Mellowdeath by Mellowdeath
Mellowdeath (Berlin/Bielefeld, DE) plays nightmare jazz—an eerie cinematic soundscape, a haunted circus intercut with a David Lynch western—equal parts menace and mischief. Mellowdeath is Sara Neidorf (Sarattma, Mad Kate | The Tide, ex-Brian Jonestown Massacre) on drums and Isabel Merten (No Chronicles) on bass.
In 2018, they released their debut EP, Deadly Stares. And in 2025, they will release their new album—twice!—first as self-titled album (forthcoming November 14th) with special appearances from guest musicians (on synths, trombone, theremin, and more), and then later stripped down, released as Bare Bones, reflecting the band’s usual duo setup of bass and drums.
Mellowdeath sends listeners through a ghost surf cyclone, a haunted hay ride through unsettling, yet hypnotic grooves and doom-twang dirges fit for a clown’s funeral.
From Veil of Sound, about “Deadly Stares”:
“As Merten’s gutwork grows ever fuzzier for the crescendo, Neidorf’s elastic snare… [grooves] through various theatrical patterns, before leaving you dusted and dazed - though, surprisingly upright - despite all the rugged changes in terrain. Eyes in your feet, watch where you step is the word. …dig the freer interludes where you’ll hear Neidorf’s surgically incisive cymbal work sparkling over inventive pulled punches on the kit. Yet, for all the pretzel logic, Mellowdeath is always in the pocket.”
Credits:
Sara Neidorf - drums
Isabel Merten - bass, xylosynths
Guests, track by track:
Demon Slither - ft. Rachel Glassberg on synths, Florian Juncker on trombone
Omacore - ft. Rachel Glassberg on synths, Jackie Perez Gratz on cello
Krankenstation - ft. Florian Juncker on trombone
1772 - ft. Marco Bianciardi on guitar
Atemlos - ft. Matt Hollenberg on guitar
Wermut - ft. Rachel Glassberg on synth
Verfolgungsjagd - ft. Marco Bianciardi on guitar
Metal Country - ft. Isabel Merten on xylosynth
Verhallt - ft. Marco Bianciardi on guitar
Trotzig - ft. Hekla Magnusdottir on theremin
Tracklist
| 1. | Demon Slither | 4:05 |
| 2. | Omacore | 3:05 |
| 3. | Krankenstation | 3:25 |
| 4. | 1772 | 5:13 |
| 5. | Atemlos | 4:24 |
| 6. | Wermut | 4:30 |
| 7. | Verfolgungsjagd | 2:33 |
| 8. | Metal Country | 4:17 |
| 9. | Verhallt | 3:45 |
| 10. | Trotziges | 3:03 |
Credits
Mellowdeath's bass and drum tracks were recorded by Jan Oberg at Hidden Planet Studios in Berlin in 2021. Guest tracks were recorded separately by guest musicians in Germany, US, and Iceland 2022 and 2023. The album was mixed and mastered by Steve Roche at Permanent Hearing Damage Studios in Philadelphia in 2024.
Cover art by Chloe Grove
License
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Mellowdeath is an instrumental nightmare jazz duo featuring Sara Neidorf (Sarattma, Mad Kate The Tide) on drums and Isabel Merten (No Chronicles) on bass. The duo sends the listener on a haunted hay ride through hypnotic rhythms, ghost surf, and dirges fit for a clown’s funeral. They will release their debut s/t full-length in November 2025.