Getting to Know… Bleeding Raven | Interview 🎤

For the 43^rd interview in the Getting to Know… series, The Musical Hype welcomes back Dean Mason, this time, as part of Bleeding Raven.

“Unless you’re pretty as hell or are involved in some sort of controversy or crap on stage and throw it at the crowd […] a new artist is not going to be considered ‘unique.’ I am not unique. I’m just another dude sitting around the cyberspace ‘koom-bye-ya campfire’ sharing some dark hippie tunes.” Back in March 2019, The Musical Hype conducted its 27^th edition of the Getting to Know… interview series.  The interview that took place was with Dean Mason, better known as Gnostic Gorilla (Getting to Know… Gnostic Gorilla). As evidenced by the aforementioned quote from that particular interview, Mason showed himself to be a pretty colorful, brutally honest individual – pretty badass, right?

Why recap Interview #27? Well, Interview #43 is with Bleeding Raven, “an aggrotech/dark tek project” featuring – you guessed it – Dean Mason! This time, Mason asserts, “I don’t consider myself or what I do distinct or unique. I’m not trying to act all humble n shit, but it’s true. Here we are in 2019 and I’m sure most will agree – it’s all been done.” Hey, at least the man’s consistent, right? Without further ado, here is another colorful go-round for Mason – Getting to Know… Bleeding Raven, Interview #43.

Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype (BF): Let’s get this started off right. For those who may not be familiar with Bleeding Raven, what would you say makes you distinct or unique? How do you rock the listener’s socks off?

Bleeding Raven: I don’t consider myself or what I do distinct or unique. I’m not trying to act all humble n shit, but it’s true. Here we are in 2019 and I’m sure most will agree – it’s all been done. That’s just the way it is. I mean, even if one wanted to be into the ‘shock’ thing to get attention…good luck. If you can think of it – it’s probably been done. All blends of styles and all degrees of abrasive and weird and dark and disturbing and heart pounding…whatever lifts your dress…it’s all been done. Even when it comes to image. After KISS and Manson and then all the various attempts at looking like the sleaze patrol or a sewer rat from hell in the metal scene…what’s left to do? I wear a mask? Big f’n deal. I started that in 2001. Since Slipknot, many artists wear masks.

Now, said, I know nothing about blowing anyone’s socks off. If they can’t keep their trainers and socks on…that’s not my problem. Bunch of hippie bastards. Hahahahahahaha.  Ok…that was funny…no? In all seriousness though, Bleeding Raven is more in the style of Psyclon Nine/Ministry/Die Sektor with a dash of Type O Negative. See…that just proves my point: I had to cite other acts to describe my music. I don’t like this game anymore. L hahahahahahaha

BF: “If they can’t keep their trainers and socks on… Bunch of hippie bastards” – incredibly funny to say the least! I’m speechless… Anyways, moving on, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did your project come to be and what were some of the goals or the visions you had early on?  

Bleeding Raven: So, back when I was a teenager, I got into the whole idea of recording music and I set out, with a bunch of pals to write and record a single. That single, which today is a rare and obscure item (the original pressing I mean) was called “Dark Hallway/Golgotha.”

In 2012, I decided to try doing a bit of recording on my own, purely as a hobby and began putting out dark electronic music. I used the name ‘The Lonely Ghost Project’ but later used the name ‘Gnostic Gorilla.’ I released a few singles and then finally my first album was released called St. Basil’s Asylum. This was released in 2015 but rereleased in 2018 by Cleopatra Records. I never actually thought I would get a label deal. I did music as a hobby more or less. I have a few releases out. Just Google Gnostic Gorilla and you’ll find all sorts of trash… I mean…goodies. hahahahahaha   But, moving along…in May of this year I really wanted to go more ‘aggrotech’. After a long drive listening to Die Sektor and Psyclon Nine, I just really wanted to do this kind of music.

