Drown In Malice is a metalcore band that was formed in 2016 as a side project by guitarist Robin and their former drummer. Based in Konstanz, Germany, the group gradually took shape through a mix of friendships, chance connections, and even a few old-school forum posts.
“Over time, the current lineup came together through friends, acquaintances, and good old-fashioned forum posts,” Robin explains to No Echo. “Not all of us are actually from Konstanz—we’re from nearby towns and smaller places—so we barely knew each other beforehand.”
That distance didn’t last long. With members already active in other local bands, the chemistry developed quickly, and the lineup has remained stable in recent years, with drummer Ennio joining in 2022. “From the beginning, we just wanted to make the kind of music we were listening to a lot at the time and, most importantly, have fun doing it,” Robin says.
Here’s everything to know about Drown In Malice: the band operates in a space that pulls heavily from early 2000s hardcore and metalcore, while still leaving room for its own identity to take shape. Influences like Poison the Well, August Burns Red, From Autumn to Ashes, Converge, and Heaven Shall Burn are part of the foundation, even if they don’t always surface in obvious ways. “That whole early-2000s wave played a big role in shaping some of us,” Robin notes, “but we all listen to a wide array of music. A lot of it shows up more in the details than in direct influence.”
That attention to detail is especially present on the band’s latest EP, Amnesie & Hysterie. Recorded throughout the first half of 2025—with pre-production beginning in late 2024—the release blends DIY recording with a more focused studio approach. “We recorded the vocals and string instruments ourselves at home and in our rehearsal space,” Robin says. “For the drums, we went to Stuttgart and worked with Johannes Rupp, who also handled mixing and mastering.” The collaboration proved to be a strong fit. “It was a great experience, and we’d definitely be open to working together again.”
Conceptually, the EP pushes beyond straightforward themes. Amnesie & Hysterie imagines a near-future event in which people lose the part of their memory that contains knowledge of how society functions. “The survivors look at the world with innocent eyes and have to rebuild everything from scratch,” Robin explains. Through that lens, the band explores issues like inequality, exploitation, and modern dependency on systems like car-centric infrastructure. “The lyrics are probably more about asking questions than giving answers,” he adds. “That’s how we want listeners to approach them—with an open mind and a big heart.”
Coming out of Konstanz, Drown In Malice operate within a smaller, tight-knit scene. “You can count the active bands on one or two hands,” Robin says. Expanding the radius brings more activity, with bands like Homewards, In Schwerer See, Burning Nations, Waves Like Walls, and Valara helping carry the regional momentum. Venues are limited but important, with spots like Contrast, Kulturladen, and Horst Klub in nearby Kreuzlingen playing a key role. Still, the scarcity of local shows often pushes the band outward. “That’s one of the reasons why we mostly play out of town—as much as we love a hometown show.”
For Drown In Malice, the message behind the music matters just as much as the sound itself. “It’s easy to fall into cynicism, but there’s still a lot of good out there. Even if we can’t change everything, we can make a difference in our surroundings. Look out for the people around you, support your community, and have each other’s backs.”
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