World of Quiet Observer

What is Quiet Observer?

Quiet Observer is a multi-media project and creative outlet for composer and author Maximilian Birkl.

At the core of Quiet Observer lies a deep sense of melancholy. The exploration of adversity and the emotions connected to overcoming it, through the lens of fantasy and myth.

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Projects

Quiet Observer

Quiet Observer is a Progressive Death Metal project.

Despite this being the most fitting label I try to freely explore music in any way that seems interesting to me at the moment. This means taking influence from Atmospheric Black Metal as well as Folk music.

Since the release of the first album - The Final Day - back in 2020 the style of Quiet Observer has been refined while keeping the large compositional aspects or even building on top of it.

Lyrically this project explores larger myths within the world all my creative output is set in. To this point I have foregone naming this world since it didn't seem relevant to me.

The first full length release of Quiet Observer tells the creation myth of this world while the later single Bright Daughter of the Sun is a more narrowed down exploration of the displacement of a people and the worship of one of their deities they were forced to give up.

Sprinkled in are small pieces meant as explorations of emotions or themes. To this point mostly the thought of a gentle death and letting go.

Maraa

Maraa is the sketch book or drawing board for Quiet Observer.

Since I am mostly a solo artist it is expensive for me to professionally record singles or entire albums. Here Maraa helps me showcase what I've been working on during that time. I have to be less precious with my work and still share it. I can get an idea out there and out of my mind, knowing I have put it somewhere.

Maraa is a word taken from my conlang Nessuruan. It means either soul, the self or being depending on the context. I chose that name because in a way these published sketches of songs are the soul of the songs without the body they would receive through recording and production.

Weltentod

The world is dying. How do you respond to that? What if a deity has chosen you to be her hand without giving you any further instructions? Or what if you are among the first to experience it? How do you warn people? Do you run?

In a time where the world is dying, take comfort in the arms of a loved one, drink with your friends and enjoy the time you still have left.

Weltentod is the title of my web novel.

The oldest of the three projects, Weltentod started somewhere around 2016 when I just wanted to write a fantasy novel and didn't know where to go with it. Through long periods of inaction and short periods of productivity it slowly grew.

In early 2023 I decided to start publishing it chapter by chapter because I can't have a project lying around gathering dust. Since then it has completely changed from the original vision of a grand fantasy epic to a much more character focused exploration of people overcoming adversity. Of flowers blooming in the rubble, as I like to put it.

RISTRIDI

Back in the day before I even thought about recording The Final Day I was asked to help out with the lyrics on the Omega Point Part II: Isolation album by RISTRIDI.

I essentially had free reign over what I wanted to write. So I turned it into a not very subtle concept album about suicide and mourning. Jonathan, who had suffered the loss of a close friend around the time, was also asked to sing on the album and so we worked closely together on this emotional topic.

That started off the collaboration with RISTRIDI which would continue through the Dark Solstice EP as well as Michael being the sound engineer for Quiet Observer through the first album and the following singles.