Doomed Confessionary: Maik Richter (Smoke Weaver)
Photos by Fabian Fassonge
Smoke Weaver is a stoner/doom/sludge metal band from Wolfsburg, Germany. Founded in 2023, it features current and former members of Arcane Frost, Cryptic Brood, Dissouled, Endlos, Repulsive Feast & more.
Smoke Weaver’s debut EP »Hunter’s Dream Ends« was released in June 2024 and reissued on cassette in February 2025 through Evil Noise Recordings. Mixing and mastering by Konstrukted Audio. Artwork and layout by Hagiophobic.
Smoke Weaver are Daniel Esslinger (bass, vocals), Maik Richter (drums, vocals), Dennis Butzke (guitar, vocals) and Aron Müller (guitar).
Can you say a few words about your band?
Daniel, Butzke, and I founded the band in 2023. In 2024, Aron joined as the second guitarist. The basic idea was relatively slow music, influenced by genres like stoner, doom, and sludge. In the end, it turned into a wild mix of everything we enjoy.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
The constant problem is getting everyone in the band together for regular rehearsals, as most of us are freshly-baked fathers and also involved in other commitments, like Butzkes other bands Cryptic Brood [death metal] and Arcane Frost [black metal], that also aron is a part of. Wood is another more ambient oriented project from Daniel and me.
What can you be most proud of so far?
“Proud” is the wrong word, but we are always very happy that after all these years as friends, we are finally making music together. Everyone of us always wanted to do this kind of music. So we turned in and formed this project.
What was your biggest regret?
There isn’t realy anything we regret. Only one thing that grinds our gears all the time is, when we are heading to a venue and we leaving our own smoke machine at home, especially when the venue’s machine ends up being broken.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
It’s a tough question since every concert has its own special moments. Most likely, it was our first concert at Jugendhaus Ost in Wolfsburg, as it marked the beginning for us. Also the show in Göttingen was great, since it was the first concert that we played with Aron on second guitar.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
The biggest suprise for us was, that some people actually like our music. Haha.
Jokes aside, but thats a good response and feedback for us, to go on and create new songs and albums.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
We’re collecting music in our Spotifiy playlist. Check it out! So basically everything we enjoy at the moment, like stoner to slam and everything in between.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
We dont want to come up here with phrases like, love what you do or enjoy your creativity. It’s all about to loosen up. Always a good way to do it, is to consume alcohol before the performance. One beer to much, is better than one beer too few.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Listening to stupid electronic stuff like HGich.T or German hip hop, if you want to call it a guilty pleasure. But the most guilty pleasure for sure is, that on some rehearsal times, we are not sober enough, to review our new made songs and are convinced that we’ve created another banger. But suprise, suprise, on the next rehearsal we’re always getting pulled down to earth.
Can you say something more about current music scene in Wolfsburg?
We have a fairly active and good scene, even though it’s not huge. For example, Steffen from Lycantrophic Chants has been regularly organizing metal concerts in Wolfsburg for years. But other active people also contribute, helping to create a diverse scene.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
This year, we lucky to play in Wolfsburg with Bottomless at the Jugendhaus Ost (April 14th, 2025) and at one smaller festival. The Stygian Pilgrims Fest in Braunschweig Club B58 (September 27, 2025).
More TBA, because there is much planning behind the scene right now.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
We’re constantly working on new songs. Whether it ends up being an album or just an EP will remain to be seen. Also trying to take our music to the next level is a big thing for us, caused by all the genres that our music is influenced by.
How can people best support your band?
The same thing every band says: “Come to our shows, buy our records, and tell your friends about us.”
Do you have any message for your listeners?
First, we want to thank you for this interview and for your work in the scene. It’s awesome! If we have any so-called fans, we’re happy that you enjoy our music. Really. Stay tuned and always remember: “There’s no hope with dope.”
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well