What is "corvus corax"

Raven \Ra"ven\ (r[=a]"v'n), n. [AS. hr[ae]fn; akin to D. raaf, G. rabe, OHG. hraban, Icel. hrafn, Dan. ravn, and perhaps to L. corvus, Gr. ko`rax. [root]19.] (Zo["o]l.) A large black passerine bird ( Corvus corax), similar to the crow, but larger, and has a harsh, loud call. It is native of the northern parts of Europe, Asia and America, and is noted for its sagacity.

Sea raven (Zo["o]l.), the cormorant.

Corvus Corax may refer to:

• Common raven (Corvus corax), bird
• Corvus Corax (band), German band known for playing medieval music
• Corvus Corax (Warhammer 40k), primarch of the Raven Guard legion (later chapter) of the Adeptus Astartes

Corvus Corax is a German band known for playing Neo-Medieval music using an abundance of authentic instruments. Their name is the Latin name for the common raven. The band was formed in 1989 by Castus Rabensang, Wim (Venustus) and Meister Selbfried ("Master Selfpeace") in East Germany. The band often uses bagpipes as the solo instrument; their live performances attract attention with the bizarre look of the musicians being reminiscent of ancient Greek myths: half-naked, dressed in unusual clothes, wearing primitive tribal decorations, often tattooed.

Today the band consists of seven members: Castus Rabensang ("Castus Ravensong"), Panpeter, Norri (formerly known as Harmann der Drescher), Hatz ("hunt"), Steve, Vit and Wim (Venustus). In May 2005 Meister Selbfried, one of the Corvus Corax founders and the researcher of medieval music, decided to cease his active musicianship and to dedicate himself mostly to managing Corvus Corax's own label Pica Records. His place in the line-up was taken by Jordon Finus in 2006.

The band releases its music through Pica Records in Europe and Noir Records in the USA. The Cantus Buranus projects have thus far been released in Europe by Roadrunner Europe.