My other stuff, as Gnostic Gorilla is more Goth/Industrial/Dark Wave…and I’m really proud of what I’ve done. But I just wanted to initiate another project to pursue a more ‘aggrotech’ type sound. I initially wanted to have this be a project with several other artists but that never quite happened through no one’s fault. I just kept recording and finally accomplished what I wanted. So, that brings us to why we’re here now and that is Bleeding Raven’s debut album… Darkness Consumed, released by Cleopatra Records. (little promo ad created for Cleopatra Records by William Westwater of Fear Incorporated) 

BF: Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

Bleeding Raven: Goals have changed dramatically since October, yes. More or less, this album is sadly my last release. There is one more album as ‘Gnostic Gorilla,’ but that has been in the vault since 2017. No, it’s all finished man. In October, I lost suddenly, and COMPLETELY the hearing in my left ear. Gone. We don’t know why. It could be a virus or something else. Doctors are still investigating. The right ear only has about half its function and even with the hearing device, it’s just not the same. I can watch a show and not understand a bloody thing they’re saying. I mean, I hear sounds but I can’t make out what they’re saying. And so, I really need to protect what little hearing I have remaining and so that’s it for this music stuff. And, no…the hearing loss has nothing to do with the music I’ve done. I actually asked…and the doctor laughed. He said, “Loud noise can initiate slow hearing loss over time but not sudden deafness.” Now…one of my ‘dreams’ is to have someone else take over the Bleeding Raven project and run with it. I don’t know if that will happen.

BF: Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

Bleeding Raven: As kid, barely out of diapers, KISS was a big thing for me. But as a teenager, I got into Gary Numan and I have to say that in so many ways, he is one of the biggest inspirations. That said, Numan is an inspiration and some of my music is sort of connected to that early electronic era but most of my stuff is ‘influenced’ by more industrial and metal acts. I’ve already mentioned Psyclon Nine and Die Sektor for more recent influence so there’s that. But in general, I would mention bands like Type O Negative, Ministry, Korn, Manson, Sabbath, Dio, Japan (David Sylvian) Rammstein, and more recently…Global Citizen, Fear Incorporated, CRIX IIIX, and Frost Like Ashes. (this list is very skimpy…I like MANY artists) To end, as I always do, I mention The Doors. Gary Numan and The Doors will remain for me the most important artists ever. For me that is.

BF: Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.  

Bleeding Raven: Unfortunately, I never set out to do live work. And now that’s even less likely obviously.

BF: Fair enough. Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded? What makes that song special?

Bleeding Raven: I’d say, “Winter’s Mourning” and “St. Basil’s Asylum” from my Gnostic Gorilla discog, and as far as Bleeding Raven is concerned, I’d say, “The Cry of Simeon” and the remixes of that track are my favorites. What makes them special? Well, the first two I mentioned are very personal and I’ll leave it at that.

BF: Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

Bleeding Raven: I could tell you what I really do for a living but then I’d have to go into witness protection. Hahahahahahaha   Joke there. Seriously. Just joking.  0_o   Don’t look at me that way. Hahahahahaha. No, but seriously…I don’t know what to say to be honest. I have a career that keeps me very busy. It’s a fairly intense type of career, which is also now being challenged as well because of my hearing loss but…anyway. As a person, I’m EXTREMELY passionate about human rights. I can’t stand what we are seeing right now. So much fucking hate and racism and bigotry and all the Neanderthal backwards bullshit we are seeing in the past two or three years.

You have radical religious right-wing nut-jobs, like some rabid Christians wanting to go back and oppress and persecute everyone that doesn’t fit their ‘agenda’. You have people resorting to violence and committing mass murder in the name of their shriveled ego (phallic insinuation intended). Then, you also have the super-secularists and atheists who are just as “in your face” as these religious zealots. In fact, they set each other off. Can’t we just fucking get along?  Now, I have to say, the trophy for most rabid hate goes to the more religious zealots. Some of my music touches on these themes in hidden ways.

See, I DO believe in God or a ‘higher power’ if you will. I am a Catholic. But, I have to say, that often times, I see non-Christians who “get it” much faster than so called Christians. If you can hate and persecute and isolate and even allow violence against the ‘other’…you’re not a true follower of the one who preached non-violence. Sadly, religion isn’t always the best example of good. And it pisses me off to no end that I agree more… much of the time with someone like Bill Maher than I many so called “Christians”…especially the goofballs spewing forth hate in the name of God. The ‘God’ they propose is very small indeed! Oh my…was I ranting? Why yes, I was. I enjoyed every minute of it! Is it teatime yet? hahahahahaahhaahha

BF: Closing this thing out, what is you/your band currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

Bleeding Raven: I hope to continue to promote that which I have already released. I have some good stuff out there. I really believe that. It just needs to be exposed. Not saying it’s unique, but it is worth a listen. Some of it is going to be classic I think. I am looking at possibly doing a lyric/poetry book which would include all of my lyrics as well as some wild art or photography. We will see.

BF: Thank you so much for sharing taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward. 

Bleeding Raven: No thank you mateys. Keep it real ok? I like your approach as well. Cheers.

Photo Credits: Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, Bleeding Raven, Dean Mason