Raven Black Night
Raven Black Night are back with their great new album Barbarian Winter - their first album release since Choose The Dark back in 2005.
We caught up with Jim to chat about the record, what the band has been up and what lies ahead.
- You have revealed that you will be releasing your long-awaited album Barbarian Winter later this month so what can we expect from the band with this new record?
Well I hope we can show we tried to create a good organic hard rock/metal album with some different moods and colours in the music we play.
We also want the music and the songs come across in a true honest fashion that brings the listener on a journey, whether rocking on particular tracks or listening to album on a whole. Also there a few surprises on there if your ears seek them out.
- This is the first album release since Choose The Dark back in 2005 so what has taken so long to get back into the studio?
With this band there is always something happening the raven doesn’t let you rest ha!!!!! Choose The Dark was recorded after 5 years of playing and touring as well - so I guess the songs have a chance to grow with the sound and absorb life’s struggles ect.
After Choose The Dark we were always gigging in our home town or playing at metal festivals across Australia while the CD was getting really good reviews and sales in the metal underground overseas in Germany, Europe ect.
At that time me and Rino the raven had to change bass players and drummers to go play in Germany 2007 at the Headbangers Open Air, hard n heavy summer nights and Hells Pleasure Festivals.
When we got back the line up changed again with Phil Portalesi handling drums for most live work and Chris Dorain on bass and my bro Big Toms on bass also helping out on bass.
We continued playing across Australia around 2010/2011 me and Rino started laying new tracks down and recorded them over the period of a year on the bass we got Chris Dorian, who has since relocated to Europe, and Matt Enright on drums. We spent time overdubbing mixing really refining the songs without try to over produce them.
So I guess being busy live having limited funding and line up changes might have slowed us down to a point but we kept on rolling and I am sure new material will surface more frequently now.
- Were you nervous getting back into the studio because it had been so long or was it just an exciting process?
To a degree me and Rino had something to prove to those who maybe doubted we could develop the sound without the line up on the first CD.
But we always do it for us and make sure we feel and mean what we are saying and with a few different personalities coming into the band it has shown we have a core or starting point with our sound of the guitars and we build on that.
I also had been recording my other band The Loving Tongue so for a good three year period I lived in the studio. I love that environment and when the studio is used right it can be an extra voice or instrument.
Rino works quickly and he gets his parts down then comes back to hear what I am doing and suggest things in the mix.
The thing with this band is it’s a way of life as we are always jamming, writing, playing we have never had an extended period of not doing anything have to keep it rocking the engines always running.
- How would you say that the sound of this album compares to the rest? How do you feel you have developed as musicians between the two records?
I think it has moved forward sonically and musically and we cover a lot more ground on the new CD in saying that choose the dark was a good representation of the first 5 years and to a degree it is much bleaker in mood and sound.
Barbarian Winter has that with some more progressive, ambient and straight out metal moments and I feel we are more matured guitar players and songwriters. I really learned a lot vocally doing this CD.
Also a few tracks on Barberian Winter have been re-mastered from Choose The Dark to introduce them to a new audience who might have missed them the first time.
- So how have you found the early response to the record? If you have been playing the tracks live how have they been going down with live audiences?
The response has been overwhelming. There are always those who criticise you say we are to old school ect and that’s cool as there are many that love it and encourage us to push the band harder.
As with the Begging Of Raven Black Night most songs we record are always jammed on, rehearsed played live so they really grow before they are committed to tape. They grow with our lives as time goes on.
The response of the new songs have been very positive given our songs are mostly long and the playing time you get we rotate them with the ones we always play in the live set.
There are a small number of songs we don’t play live much or at all depends who is playing with us, the songs choose themselves and guide us. We have been slowly introducing newer songs not yet recorded as well in our shows.
- This is your first release on label Metal Blade so what was the draw to this label? And how have you found working with them on this first record?
I have always heard of Metal Blade and really respected their history of artists and influence on the metal scene globally and are iconic, we are grateful and honoured they have gave us a opportunity to spread raven black nights music worldwide.
Allan from primordial introduced us at the begging and everyone we have had contact in the label has been amazing very helpful and supportive, In a lot of areas we have had to step up but they have made us feel very comfortable in this transition. We really hope to do well for the label and rock hard.
- What was the thinking behind the title of the record?
It started as an instrumental with a few words Rino had written I refined them and as the lyrics described some one on a quest whether physical, emotional or spiritual.
The song grew over the years into an epic piece we always love to play when we have longer shows to really stretch it out and let the improvisational side of the band to come out.
So we decided to name the new CD after the song as our journey has been long and profound to get to this point in time and probably described some of the changes and obstacles and battles we had along the way but it was all good we did it for rock and roll ha!!!!!!!.
- In 2011 you brought Matt Enright on board so how has that impacted on the music?
Matt is great he sessioned on the CD for us we haven’t done any shows with him at this point. He is in a few bands like Virgin Black he is a busy boy a very down to earth good bloke as well.
I am sure he would be willing to work with us again recording or in the live context. It’s really been a collective for a while with me and Rino manning the ship with our loyal bunch of rock and roll pirates ha!
- You have done a lot of touring over the last few years but will you be getting back out on the road in 2013? Any shows planned from the UK?
Of course step by step once the CD comes out will see what type of interest there is and regardless will try get on some festivals or tours in Europe and the UK.
We would love to come over we read about all the fantastic festivals and iconic live rooms you have in the UK and Europe would be a pleasure to come. We always do regular shows here as well to keep the engine running smooth.
- You have an ever growing fan base so for those fans reading this interview do you have a message for them?
Greetings, Jim the white knight hopes you enjoy our new CD Barbarian Winter coming out through Metal Blade.
We hope to catch up with all the metal brothers and sisters on the road your kindness and support is very much appreciated stay metal and free forever long live rock and roll!!!!!!!!!!!.
- Finally what is next for you?
Well at present we are spreading the music of Raven Black Night far and wide and doing a lot of promotional stuff to introduce ourselves to the metal warriors and princess of the world. We are rehearsing our current live line up and me and Rino have been writing some new material we cant wait to record and watch them grow this band never stops its endless ha!!!!!,
I love bands like Status Quo and Motorhead who continue to pump it hard and fast and become part of the general culture where you can not imagine the world without them - you have to throw in the Rolling Stones in there as well!
- Many thanks for taking the time out to answer my questions
My pleasure thanks for your interest in our music. Many kind metal regards, Jim
Raven Black Night - Barbarian Winter is out now.