With the single „Nevermore,“ Death in Fiction delivers an uncompromising melodic death metal track that oscillates between madness, rage and loss of control. The song combines dark lyrics with brutal energy and melodic depth. Nevermore is a cry against inner turmoil and social self-destruction – intense, angry, uncompromising.
Stream „Nevermore“ and find all links and live dates of the Band here:
https://hicktown-records.de/artists/death-in-fiction
Since their formation in 2020, Death in Fiction have been creating a dark, fictional world – a refuge from harsh reality. With brutal riffs, hammering blast beats and gripping melodies, they tell stories of social decay, inner struggles, illness and hatred.
How did the band form?
The band was founded in the fall of 2020 by Leon Kettemann (drums) and Florian Rößle (guitar), who were both playing in the band Enraged Monkeys at the time, along with Robin Hartmann (guitar). In an attempt to escape the boredom of the COVID lockdown, they met one day in the Enraged Monkeys‘ rehearsal room to jam over a few beers. Influences from classic melodic death metal à la Amon Amarth and Insomnium, melodic black metal, and Leon’s interest in deathcore beats quickly came together to form a cohesive musical foundation. By the end of the evening, it was clear: a new band had to be born.
The idea for the name Death in Fiction was also inspired by the pandemic—specifically, the ever-present hand sanitizer of the time.
After about a year of writing the first songs and welcoming vocalist Tobias Baab and bassist Fabian Spitzer into the lineup, Florian Rößle left the band due to time constraints.
In early 2022, Gunther Schulz joined as a fitting replacement.
What has the band achieved so far?
In February and March 2023, the band recorded their first three singles—Dark Mind, Land of the Fallen, and Centurio’s Whore—at Hicktown Records in Rosenheim. These were gradually released through early 2024. A music video was shot for Centurio’s Whore.
In June 2024, the band returned to the studio to record additional tracks for their debut album. Among them was a cover of ABBA’s Gimme Gimme Gimme, recorded as a standalone single to be released alongside the album but not featured on it. Music videos for both Gimme Gimme Gimme and The Great Unknown (which appears on the album) were filmed in January 2025.
What sets Death in Fiction apart?
Death in Fiction’s music is a perfect blend of modern production and a wide array of influences from across the metal spectrum. Classic elements collide with contemporary styles. Fast-paced sections that fuel circle pits are balanced by catchy, melodic hooks. The band masterfully walks the line between accessibility and technical complexity.
How do Death in Fiction songs come to life?
Most initial song ideas come from Robin. Sometimes more fleshed out, sometimes just rough sketches, they’re brought into the rehearsal room to be developed collaboratively. Drums, bass lines, song structure, vocal placement—everything is worked out together over weeks of rehearsal. The lyrics are written by Tobi.
What drives Death in Fiction?
Our greatest motivation is to create the kind of music we ourselves love—music that makes you want to be in the pit, right in front of the stage. When someone still has one of our songs stuck in their head hours after listening, when a live audience is moshing, headbanging, and having a blast, and when we feel we’ve met our own artistic standards—that’s when we know we’ve achieved everything we set out to do.
Who are Death in Fiction?
Vocals: Tobias Baab
Guitar: Robin Hartmann
Guitar: Gunther Schulz
Drums: Leon Kettemann
Bass: Fabian Spitzer
Pics by Hickdown Records/Lars Palmer