't until ... etc.