Gerry Casey Interviews Markus Ullrich of Them

November 2, 2025

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Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Markus Ullrich of Them

THEM. is the theatrical, globe-spanning metal collective led by German guitarist/composer Markus Ullrich and fronted by enigmatic vocalist Klaus König “KK” Fossor. Based in Germany but drawing from an international roster of musicians, they fuse power and thrash metal with gothic, horror-concept storytelling—delivering both epic musical compositions and immersive visual theatre.

Formed around 2008, THEM. emerged out of Germany’s underground metal scene with a penchant for dramatic narratives and lavish production. Initially conceived as a “King Diamond tribute” project, the foundation morphed by 2014 into a full-fledged concept band.
At the core is a mythic protagonist, KK Fossor, whose story spans centuries and continents—giving the music more than riffs and rhythm, but a world of its own.

THEM. wields a blend of power metal’s soaring melodies, thrash’s razor-edged riffing, and gothic metal’s dark ambience. Their compositions are anchored by classical influences and theatrical flair: keys, lyrical storytelling, layered production and dynamic structural shifts.
Albums like Fear City (2022) illustrate this: shifting the narrative from 19th-century haunted mansions to 1980s New York’s criminal underbelly, the band merges cinematic concepts with metal muscle.

Though Germany is the anchor, THEM. features a multinational lineup—including guitarists, keyboardists and rhythm section members drawn from across Europe and beyond. Their recordings and live shows reflect this ambition: dramatic staging, layered instrumentation, and a sound that aims to transcend national borders.

Their story-driven albums include Sweet Hollow (2016), Manor of the Se7en Gables (2018), Return to Hemmersmoor (2020) and Fear City (2022). THEM. has also earned a reputation for immersive live performances and videography—shot on location across Germany and New York City—to match their ambitious sonic vision.

In a metal world saturated by straightforward riff-and-roar acts, THEM. stands out because they treat albums as chapters in a story, performances as theatre, and musicianship as part of a larger creative canvas. Their blend of power metal grandeur and horror-gothic narrative gives them a niche yet global appeal—ideal for fans who crave both musical technique and thematic depth.