Doomed Confessionary: Daniel Berndt (Cosmic Marauder)
Cosmic Marauder is a three-piece psychedelic stoner/doom metal band from Düsseldorf, Germany.
Founded in 2019, Cosmic Marauder released their debut album »Mercury Haze« on January 23rd, 2025. Recorded & mixed by Chnucki Erdbeer. Mastered by Michael Czernicki at Rock Or Die Studios. Cover artwork by Diogo Soares.
Cosmic Marauder are Daniel Berndt (vocals, guitars), Dominik Kräuter (bass) and Daniel Kummerow (drums).
Can you say a few words about your band?
We are a psychedelic stoner rock band from Düsseldorf, three guys who love making music.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Our biggest challenge was finding a good and reliable drummer. Especially when you’re only three members, the chemistry has to be just right. That’s why we’re glad that our current lineup works so well.
What can you be most proud of so far?
One of our biggest achievements is playing at major festivals, like Dong Open Air, and at the same time, the great feedback we receive for our music from all over the world.
What was your biggest regret?
We deeply regret that we had a lot of stress with former band members in the past. That was not a pleasant experience.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
If it were up to me, our performance at the Rhurdyne Festival was one of the best nights for us. The atmosphere, the people—everything just fell into place that evening. I love looking back on that.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
The biggest surprise for us was that our music reaches people all over the world – strangely enough, less in Germany, but much more in Spanish and English-speaking countries.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of music from Belzebong and Rotor – heavy yet groovy music, which is exactly what I love.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
The best advice I ever got, and still follow, is this: Always present yourself a bit bigger than you actually are as a musician. Don’t be arrogant, but be proud of what you create.
What are your guilty pleasures?
I’m not really ashamed of it, but: I’ve been listening to Nickelback since I was 12, especially their early albums really got me.
Can you say something more about current music scene in North Rhine-Westphalia?
We come from Düsseldorf, which is the punk capital. The scene there is very critical of other music genres, which made it hard for us to gain a foothold. That’s why we look for opportunities in other cities and countries.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
In the near future, we’ll focus on producing a music video and promoting our new album. However, gigs are also planned.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Our biggest dream is to play at a festival in Southern Europe, for example in Spain, Italy, or Greece. That’s what we’re holding on to. Of course, we need to become more well-known before that.
How can people best support your band?
The best way to support us is by listening to our music and recommending us for playlists. Nowadays, you have to be as present as possible to stand out.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Our goal has always been to make the kind of music that we would listen to ourselves. If we can also inspire others with it, that makes us proud. Every like on social media comes from the heart, and we are very grateful for that.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well