About the Band

l to r, top to bottom: William Rustrum, Melanie Sisneros, Dustin Swad, Dave Chedrick
Raven Mad strives to bring back the classic metal sound and energy of early heavy metal bands like Metallica, Motorhead, Slayer, etc. into the new millenium. The band was formed by guitarist / singer William Rustrum and bassist Melanie Sisneros in early 1998, but it wasn’t until the addition of drummer Joe Verastegui in August of 1998 that Raven Mad began moving forward. Since then, Raven Mad has been an unstoppable force on the local metal scene.

Raven Mad boasts a sound that is unique as it is reminiscent of older metal, appealing to audiences old and new. Raven Mad’s music is riff-driven, riddled by a myriad of distinct parts, and very high energy. Each member contributes a different song-writing style, which lends a unique sound to each song. Tongue-in-cheek humor can be found in the lyrics, which playfully ponder evil, death, Satan, and vampires. Live, Raven Mad is a sonic assault of pounding double-bass drums, distorted bass guitar, and limber fret-work.

Raven Mad has generated a positive response at live shows, proving that there is an existing and growing demand for classic heavy metal. A lively, energetic stage presence demands audience participation. The band has played shows around the Los Angeles/Orange County area, particularly Orange County, including Casey's in Orange, The Last Call Bar & Grill in La Mirada, The Shack in Anaheim, Que's Riverbottom in Burbank, Club Mesa in Costa Mesa, and the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana. Raven Mad has opened for national acts Yngwie Malmsteen, Anthrax, and WASP and has played the recent 2-day November to Dismember Metalfest in San Bernardino CA.

In May 2000, Raven Mad added lead/rhythm guitarist Dustin Swad to the band's line-up for a more powerful sound and even more shredding leads.

Joe Verastegui left the band in December 2000, which brought drummer Dave Chedrick to the Raven Mad fold.

For a list of most of the shows that Raven Mad has played and photos and memories from each, please check out our Band Pix page. The page is updated frequently, so keep checking back!

For booking and more information, please see our Contact Info page.

E-Mail the band at band@raven-mad.com

Last Updated:
May 16, 2001

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