With their latest release Black Sonata, theatrical metal misfits Raven Black have unleashed a cathartic and ferocious chapter of their evolution — one that dives into pain, purges the past, and reclaims power. At the heart of it all is “This Little Piggy,” a track that frontwoman Raven calls a “descent into madness and grotesque transformation.” The story behind it is as harrowing as it is creatively inspired.
This Little Piggy” is described as a descent into madness and grotesque transformation — can you share what personal or creative experiences influenced the writing of this track?
Raven: This song was supposed to be written back in 2018 for our previous album but the right energy was not happening for me putting together the music and the crazy idea I envisioned in my head. I wanted this song to have a digging, thumping sound to it as if I was digging a grave to bury all my anger but filling it up with bits and pieces of my past traumas of so many occasions where someone had disrespected me or violated my space. I often heard others say someone is “a Pig” for being disgusting, groping and just rude and disrespectful. I thought if all the people that fit this description and thought they sh out old all be slaughtered for their grotesque behaviors. With a bit of creative imagination, I twisted the pig wolf classic story to fit my story where the pigs are not the victims but rather the evil needing punishment. Of course giving us the roles of the big bad wolf(ves) in this story. I enjoy twisting nursery rhymes. It’s fun and chaotic to twist a familiar story.
Black Sonata marks a new chapter in your evolution. What does this album represent for the band, both musically and thematically?
For the band, we were only two myself and my husband drummer Muppet) at the beginning of Covid and went through a bad “break up” of members, although the truth never surfaced to the public other than it was a bad break up. We endured a lot of shit during this period of time and I lost my Father in 2021 which spiraled me into a deep depression. After releasing a ballad album, which ultimately was my tribute album to my Fatter, we decided it was time to tour again since Covid took so long.
It was during 2023-2024 when Maezi was playing guitar with us on tour that we found a special synergy and friendship and began writing together while on tour. It was the new, improved and fun experience of writing and being a band again.
This album was purposely written from a “no rules” standpoint for all of us. We wrote anything and everything we wanted to write together with no agenda, so it is extremely special us. The one thing we all b agreed on was that we would make this album different but still keep the essence of our branded Darker Metal Carnival, which is and has always been a blend of our favorite things combining horror, theatre, music and storytelling. The freedom of being in a band with people who care only about the music and art and not fame or fortune ignites a creativity inside you that has infinite possibilities. It’s magic.
Your music blurs the line between performance and persona. How do you balance the theatrical narrative of Raven Black with your real-life experiences as artists?
Our personas (characters if the band) are so much a part of who we each are in real life. We don’t feel the need to blur it as much as you think. Our Performance is all about the fans, THE REJECTS, so it’s simply us having fun playing our music live on a stage, but ultimately it’s just us being ourselves with our fans. Makeup and costuming is part of who we are, not just dress up time. That’s the difference between us and some others. Done others do this during Halloween or in their music videos to dive into theatrics but we do it because it’s part of who we are, not just for the stage.
The makeup and costuming is part of who we are. Our personalities don’t change with or without the theatrics. I’m still a “creepy doll” in my real life too, Just metaphorically.
Working with Ulrich Wild brings a lot of sonic weight. What did his presence bring to the production of ‘This Little Piggy’ and the rest of Black Sonata?
Ulrich Wild has and will always be our “ghost member” as he is a part of our band. lol. He is actually a co-writer on this album and also wrote and played bass on every song.
Ulrich has always understood the vision and has always provided us guidance every step along the way. His brilliance has touched every song we put out.
The themes of pain, purge, and power are central in this release. Are these ideas part of a larger concept arc across the album?
Definitely. After releasing my ballad “White Album” a softer side of myself, emotional, it was the final piece to my healing. The stages of healing, where ANGER was the final stage for me. Pain, Purge and Power are the perfect description. This Little Piggy is just one of the songs showing the turnaround of “piggies must die”, meaning we no longer will accept being victims. The thing people often forget is that many victims survive, become stronger and take their power back. Thats when shit gets real.
With comparisons to bands like Avatar and In This Moment, how do you maintain your unique identity while evolving alongside a theatrical metal scene that’s growing more crowded?
I definitely have noticed the growth. So many “sexy” turning “wicked”. lol. I try not to pay attention to other bands and what they are doing for their images or branding. We have always been true to who we are, despite popular trends etc.
I think trendsetting is kind of fake, and fake is stupid to me. I don’t try to be creepy or theatrical, I just am. It’s who we are. We are creative people who write and perform music.
I still look theatrical even in my sweats and no makeup. It’s my personality. It’s who I am. If you sit down and talk to me, Maezi or Muppet, we are all very creative people across the board. Neither one of us has to actually wear makeup or costumes to be creepy, sinister, powerful , weird or fun. We just are. Same goes for Avatar, ITM etc. with or without makeup.. they are who they are. That’s how you can tell which makeup/costume bands are fake or not.
Your sound is a feral blend of eerie melodies and crushing riffs — can you walk us through any key gear or instruments that were essential in shaping the tone of “This Little Piggy”?
We spent a lot of time together working on every layer you hear in each song. Beginning with guitar and drums, Maezi and Muppet , laid the groundwork for the structure of the songs. I then joined them with melody and lyrics. This is when we will listen back and add more layers to give each section depth. After we listen again and again, we add more layers to tell the story. This is what we do together on every song.
Raven Black’s Black Sonata isn’t just an album — it’s an exorcism, a liberation, and a dark celebration of self. It invites listeners into a haunted carnival of sound, led by artists who live and breathe their truth without apology.
“Thank you for wanting to know more about us,” Raven closes. “We’re grateful to every fan who’s stuck with us and grown with us. Brotherhood. Kindness. Fun. We are THE REJECTS.”
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