Progressive metal collective PHILOSOPHOBIA returns with The Constant Void—a heavier, more emotionally charged follow-up to their debut. We caught up with guitarist Andreas Ballnus to dig into the creative process, remote collaboration, and why aliens might want to hear “The Fall” first.
“The Constant Void” feels like a significant evolution from your debut. What specific musical or thematic goals did you set for this album that pushed your vision to the next level?
Actually, the songwriting happened naturally. We didn’t sit down and decide to write heavier or more emotional songs this time—it just felt right in that moment. PHILOSOPHOBIA has always blended moody, emotional sections with heavier contrasts. We love that dynamic tension in our music, and this album was a natural extension of that.
With members across Germany, The Netherlands, and Greece, how do you maintain a cohesive and emotionally unified songwriting process?
For both the debut and The Constant Void, I ended up writing all the songs—not intentionally, it just turned out that way. But for the third album, we’re collaborating a lot more. We hold Zoom sessions to write together and share ideas, and when we meet at shows, we talk through everything. Thanks to today’s tech, working remotely is seamless. Plus, we’re all friends who talk daily—calls, texts, whatever. That friendship is the core of our band.
Sebastian Heuckmann officially joins on bass for this album after touring in 2024. What did he bring to the recording process and band dynamic?
Sebastian is a phenomenal musician—not just on bass. He conducts a choir and has deep knowledge of orchestration and theory. I’ve known him for years, and having him join was a real blessing. He brought fantastic ideas to the recording from day one, and we gave him full creative freedom. Plus, he’s just fun to be around. Chemistry on the road matters most, and we definitely have that.
“The Forgotten Part II” closes the album with an ambitious 20-minute runtime. What’s the emotional or conceptual journey behind it?
It builds on “The Forgotten Part I,” digging into the details of what led to the events described earlier. Part II explores how humans caused the situation and the different emotional responses—reflection, despair, rage, and finally, surrender. Musically, it mirrors that arc—from soft piano to chaotic heaviness, ending in a powerful, emotional finale. It wasn’t planned to be 20 minutes—it just grew into that.
You worked again with Phil Hillen at SU2 Studios. What makes his production style such a great fit for PHILOSOPHOBIA?
Phil’s basically like another band member. He shares our mentality and obsession with detail. He doesn’t just follow a textbook—he dives into every element like it’s his own record. He brings out the best in our sound, and he’s a super chill guy to work with.
The title The Constant Void suggests some heavy existential themes. What does it mean to you personally, and as a band?
It reflects the state of people today. Think of the pandemic—two close friends could have one disagreement over restrictions or vaccines and suddenly that became an unbridgeable gap. What was once a minor difference became a permanent void. That’s what the title refers to. Thankfully, as a band, we feel a lot of love and unity—maybe because we’re all in the same boat trying to create something meaningful.
Your guitar tone on this album is heavier and more modern. What gear helped shape that sound?
For demos, I used Neural DSP’s Archetype: Gojira—I love its fat, chunky rhythm tone. Phil heard that and we aimed for something similar but unique in the studio. We used a 5150 III into a Rectifier cab with a Seymour Duncan 805 in the chain. I think it’s the best tone I’ve ever recorded. Some cleans were done with plugins, which sound amazing nowadays. Live, I use a Nano Cortex with the captured sound from the studio. Some purists might scoff at that last 2% difference, but when it saves you heavy gear and flight fees—worth it.
If you were stranded in a parallel universe and had to win over aliens with one song from The Constant Void, which track would you choose—and who would negotiate the record deal?
I’d go with “The Fall.” It captures both our emotional and heavy sides. Hopefully, the aliens don’t hear “The Forgotten Part I & II” or they might realize how destructive humans can be—and there go our chances. As for negotiating? That’s Alex. He’s the most business-savvy among us and even founded the fair-pay streaming app ROKK. So, aliens and earthlings—go check out ROKK!
The Constant Void is more than just a metal record—it’s a reflection of modern disconnection, emotional weight, and artistic unity across borders. Whether you’re listening for the riffs, the rage, or the resolution, PHILOSOPHOBIA delivers all three with sincerity and sonic intensity.
Categories: Interviews, Music, Philosophobia
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