A Dirty Dozen with FABIAN HILDEBRANDT from DESERTED FEAR – April 2022

According to a recent press release: “German Melodic Death Metal outfit DESERTED FEAR releases their new single and video for “Follow The Light That Blinds”, taken off their upcoming release, Doomsday, which will be released on March 4th, 2022 via Century Media Records. DESERTED FEAR’s brand-new masterpiece, Doomsday, was recorded, mixed and mastered by the band’s very own Fabian Hildebrandt at Eisensound Studio. The album consists of two intro tracks and nine powerful melodic death songs. DESERTED FEAR is Manuel “Mahne” Glatter (vocals/guitar), Fabian Hildebrandt (guitar) and Simon Mengs (drums).” We get guitarist Fabian to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Thanks for taking the time. No hidden nuggets, but I think there are many small details to discover. Guitar melodies in the background and creative drum fills with many cymbals for example. I would say it’s our most mature album so far.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Oh that was a long time ago. I started playing guitar because of all the new metal bands around the turn of the millennium. I was 13 years old, and I must have had the dream of becoming a rock star and touring the world haha. But my love for death metal was born much later and Deserted Fear was born after a few years without making music. Even cooler that it worked out in the second attempt, more or less haha.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

My introduction to death metal was In Flames. The song “Trigger” was stuck in my head for weeks. I then worked my way through their discography and also many other bands that I then got to know inspired me. So to name a specific album or a specific concert would not do justice. But own concerts or those of other bands are always a great inspiration!

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

That’s hard because there are too many awesome bands I want to name. But spontaneously I would say In Flames, Obituary, At The Gates, Soilwork and Necrophobic.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

John Tardy from Obituary on vocals or Zac Farro from Paramore on drums. Great musicians who have a huge impact on the sound of their band.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Not sure, if you love guitar riffs and melodies, driving drums and vocals that get under your skin, you will like Deserted Fear. Spontaneously I remember reading that someone thought they heard a gothic influence. Very funny haha.

7. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Haha, do we even have an acoustic guitar? So who is definitely not cooking is Simon haha. I’ll take care of the beer and Mahne will cook us some nice noodles, wraps or Thuringian dumplings with red kraut.

8. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

Maybe 2001 when I met Papa Roach in front of the venue? Haha, long time ago.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

I am not a full-time musician. Luckily, looking back at the last two years. I’m very happy in my part time job as a technician in research, it’s a good contrast to be on tour.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I don’t know where you’re from, but in live interviews with people from other countries, I like to talk about their lives or if they’re from the US, what their favorite basketball team is. Since the interviews happen almost all-around album releases and therefore only every two to three years, there is still no question that annoys me haha.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Not really. Maybe the artwork from our second album. Looking back, I would have preferred to stick with black and white artwork, but it’s part of the band and our evolution, so I wouldn’t change it even if I could.

12.  If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Slaughter Of The Soul by At The Gates or The Whoracle by In Flames. In any case Studio Fredman. What sound Fredrik has already created at that time, is simply remarkable and was trendsetting for Melodic Death Metal bands.

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Category: Interviews