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Bleeding Raven is an aggrotech/dark tek project featuring Dean Mason of Gnostic Gorilla. As Dean explains, sadly due to medical reasons, latest release ‘Final Rite’ is his final offering as Bleeding Raven, the “black metal ambient” album is “the closure”.
What are the origins of Bleeding Raven, and how long has the ‘project’ been in existence?
DM – It grew out of an earlier project of mine called Gnostic Gorilla, which also has releases on Cleopatra Records (one released, one to come soon). Gnostic Gorilla was more ‘Gothic/Dark Wave/Industrial’, and I wanted something more along the lines of what some call ‘aggrotech’ (I hate having to use categories but I guess that’s the way it is). I call my stuff ‘dungeon trash’, haha. So, in May of 2019 I decided to initiate this recording project and at first it was going to be with several people but eventually, by necessity, it became a one guy thing. The first release for Bleeding Raven is ‘Darkness Consumed’ which is on Cleopatra Records.
You should copyright “dungeon trash”! So what should people expect when they check you out? How would you describe yourself?
DM – Expect to go into debt paying for therapy, haha. No, my music, especially as Bleeding Raven, is quite heavy; heavy in the sense that it is dark and certainly not a “Daydream Believer” type song (I like that song actually, lol). I think the fastest way to summarise my music is most of it sounds like something you’d hear as part of a soundtrack for a horror flick like “Sinister” or “Queen of the Damned” or “Underworld”.
The new music scene is bursting at the seams with fresh talent. In what ways do you feel that a band or artist has to stand out from the others trying to build a name?
DM – In my opinion, my ‘humble’ opinion, a new band or artist shouldn’t bust their skull trying to win the “I’m so unique” trophy because you’ll find yourself very frustrated. Look – it’s all been done. I mean, ‘unique and original’ more or less died in the 90s. So, be yourself, and be true most of all to your own artistic inner ability and never mind how others will or will not react. Rule of thumb: if you can’t buy it yourself – don’t sell it. In other words, do what comes naturally and enjoy the creative process. IF you ‘make it’ – GREAT! If not, then you’ve been true to yourself. Look, unless you are as pretty as hell or you do something really outrageous (and I won’t even make any suggestions!), you won’t get noticed. NOT because you’re no good. There are a gazillion bands out there who are actually more talented than the ones on TOTP. But sadly, we ‘budding artists’ are like a snowflake in a blizzard.
What are you working on at the minute that people can check out?
DM – Well, a few days ago I released my final ‘offering’ as Bleeding Raven, called “Final Rite”. There’s an important write up about everything here along with the album. This and the EPs which have been released in the last couple of weeks are more in the arena of ‘black metal ambient’. But this is, as the title suggests, a sort of ‘final bow’.
Who do you feel is the next band to break out?
DM – Oh man. I don’t know. I really don’t. I DO feel that Fear Incorporated is an act that still could do very well in the ‘dark music’ realm.
What are your first musical memories? And what was the light bulb moment that made you go “I want to do that?”
DM – In a nutshell – Gary Numan. When I first saw Gary Numan on TV performing with the band I was mesmerised, because he sounded and acted unlike anything out there at the time. He had this aura about him that was absolutely unique. He was, more or less, the artist that first made me want to do something similar.
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
DM – Oh my God. You’re not going to believe this, but Gary Numan in Toronto, lol. I’ve not been able to go to gigs for a long while, nor do I plan on doing so anytime soon for medical reasons.
Gary Numan is timeless! What is the album that you have in your collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
DM – I have a Petula Clark track on my iPod. It’s a French song she recorded called “Le Soleil Dans Les Yeux”. Well… you asked, haha!
Checking the track out now! How active are you on social media and where can people connect with you?
DM – Well, I try. I have to push myself to get engaged with SM because I’m a pretty extreme introvert, so it’s a task to put myself out there. But I do have a small presence, on Facebook.
What are your plans for 2020?
DM – This is where it gets sad. There are no future plans. In October 2019 I COMPLETELY lost the hearing in my left ear, and the right ear is at half capacity. When I say lost, I mean DEAD. A hearing device will not change this, not even an implant. The right ear, which is all I have left, is challenged. So, more or less, music is no longer an option. “Final Rite” is the closure.
That’s horrible Dean, we wish you all the best in what must be a terrifying time for you. Take care.
