German duo Mellom has crafted a debut album, The Empire of Gloom, that masterfully blends Black and Death Metal with haunting atmospheric layers. In this interview, Dave and Skadi dive into the project’s origins, their creative process, and the themes of fear and loss that define their music. Discover how they turned personal despair into a sonic experience.
Serial Metalbums: Can you tell us about the origins of Mellom? How did you two meet, and what inspired you to create this project? Could you also introduce yourselves, your roles within the band, and what each of you brings artistically to Mellom?
Dave: Outside of my bands, I’ve always created music under the name 13 Days Before Suicide—a project spanning various genres, from instrumental rock to Black Metal and Djent. It served as a creative outlet I pursued just for fun. However, I’d always wanted to explore something different alongside my bands—something that combined Black and Death Metal with atmospheric elements.
I began writing music without any specific plans. At the time, I had another project in mind, but it didn’t work out and never reached completion. Eventually, the idea of starting a new band took shape, and I decided to ask Skadi if she’d be interested in forming a duo and adding vocals to my musical ideas.
I had first met Skadi through a band audition. Although we chose someone else for that role, it wasn’t because of her vocal skills. Thankfully, when I reached out, she said yes—and here we are!
Serial Metalbums: What are the main influences that shape Mellom’s music, whether they’re musical, literary, historical, or otherwise? How do these inspirations translate into your sound and the themes you explore?
Dave: As I mentioned earlier, my goal was to create a fusion of Black and Death Metal with atmospheric elements. However, I wanted to avoid extremely long songs, aiming instead for a more compact, almost pop-like structure, if you will.
On the lyrical side, Mellom delves into themes of fear, loss, and mortality. I believe the title track, The Empire of Gloom, captures the essence of Mellom perfectly. It’s a song about the fear of losing a loved one, the pain that follows, and the deep despair that comes with it.
Serial Metalbums: You will release your debut album, The Empire of Gloom, Could you tell us about your writing and recording process? How do you collaborate to turn your ideas into finished tracks, and what challenges did you face while creating this album?
Dave: Most of the songs were nearly complete before I asked Skadi to join. I recorded the demos at home, handling the drum programming and other elements myself. For the vocals, I recorded a guide track for Skadi—but since I can’t sing at all, poor Skadi had to endure listening to my attempts before heading into the studio! Thankfully, she did an amazing job and brought the songs to life.
For the drums, I reached out to a friend who has helped me with various bands and recordings in the past. I booked a studio, and we managed to complete the drum recordings in two days. Afterward, I recorded the guitars at my home studio. The bass was also recorded at my home studio, with my bandmate Beli taking on the bass parts.
For the vocals, Skadi and I went to a mutual friend’s studio to record her parts. Once everything was tracked, we handed the project over to Simon (known for his work with Sulphur Aeon, among others) for mixing. The final mastering was done by Victor (Triptykon, Bölzer, and others).
The entire process involved coordinating with several people, which made things a bit complicated. It also took some time because not everyone was immediately available. For instance, we had to book the studio for the drum recordings nearly five months in advance because the drummer’s schedule was so packed.
Serial Metalbums: The album seems to delve into deep and intense themes. Is there an overarching concept or specific stories that guided the creation of The Empire of Gloom? How do these themes reflect your artistic vision?
Dave: Yes, the central concept that runs through both the music and lyrics is the fear of loss—one of the fundamental anxieties of human existence. This theme is reflected in the lyrics, while musically, it takes on different forms. At times, it leans towards a doom-like atmosphere; other times, it adopts a faster pace. Yet, no matter the tempo, there’s always a pervasive sense of melancholy and despair woven into the sound.
Serial Metalbums: Artwork and visual aesthetics often play a crucial role in black/death metal. How did you approach this aspect for The Empire of Gloom? Do you collaborate closely with visual artists, or is this an extension of your musical vision?
Dave: Yes, artwork plays a crucial role in these genres, and that’s absolutely true. As I mentioned before, I appreciate the occult aesthetic, but since I don’t personally connect with it, it wouldn’t feel authentic for us to use those symbols and themes.
For the artwork, we collaborated with Chris from Misanthropic Art—I’m a big fan of his work. He also designed the Mellom logo. The concept behind the artwork depicts Death taking someone away, leaving those left behind to grapple with the pain of loss.
Serial Metalbums: As a duo from Germany, what’s your perspective on the current black/death metal scene, both in Germany and internationally? Are there any artists or trends that you find particularly interesting or inspiring today?
Dave: In Germany, there’s a band called Kanonenfieber that’s currently generating a lot of buzz. I’m not sure if you’d classify their music strictly as Black or Death Metal, but it incorporates elements of both genres. It’s incredible how quickly they’ve risen in popularity.
I don´t know the underground scene very well. But I´ve stumbled across the german band FIRTAN witch I like. I also enjoy HALPHAS, our label mates from Folter Records. There are so many fantastic bands out there. However, if you were to ask me whether there’s something uniquely characteristic about the German Black/Death Metal scene, I’m not sure I could pinpoint anything specific. Maybe bands like Sulphur Aeon and Chapel of Disease are unique sounding bands from germany.
Internationally, I recently discovered Panzerfaust from Canada, and I’m absolutely hooked on their vibe. Of course, Polish bands like Behemoth and others have brought something fresh to the Black/Death Metal scene, following the wave of Scandinavian bands that dominated earlier.
The Italian label Avantgarde Music consistently delivers amazing bands. Also GAEREA offers something entirely new—I’d describe it as “hipster Black Core.” It’s not Black Metal, nor Death Metal, but it’s also not Metalcore. It sits somewhere in between, blending elements in a really cool way. Of course, I imagine the die-hard, trve Black Metal fans probably hate them.