Brandon Sanderson and Peter Orullian Tap Into Metal Culture for New Fantasy Novel Songs of the Dead
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Brandon Sanderson and Peter Orullian discuss the upcoming release of Songs of the Dead, detailing how a 15-year-old project about a necromancer evolved into a dark fantasy novel rooted in heavy metal culture.
Fantasy heavyweight Brandon Sanderson is finally releasing a project that has been sitting in his draft folder for over a decade. Originally conceived in 2010 under the working title Death by Pizza!, the project evolved significantly over the years, trading a pizza delivery protagonist for a heavy metal musician. To bring the heavy metal authenticity to life, Sanderson teamed up with author and touring musician Peter Orullian. According to an interview with Polygon, Sanderson brought in Orullian specifically because he needed someone with firsthand experience in rock and metal culture to ground the story.
Set in London, Songs of the Dead follows a metal singer named Jack Solomon who discovers that his favorite music venue is actually a gateway to a hidden realm known as the Strata. In this dimension, thanatists and corporeal ghosts dwell within fragmented versions of the city's past shaped by collective memory. The plot pits Jack against a faction of thanatists trying to eliminate modern songwriters and replace them with undead duplicates. Instead of leaning into the original comedic concept, the final novel delivers a sincere and dark exploration of grief, featuring a protagonist processing deep personal trauma through his art and his found family.
While this is a literary release rather than a traditional game drop, the crossover between speculative fiction, detailed lore, and distinct subcultures is something modern gaming communities understand intimately. The book tackles themes of marginalization and community that resonate with anyone who has found their primary social lifeline in niche subcultures, whether that is through fantasy books, streaming communities, or multiplayer lobbies. Songs of the Dead hits bookshelves on June 16, offering readers a deep dive into magic systems and music culture. You can read the full interview over at Polygon.
Tags: Books, Fantasy, Culture, Brandon Sanderson, Polygon
Original article: Polygon