www.facebook.com/ravenblacknightofficial
Sounds like: Doom Metal/Hard Rock
From: Australia
Questions answered by: Jim Petkoff.
1. How did you get started with music and how did you develop your sound? Who thought of the name "Raven Black Night" and is there any meaning behind it?
I was 15 years old when I decided to try and learn the guitar properly getting some tips from my older brother, listening to tapes, vinyl and cds and getting a few lessons I soon started practicing intensely wanting to be in Led Zeppelin, and wanting to emulate Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn. As time went I listened to Blues/Rock/Metal/Funk/Jazz anything to learn different notes but I also loved great songs Zeppelin to Purple, Hendrix ect, and I started playing in bands getting my abilities up. The first Raven Black Night bass player Matt Spencer was like me a fan of The Allman Brothers and Govt Mule a spin off group led by Warren Haynes they have a song called Raven Black Night and it describes us and the music we were doing Raven being mystical, Black like the Doom Heavy Rock and night that has endless possibilities.
2. What do you want people to take away from your music?
A sense of freedom and liberation.
3. How would you describe your sound to the average listener?
Doom with spacey interludes and a few twists and turns sometimes primal and rhythmic but always melodic and spiritual.
4. Who are three bands you’d like to tour with?
Uriah Heep, AC/DC, Black Sabbath or any band Ritchie Blackmore is in!!!!
5. How has Covid affected what you do?
Well like most people we couldn’t play live for a time till restrictions got lifted, we were lucky we had "Run With the Raven" our last cd all recorded and ready to go so we put it out and got some great reviews in different places and some actual sales, we are always jamming anyway so it was guerilla style at times going to a rehearsal room. But we were ready to go overseas more when it hit.
6. What’s your take on the current state of Doom Metal?
It seems like there are so many bands out there some being Doom Metal like us other more Stoner and Sludge, Prog and pushing boundaries some really good stuff but at times some are repetitive in sound as in all, but generally its in a good place at present.
7. What's the current music scene like there in Australia?
I ignore the mainstream scene which is full of so much false music besides some psyche bands breaking through and some Indigenous Hip hop. I like the underground Metal and Punk and Rock scenes most of the bands like us are actually bigger overseas because besides community radio and dedicated fans there is no mainstream radio or t.v support. The live scene has picked up a lot of shows going on and some older Australian bands are touring and a younger crowd is hungry to rock.
8. What’s your take on the royalties that streaming services pay out to artists?
Well we don’t have enough hits to register ha!!!!! Although we are starting through hard work getting a better online presence going. We actually still sell cds and vinyl which we sold out of. But there has to be a far better and fair royalty rate for artist and labels.
9. What’s next for Raven Black Night?
We would love to tour Europe, The States and anywhere that will have us around the world and start recording as soon as possible we have a good new batch of songs which diversify but retain the sound we have.
10. Any shoutouts?
Yes a big shout out to the heavy metal fans, promoters, festivals and clubs that support the music see you on the road.
