www.facebook.com/volarahven
From: California
Sounds like: Metal
1. How did you get started with music and how did you develop your sound? Who thought of the name “Volrahven" and is there any meaning behind it?
When I was 13 my dad got me my first guitar and a "How to play Ozzy Osbourne- the randy Rhoads years" with Danny Gill and I spent the next year learning everything on that DVD. I didn't have many friends at the time, nor a lot to do at home, so I'd easily spend 7 hours a day cranking out Mr Crowley and Flying High Again until I'd get them right. When we broke off from our last band and needed a new name, Israel suggested Valravn, taken from Norse mythology meaning "Raven of the Slain." We took the word, phoeneticized it and made it our own.
2. What do you want people to take away from your music?
I want people to feel inspired by the music. Just as my favorite bands inspired me to make music, I want to inspire others to also make music.
3. How would you describe your sound to the average listener?
Intense, unrelenting, and demanding of the listeners full attention.
4. Who are three bands you’d like to tour with?
Megadeth, Gojira, and Mr. Bungle.
5. How has Covid affected what you do as a band?
While it's killed what we love to do best— playing live- it gave us an opportunity to step back and reevaluate what we're doing as a band and where we want to go. We finally took the time to write new music, record and release our Descent of the Feathered Serpent EP, and focus on expanding our fanbase. We're ready to hit the stages now, and hit them harder than we ever had before.
6. What’s your take on the current state of Death Metal?
It's alive and well. It was never a mainstream genre, and while individual locals scenes don't exist in the same way they used to, the internet has created an online scene that's bigger and more connected than it's ever been.
7. What’s the current music scene like there in California?
The metal scene where we are in Sacramento is something pretty unique. A lot of bands that are super supportive of each other, and a few venues that still host us local bands. I hope that after covid, the scene can really band together to help give us each the push to break out of the Sacramento scene.
8. What’s your take on the royalties that streaming services pay out to artists?
They're screwing the artists, but what's new? If it's not the labels stealing money from artists, now it's streaming services. Bands made it through before, we just have to learn to adapt and overcome.
9. What’s next for Volrahven?
We've got some more EPs and singles planned for release, as well as some big shows to play this summer. Just some more moves to keep ourselves steadily growing.
10. Any shoutouts?
I wanna give a shout out to my buddies in Sporadix from Sonoma, Mammal from the Bay, and Corrupted Saint from Jacksonville, Florida. These dudes are keeping the metal alive, and kicking ass while doing it.
