Having already explored the rising universe of Hellkern Warriors through their early releases, we now dive deeper into the band’s cross-continental origins, dystopian vision, and the expanding world behind their dark hybrid sound.
1. Hellkern
Warriors was born in mid-2025 from an international collaboration between
Italy, Germany, and Colombia. How did this cross-continental formation shape
the early identity of the band?
Hellkern Warriors
emerged from a rare blend of cultural influences and personal backgrounds. The
distance between Italy, Germany, and Columbia forced us to communicate very
consciously, to define our vision clearly, and to value every creative impulse.
This shaped an identity that was never defined by geography, but by atmosphere:
global, digital, and borderless. The project was born in a digital space, yet
it carries a deeply human and emotional intensity.
2. Your
concept “The Pulse of the Void” immediately sets a strong artistic foundation.
How would you describe this philosophy, and how does it guide your songwriting
and visual aesthetic?
For us, “The
Pulse of the Void” represents the idea that even within emptiness, a rhythm
exists. It is both cosmic and internal — the energy that arises when silence,
darkness, and emotion collide. Much like the Big Bang or the start of a
composition: out of a blank page, a song, a rhythm, a heartbeat emerges.
Musically, this concept guides our arrangements: cool riffs, synth lines, and
bass patterns merge with urgent, dynamic beats. Lyrically, we explore themes
like futurism, dystopian architecture, abstract digital structures, and
cinematic tension. We aim for the listener to experience an expanded perception
— a pulse rising from nothingness, triggered by the music and visuals.
3. Tom Radar’s
initial demos — “Hellkern Warriors,” “Petrol & Water,” and “Endless Road” —
sparked the project. What was it about these early ideas that convinced the
others to commit to building a full band around them?
“Endless Road”
was the initial spark for everyone. Mauricio immediately said, “Let’s create an
EP in this style.” The guitar riffs and vocal approach resonated with all of
us. The already released tracks (“Hellkern Warriors” and “Petrol & Water”)
had something extremely visionary — you could instantly sense a unique cosmos:
dark, pulsating, melodic, yet spacious enough to integrate heavier influences.
We all saw our own identity in the music, but also the chance to add something
that was missing. This mixture of potential, openness, and creativity
ultimately ignited the formation of the band.
4. The name
Hellkern is inspired by a notorious computer worm. What parallels do you see
between digital virality and the atmospheric, shadowy nature of your music?
A computer worm
spreads invisibly, infects systems, and leaves traces in the hidden layers of a
network. Our music reflects exactly that: atmospheric, creeping, and
transformative. Many of our songs unfold like a digital virus — slowly
infiltrating, then suddenly intensifying and altering your state of mind. The
name carries this complexity: digital yet dystopian, technical yet emotional.
5. Your sound
merges analog synths, cinematic darkness, and driving rhythms. Can you walk us
through your creative process when combining electronic textures with guitars
and heavier elements?
Usually Tom
starts with a song idea and a guitar riff that sets the atmosphere. Then he
records multiple guitar tracks, including solos, and sends the draft along with
electronic drums to Mauricio. Together with Fabian, he constructs the rhythmic
backbone. After that, the song goes to Kabal, who creates the synth lines —
always as an expansion of the electronic landscape, never competing with it.
Our goal is organic interplay: guitars provide the foundation, vocals bring
humanity, the bass delivers pressure and emotion, drums add dynamics, and the
synths shape the world around it all.
6. The lineup
brings together very different musical backgrounds, from Black Metal and EBM to
Darkwave and Extreme Metal. How do these influences merge without overshadowing
each other?
We don’t treat
our different backgrounds as opposites but as tools. Black Metal provides
intensity and impact, EBM brings rhythmic complexity, Darkwave adds emotion and
melody. Each song is a balancing act, and we listen to what the track needs
rather than letting any single style dominate. Everyone steps outside of their
usual musical comfort zone and contributes their best to create our own hybrid
sound.
7. Your debut
video “Helkern Warriors” made a bold introduction in September 2025. What
vision guided the visual side of the project, and how important is imagery in
your artistic identity?
For the video, we
didn’t want a typical band showcase — we wanted a monument. Something that
doesn’t explain who we are, but makes you feel the world we’re creating.
For the track “Helkern Warriors,” using AI to generate the visuals felt like a
natural choice. Animated super-warriors, darkness, movement, silhouettes,
cyberspace.
Imagery is as essential to us as the music itself: every track is a journey, a
vision, a statement — and the visuals expand that universe.
8. The new
track “Petrol & Water” shows a more refined and immersive side of your
sound. What themes were you exploring when composing and recording this piece?
“Petrol &
Water” is driven by apocalyptic imagery and unrelenting intensity. It merges
raw power with poetic despair, capturing the tension between survival and
self-destruction. It’s more than a song — it’s a warning, a requiem, and a
rallying cry. A soundtrack to the last glow before silence.
Musically, it's closer to “Endless Road” — a hint of the direction upcoming
songs will follow.
9. Mauricio
and Fabian come from Colombia’s extreme metal scene. How do rhythm and
heaviness influence the band's darkwave foundation?
Mauricio and
Fabian bring enormous rhythmic precision, aggression, and a strong sense of
pressure. This foundation makes our Darkwave elements more intense and
physical. The beats can be heavier, the grooves more uncompromising. Even
though our sound blends guitars with synths, you always feel the strength and
discipline of the extreme metal scene behind it.
10. Tom has
already had success with his Berlin project Radarfield and various
collaborations. How does his vocal and lyrical approach differ within Hellkern
Warriors?
With Radarfield,
Tom often explores dystopian themes, but also emotional and almost
fairytale-like atmospheres, supported by Marcus’ warm Darkwave/Electronica
melodies and newly added guitar riffs.
With Hellkern Warriors, his approach becomes darker, more abstract, and more
physical. The lyrics remain sophisticated and cinematic, but the delivery is
more intense and visceral — fitting the heavier, more digital dystopian world
of the band.
11. You’ve
already achieved impressive rankings on Number1Music and interviews on Gothic
radio shows. How has the early reception influenced your motivation and future
plans?
The positive
response genuinely surprised us — especially since we thought the
computer-generated vocals in our debut track “Helkern Warriors” might be too
unconventional for a wider audience. The high rankings and radio interviews
showed us that people appreciate authentic, distinctive music. It motivates us
to push our vision even further and evolve without hesitation.
12. Looking
ahead, what can listeners expect next — a full EP, more videos, live
performances, or further explorations of “The Pulse of the Void”?
We are currently
working on a new track for our upcoming EP/CD, and the video for that song is
already completed. Several more tracks are in development and waiting for their
final production stages. Our focus is on creating audiovisual experiences rather
than traditional performances.
In short: the world of Hellkern Warriors is becoming bigger, deeper, and more
diverse.
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