Ravens Over Gomorrah is a band from Southern California that plays their mix of atmospheric and brutal music in an original way. We talked with vocalist Mike Wortham about the band and their new release.

 

How do you see yourself as part of the black metal scene in the USA? Is

american black metal growing?

I don't really consider our music black metal. If I had to label it, I would just call it extreme metal...I don't like being labeled as anything.

Yes, the American black metal scene is growing, but not in the way it should be. Bands are all doing the same thing that has been done a million times before. I'm not implying that we are the most original band in the world, but we at least try to have our own style.

Can your music be described as melodic and atmospheric black metal?

Yes, I think our music is melodic and atmospheric at times.

 

Which are your favourite parts in Ravens Over Gomorrahīs Song: the faster parts or the more melodic ones? Which do you think gives the band its most characteristic features?

I prefer a little of both, the faster and the melodic parts. I think the faster parts give us the most characteristics.

 

Can you tell me a little bit about the history of the band?

Ravens over Gomorrah was formed by Darin Winn (ex-Summond/Noctuary) & Bart Schmidt (ex-Summoned) in mid 97. I joined the band in late 97 and soon after we recorded our first demo "Blasphemous Hymns, Nighttime Serenades". We had a bit of a brake and then we recorded our second release "Darkly Melisma". We are currently working on material for our third demo.

 

Is the follow up to "Darkly Melisma" ready? Are you satisfied with the results that you got with "Darkly Melisma"?

Our third release will most likely be completed in May.

 

Do you feel the band is influenced by bands like Mayhem, Gorgoroth or maybe others like Arcturus, Old Manīs Child, etc.? Are there any other influences in your music?

No, I don't feel that we are influenced by any of those bands; we are however, influenced by the European sound, not necessarily any specific bands so to speak.

 

Have your lyrics any special concept? Can you explain them?

R.O.G.'s lyrics mainly deal with the occult, paganism, and mythology. When we write our lyrics we write them around the concept of the release that we are doing at that time. Both of our demos have been completely different from each other. Demo #1 had more of an occult theme to it and demo #2 had more of a pagan/mythology theme to it. It all depends on the concept of the cd we are planning at the time I guess.

How is the process of composition in Ravens Over Gomorrah?

We write the lyrics first. Then once we have the theme that we are looking for in the song we get together and write the music to fit the concept.

 

Do you think Ravens Over Gomorrahīs music can evolve adopting new styles and blending them with black metal?

Yeah, we have thought about bringing in some other styles of music and or instruments to our music, but at the moment we are happy with the sound that we have.

 

Are there any plans of touring to support the new material?

Ravens over Gomorrah are strictly a studio band, so no there will be no touring.

 

Any final words for people in Argentina?

First off I would like to thank you Federico for the interview and the support you have given Ravens over Gomorrah thus far...you rule! To all your readers I would like to say, keep supporting the underground scene as well as the fight against the christian scum!

 

RAVENS OVER GOMORRAH / BLACK DEATH DISTRIBUTION: http://blackdeathdistro.cjb.net

 

Interviewed by Federico Marongiu

 

 

RAVENS OVER GOMORRAH - DISCOGRAPHY

Blasphemous Hymns, Nightime Serenades - cassette (1997)

Darkly Melisma - demo (1999)

 

ACTUAL LINEUP

Darin Winn - guitar

Bart Schmidt - drums

Mike Wortham - vocals