Formed in 2018, Hungarian metal crew Devoid blends hardcore fury with evolving death and progressive influences. In this interview, they reflect on their chaotic roots, sharp turns, and relentless drive.
1.You
started Devoid in 2018 with hardcore roots and quickly released your debut EP.
What were your musical intentions when forming the band, and how have they
changed since then?
Yo, what’s
up, and big thanks for the shot! When we started Devoid, we wanted to be this
fast, modern metal-ish hardcore band—real simple, but heavy as fuck, all about
raw energy. Then, like always, the lineup blew up quick, and with the new crew,
the sound got way more layered and fucked up in a good way. The pissed-off,
social commentary lyrics stayed, but now they’re wrapped in a darker,
death-metal kinda vibe. So yeah, the raw, stripped-down rage leveled up into
something angrier but also a bit more slick.
2.The
lineup solidified around the time of Fake Gleam in 2020. How
did this stability influence the songwriting and your sound on that full-length
record?
That shit
was us still trying to figure our damn selves out. With Zoli, our new guitar
dude, we tossed in some thrashy vibes, but yeah, there were still leftover jams
from the old days. So Fake Gleam ended up way more chaotic than anything else
we’ve done — probably the messiest, least put-together shit. It’s like a
fucked-up snapshot of the band back then: raw, sloppy, and for some reason, a
ton of people dig it. Me? It feels kinda all over the damn place. A couple
tracks still hit, but as a whole... nah, not the kinda record I’d frame and
hang up anywhere.
3.Dusk (2021)
marked a milestone and gained positive reception. In your view, what made that
album stand out compared to your previous work?
By then,
our second guitarist Csabi joined the crew—dude’s a killer songwriter, and
somehow he and Zoli just clicked instantly. Like, they found this crazy musical
chemistry. This time we actually worked with a solid plan: wanted to drop a
modern death metal album with some hardcore flavor, and since we finally had
the right writers on board, we actually nailed it. The Hungarian metal press
pretty much lost their minds in a good way, and Dusk was the
record that officially pushed us from “who are these guys?” to “okay, we gotta
pay attention now.
4.With Parallel
Realities (2022), your sound evolved in a more technical and progressive
direction. What inspired this shift, and how did fans respond to the new style?
Honestly,
I’m the simple dude in the band, so this one’s the weirdest sounding track
we’ve done. Don’t get me wrong, I like it and listen to it a lot, but I gotta
admit, sometimes the guys totally let loose and went way too prog on me —
pushing boundaries like pros, unfortunately to my detriment. The press called
this EP a straight-up progressive record, which ain’t wrong, but don’t forget,
it’s got plenty of that good ol’ raw edge so we didn’t lose where we came from.
5.Your
2023 EP Shards was well-received both critically and by fans. What
themes or concepts were you exploring in those three tracks?
This shit’s
hands down our heaviest and most stripped-down Devoid record so far. If you’ve
got even a clue about the total clusterfuck that is Hungarian politics and
society, you know how batshit crazy and choking the whole vibe is — so yeah,
that’s basically what we’re screaming about, plus a fat-ass dose of battling
your own fucked-up demons. Musically? This one’s my fucking favorite — raw as
hell but still tight, dirty as shit but kinda complex — basically everything a
real-ass metal record should be, right?
6.Your
live presence is impressive, with nearly 100 shows under your belt. What’s been
the most memorable concert experience for the band so far?
Man, we’re
a wild-ass crew — we can fight like five times on the way to a show, then ten
more times on the way back, all with like 500 beers in our guts. We’re a
fucking live band; we hate sitting around for months without playing. That’s
where we come alive. Luckily, we actually like each other... kinda — but it’s
more like one of those never-ending Latin American family Sunday brawls. Best
show? Too many to pick just one. But here’s the deal: whether we play for three
people or five hundred, we sweat our asses off the same — trust me, our clothes
don’t lie.
7.How
has signing with Metal.hu and joining No Martyr Collective changed your path in
terms of reach, resources, and artistic freedom?
We dropped
one EP with Metal.hu, which obviously opened some badass doors, and yeah, we
learned a shit-ton about this fucked-up music biz. No Martyr Collective is
basically a bunch of local bands getting their shit together from all sorts of
genres. The whole point? Helping each other out, crashing each other’s shows,
and blasting our shit to new crowds. But the real fucking mission? Giving live
acts a shot in this batshit crazy world. Together, we’re not just four times
stronger — we’re like a hundred times fucking stronger. Oh, and don’t forget,
it’s a filthy, beer-guzzling circus of traveling assholes and total fucking
maniacs — but somehow, that’s exactly why this shit actually works.
8.The
Hungarian metal scene is vibrant and diverse. How do you see Devoid’s role in
that landscape, and what’s your take on the scene’s evolution?
We ain’t
got no big-ass ambitions. We just wanna be that solid spot people can count
on—where if you show up to a gig, you can actually have a good fucking time,
blow off some steam, grab a beer with us, and forget all the shitty bullshit
life throws at you for a few hours. I don’t think we need to want more than
that, honestly. And hell, isn’t that what it’s all about anyway?
9.Your
music videos (like “Fake Gleam” and “Defying in Pride”) are intense and
visually striking. How involved are you in the creative process of your
visuals?
Man, it
really depends. Since we’re working on a crazy low-ass budget, I end up coming
up with many ideas myself. For the actual shoot and all, Gábor Bencsik helps a
ton — dude’s a total madman and also a key player in No Martyr, plus he drums
for Beerzebub and Witchthrone. The guy’s fucking genius, always pulling off
shit that’ll blow your mind. Seriously, I fucking love that dude.
10.
Looking ahead—what can fans expect next from Devoid? Are there any plans for a
new full-length, international touring, or further stylistic experimentation?
Alright,
guess I’ll drop it here first: we’ve got a brand-new album dropping this fall.
And holy shit, it’s a fucking beast. I’ve never made anything in my life that
comes close to how proud I am of this one. Usually I’m the guy who’s like, “eh,
could’ve been tighter, mix could be better, something’s missing…” — but nah,
not this time. This thing’s a goddamn monster, and I’d proudly hang it on my
fucking wall any day.
We don’t
have some grand master plan. Just a shit-ton of shows, a river of beers, and
trying to have a good-ass time. We’re not gonna kill ourselves chasing some
fake-ass next level — if it’s meant to happen, it will. So for now, we just go
hard, enjoy the ride, and appreciate the hell outta the fact that we even get
to do this.
And yeah, we’ve been moving more and more outside Hungary too. What’ll come of that? Who the fuck knows. But whatever happens, we’ll get up on stage, scream our guts out, and try to give people a night where they can forget the world’s bullshit and just feel something real. 'Cause at the end of the day, isn’t that what this whole thing’s supposed to be about?
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