Germany has somewhat of a reputation for gloomy, unsettling jazz hybrids. Looking at you, Bohren & der Club of Gore. The trend within that very specific niche leans heavily towards the dimly lit, drone-based, and lurching; today, we are proud to premiere a new record by the duo bucking these tendencies in favor of a more whimsical yet no less nightmarish concoction – MELLOWDEATH!
Bringing together Sara Neidorf (of Sarattma, Mad Kate | The Tide, and Hypnodrone Ensemble) and Isabel Merten (No Chronicles), MELLOWDEATH presents the musical equivalent of a haunted house tour at a run-down carnival run by a bunch of lovable but vaguely threatening goons. Imagine John Zorn scoring a David Lynch movie and you’re getting the most surface-level approximation of what awaits you. Surf rock, psychedelia, drone (metal), jazz, and a myriad of other styles are mingled with a glee that’s as macabre as it is infectious.
Formed in 2017 and based between Berlin and Bielefeld (wait, that city doesn’t exist), MELLOWDEATH have thus far released a single EP, touring the surrounding countries on its strength alone. Their new album, also titled Mellowdeath, will undoubtedly increase their renown in- and outside of Germany, as it noticeably levels up their already splendid dynamic. Over the span of ten songs, the two artists (and a spectacular array of collaborators – more on that later) cycle through fuzzed-out rock numbers, jazz lounge repertoire, twang galore, hang-loose attitudes, and doom-laden atmospheres at an unhurried yet eerie pace.
With song titles like “Omacore”, “Krankenstation”, “Trotziges”, or “Verfolgungsjagd”, Mellowdeath rears its head in a mischievously evocative (and distinctly German) way, tacking buzzwords and neologisms onto its playfully funereal soundscapes. I’m particularly fond of the vibraphone-forward “Metal Country” myself. There’s a wicked sense of cohesion to this diverse set of songs, much like an adorable zombie puzzled together from various sources. Neidorf and Merten’s other endeavors permeate the musical background without dictating the mood or direction of MELLOWDEATH in a tangible way.
Says Neidorf herself about Mellowdeath:
‘This album has been a long time in the making, and it’s a lot about how music is a living, breathing thing that comes into contact with and is changed by other living creatures and their voices, presences, and contributions. Isabel and I recorded bass and drums in 2021, and then the guest contributions came slithering in from various contexts and countries (US, Iceland, Germany, Italy) in 2022 and 2023. The album fell through a few different hands in the mixing process, and then landed with Steve Roche in Philadelphia who put the finishing touches in 2024.
‘Finally we were ready to unleash this thing into the world in 2025, and by this point, we also play the songs quite differently live, as they have continued to morph and evolve dynamically and spatially, with and without guest musicians, through practice, performance and conversation. The dancing demons on the cover are partly Isabel and me, but they are also the songs, captured at a moment while still in motion, mutable and breathing, mischievous and serpentine.‘
Speaking of guest contributions, maybe it’s time to unveil the hefty list of musicians who left their mark on MELLOWDEATH‘s début: Rachel Glassberg (of Matching Outfits and Dusty Houseplants) on synths, Jackie Perez Gratz (Grayceon, Giant Squid) on cello, Florian Juncker (Berlin String Theory, Ensemble LUX:NM, Hannes Zerbe Jazz Orchester) on trombone, Hekla Magnusdottir on theremin, as well as Marco Bianciardi (The Somnambulist) and Matt Hollenberg (Cleric, John Zorn, Titan To Tachyons, Sarattma) on guitars. They all helped shape Mellowdeath into the spectacle it presents itself as, alongside producer Jan Oberg and of course the two core members, Neidorf and Merten.
Mellowdeath will be released on November 14, both digitally (pre-order | pre-save) and on cassette, with Cruel Nature Records handling the physical side of things. I’m sure quite a few of you will get a kick out of this album, so be sure to check it out above and consider supporting the band by grabbing a copy. Leave MELLOWDEATH a follow on social media (Facebook | Instagram) as well if you want to keep up with their haunted ride in the future.
À propos future: Neidorf and Merten will release a stripped-down, drum and bass only version of Mellowdeath following its proper rollout, and a release show has been booked for December 11 in Berlin. You might want to look into that…
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