Ravenspell carry themselves with the ease of a band who know exactly where their roots lie, even as they keep expanding the world around them. Speaking from Quebec City, they look back on the small decisions, long friendships and flashes of inspiration that shaped their path, offering hints rather than declarations. What follows is a conversation that opens a window into their universe

Interview

TheNwothm: To start, could you introduce the members of Ravenspell and tell us where you are based in Quebec City?

R.S: Hey there, we are Ravenspell from Quebec City and its surrounding suburbs. I’m Ravok Blackwing, on guitars and backing vocals. Alisander the Seer is on lead vocals, Volpale the Ravenous is on drums, and Corvax Crowhammer is on bass. (Those are our real names, believe it or not.)

TheNwothm: What were the early sparks that brought you together and made you realise this could be a band rather than just a few musicians crossing paths?

R.S: Following a local show by Beholder, in which Alisander, Volpale, and Corvax all played, I thought to myself, “There’s no way these friends of mine are having all the fun on stage without me.” So after the show, we ended up having a few beers together, and I pitched the idea of starting a heavy metal band. They all pretty much said, “Yeah, let’s do it,” and Ravenspell was born.

TheNwothm: The name Ravenspell has a strong sense of imagery. What drew you to it and what did you want it to signal about the world you were building?

R.S: The name Ravenspell was chosen about a year after the band’s creation. We were still in the process of writing songs, and we decided to go with a dark fantasy/medieval concept. It’s darker than some of the heavy/power metal bands out there, but still very much fantasy-driven. I am currently in the process of writing songs for the second album, and the concept will focus much more on elaborating the story of the Obsidian King and his Black Feather Legion, the main elements of the Ravenspell lore.

TheNwothm: Canada has a long history of producing distinctive metal bands. Do you feel part of a wider national identity or do you see yourselves as something more local and self‑contained?

R.S: Of course we identify with some of the Canadian bands out there, but we are focused on making music we enjoy without comparing ourselves to other bands, so you could say we are self-contained. We don’t try to follow trends or go fishing for likes on social media — we just do our thing and hope the fans enjoy it as much as we do. I’m still figuring out what the hell Instagram is for, so apologies if you are among our followers; I’m still learning the ways of the social media world.

TheNwothm: Quebec winters are famously intense. Do any of you have memories or traditions from those long winters that have shaped your personality or your approach to creativity?

R.S:We’ve been playing music in various projects for over 20 years, so yes, we definitely have plenty of memories of getting stuck in snowstorms, cars that won’t start, blizzards, trying to park in two feet of snow, and much more. Good times. I don’t know if it has shaped our personalities, but winter definitely teaches you patience, resilience, and swearing.

TheNwothm: When you were growing up, what were the first things that made heavy metal feel like home rather than just another genre?

R.S: I started classical guitar at the age of eight, and after hearing guitar solos and riffs in heavy metal music — mainly from bands like Metallica, Black Sabbath, and Iron Maiden — I was hooked. Even though I studied classical music and played various genres throughout my career, metal has always been present and remains my main source of inspiration. The metal community is strong and has one of, if not the most loyal fanbases you can find. It’s a great genre, and we feel right at home in it.

TheNwothm: You are working with Fighter Records. What has it been like having a label behind you and what has surprised you most about that partnership?

R.S: Dave Rotten has been great to work with. In the fall of 2025, when we sent out our album in hopes of finding a label, Fighter Records was one of the first to reply, and they showed immediate interest in our project. In fact, what surprised us the most was how quickly everything happened — less than 24 hours after sending the album, we already had a positive response from the label. They welcomed us into their roster with open arms, and we are extremely grateful. They’re doing an awesome job.

TheNwothm: Your first single, “Warrior’s 9 to 5”, arrived in 2025. Looking back, what did that track represent for you at the time and what memories come to mind when you think about releasing it?

R.S: For our first single as an independent band, we wanted something solid with all the right elements: heavy riffs, a catchy chorus, and something easy to bang your head to. Although the initial response was fairly modest (which is normal for an emerging band) we were quickly signed to Fighter Records, so we shelved that single while waiting for the official release.

TheNwothm: “God the Watcher” followed soon after. What drew you to that song as a standalone release and what did you want listeners to notice about it?

R.S: Without a doubt, “God the Watcher” has the most spectacular intro of all our songs. Alisander’s high scream gets things going immediately. We wanted to grab the listeners’ attention right away, and I think it does its job perfectly. It’s also the opener for both the album and our live shows for the same reason.

TheNwothm: This year you put out “Onwards We March”. What was happening within the band around that period that shaped the energy of that single?

R.S: One of my personal favorites, “Onwards We March” has a bit of all my influences mixed together: heavy, power, thrash, and speed metal. It has melodic elements, but it’s really the rhythm section that drives this one home, in my opinion.

TheNwothm: Your debut full length “Obsidian King” brings all these ideas together. When you think about the album as a whole, what story or feeling ties it together for you?

R.S: The first album is a melting pot of ideas. The concept is still in its embryonic phase, but we feel it has all the right elements to make a strong album. It has variety, dynamics, and good pacing, and we are quite proud of our debut offering.

TheNwothm: Tracks like “Book of the Dead”, “Obsidian Wing” and “Attila” each have their own atmosphere. Without describing how they sound, which moments on the album felt the most meaningful to create and why?

R.S: “Book of the Dead” is a traditional heavy metal song with plenty of chugging riffs and solos, but what really makes it stand out, in my opinion, is the chorus. I apologize in advance, but this one is going to stay in your head for a long time.

“Attila” is the result of combining two or three different songs into one longer piece. The different sections make it feel like one long journey, and it was the most fitting closer for the album.

“Obsidian Wing” was one of the last songs I added lyrics to, and at first I was hesitant to keep it on the album. The music was fine, but without lyrics, I felt it might come across as filler. However, once I came up with the lyrical concept and the vocal melodies and harmonies, it actually became one of my favorites. The horror atmosphere, the ominous chorus, and the addition of the organ really completed the song and made it, in my opinion, one of the standouts on the album.