German band Veion are on an intriguing mission to fuse raw emotion and melodic beauty with rushing heaviness in a diverse metal sound they describe as “heavy, melodic and deep.”
The quartet from Fulda, in central Germany, began when vocalist and guitarist Mirko Krimmel and drummer Thorsten Kiefer crossed paths through an ad board at a local music store in 2010. Both were seeking fresh starts after their previous bands had split and, after jamming and playing a few covers, they quickly set about writing their own songs.
As Mirko tells us: “We were both in a rough place emotionally. Thorsten had gone through a breakup, and I’d just come out of a messy band split. We shared that mix of anger, sadness and helplessness, and music became the outlet.”
The band tragically lost their original guitarist Alex, but soon discovered Tommy Schmiedel, who brought his distinctive riffs and production skills, before completing the lineup with bassist Thomas Sauter.
On the sound they’ve crafted, Mirko explained: “Our sound lives between aggression and emotion – powerful and loud, but always carrying meaning underneath. We combine strong, heavy riffs with melodic elements and calm, clean guitars. The same contrast runs through the vocals – from soft, emotional clean parts to heavy screams and a rough, raspy voice. It’s that balance between power and vulnerability that defines the Veion sound.”
Our latest taste of this is their third single When Days Turn Into Night, which was released at the end of last month. It opens up with a light looping guitar lick that’s joined by more mellow guitars and rolling drums, developing into a delicious little meandering lick. The light instrumentals continue under Mirko’s engaging vocals that gradually intensify, leading into a powerful singalong chorus. Heavier instrumentals take over, then ease off and drop into another gradually developing verse and chorus. A guitar threatens to break into a solo, only for heavier vocals to steal the limelight, and heavier guitar chords kick in through a cool rhythmic instrumental section that tees up a final blast of the chorus.
On the track, Mirko said: “The response has been overwhelming. We’ve seen a strong increase in listeners from all over the world, from Norway and Finland to Brazil, the UK, and the U.S. It’s amazing to see the song connect with so many people on such a personal level.
When Days Turn Into Night is a very emotional track for us. It’s about the loss of our former guitarist, Alex, who sadly couldn’t win his fight against his inner demons. I wanted to give a small piece of confidence to everyone fighting a similar battle — to let them know they’re not alone. The song starts calm and almost gentle, pulling you in slowly until the darkness creeps closer. When the bridge breaks into the chorus, that’s the moment when the fight becomes real — raw, loud, and overwhelming.”
When Days Turn Into Night follows on from the band’s 2019 debut single Home Again and the lively Shadows As They Fall, which was released the following year. But you definitely won’t have to wait another five years for more of Veion, with the band releasing new track Apart From My Memory before the end of the year. On it, Mirko says: “It’s a really powerful track – strong rhythm, big melodies, and a lot of energy. It shows another side of Veion, one that’s more dynamic and driving while still keeping that emotional depth we’re known for. We can’t wait to share it with everyone.”
The Veion sound draws on a wide range of influences, from death metal and hard rock to blues and jazz. Mirko calls out artists like Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Lamb of God, and In Flames shaping their energy and music writing to the likes of Linkin Park, Pink Floyd and even Amy Winehouse inspiring their emotion, atmosphere and authenticity.
And on what influences them to write music, Mirko explained: “We love exploring other genres, but our true language is metal. A song can start from almost anything — a single lyric line, a guitar riff, or a clean melody. What really matters is the feeling behind it, the vibe that builds the frame for everything else.
“Lyrically, our themes shift with the music. The sound usually sets the mood and leads us toward the story it wants to tell, sometimes about loss or inner struggle, sometimes about hope or reflection. What matters most to us is creating that emotional connection – when the spark jumps over, that’s when the music comes alive.”
And he added: “Our songs aren’t easy-listening material; they take time. You need to live with them for a few plays to really understand the full complexity. But once you do, you’ll start noticing all the small details we’ve carefully placed inside each track, and that means a lot to us.”
You can follow Veion on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and check out their music on Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud and YouTube.
GigRadar 