Founded in 2012 by Michael Maas and Tim Ziegeler, A Sickness Unto Death have spent more than a decade shaping their own version of atmospheric doom metal. Heavy riffs, melancholic melodies, expressive vocals, electronic elements, spoken-word samples and cinematic soundscapes form the band's distinctive sonic identity.

Their debut album “Despair” was released in 2013 via TWS Records, followed by “The Great Escape” in 2015, which was mastered by Jens Bogren. With “Beyond” (2018), the band expanded their sound with influences from post-rock, trip-hop and electronica, while turning towards more personal and emotionally raw songwriting.

After a period of reduced activity during the pandemic, A Sickness Unto Death returned in 2023 with “Poles” — their first album to feature German-language lyrics and, in parts, a return to the band's earlier doom-oriented sound.

In 2026, A Sickness Unto Death return to the stage as a five-piece. Alongside founding members Maas and Ziegeler, the current lineup features Marc Nickel, Steve Kerby and Andreas Tegeler.

After almost a decade away from the stage, the band will make their live comeback at Stade Metal Fest on November 28, 2026.

A Sickness Unto Death: doom, atmosphere and existential darkness — without boundaries.

Founded in 2012 by guitarist Michael Maas and vocalist Tim Ziegeler, A Sickness Unto Death emerged from Northern Germany with a distinctive take on atmospheric doom metal. From the very beginning, the band's music combined the weight and melancholy of traditional doom with modern songwriting, cinematic soundscapes, spoken-word samples and an experimental approach to atmosphere.

The duo released their debut album “Despair” via TWS Records in 2013, receiving positive reviews including a 7.5/10 rating from German metal magazine Rock Hard. The same year, A Sickness Unto Death expanded into a five-piece live band and played their first show at the legendary Pumpe venue in Kiel.

Their second album, “The Great Escape”, followed in 2015 and was mastered in Sweden by renowned producer Jens Bogren. Extensive live activity followed, including shows across Germany and abroad, as well as a mini-tour with British death-doom outfit My Silent Wake in 2017.

With “Beyond” (2018), the band took a decisive step beyond their doom metal roots. Post-rock, trip-hop and electronic elements became part of their sonic vocabulary, while the deeply personal lyrics explored themes of isolation, melancholy and emotional vulnerability. The album was recorded by Maas, Ziegeler and session drummer Jan-Asmus Wächter, with Antonio de Yta (Iron Priest) contributing to the songwriting.

Following the pandemic and a period of reduced live activity, A Sickness Unto Death returned in 2023 with “Poles”. Recorded with former Triptykon drummer Norman Lonhard, the album marked the band's first release to feature lyrics in German and, in parts, a return to the more direct doom-oriented sound of their early years. “Poles” was released on white vinyl.

In 2026, A Sickness Unto Death return to the stage as a five-piece. Founding members Michael Maas and Tim Ziegeler are joined by guitarists Marc Nickel, bassist Steve Kerby and drummer Andreas Tegeler. After almost a decade away from the stage, the band will play their first concert with the new lineup at Stade Metal Fest on November 28, 2026.

A Sickness Unto Death's name is taken from Søren Kierkegaard's existentialist work The Sickness Unto Death, a philosophical influence that continues to resonate throughout the band's lyrical themes.

The band's music also frequently explores historical and existential themes. Tracks such as “Ghost Light Dawn” and “The Concrete Lake” deal with nuclear disasters in the former Soviet Union and incorporate extensive Russian-language samples. This distinctive combination of heavy music, atmosphere and documentary-like soundscapes has earned the band a dedicated following, particularly in Eastern Europe.

In 2017, A Sickness Unto Death were featured extensively in Aleksey Evdokimov's Doom Metal Lexicanum, a book documenting 300 influential doom metal bands from around the world.