Band of the week 43/2025
Origin: Germany
Genre: Progressive Metal
Hier geht’s zur deutschen Version.
The band about itself:
to quote a fan: „Sophisticated prog for the wounded minds.“
Editorial commentary:
Sometimes, good things simply take time. In the case of Philosophobia, it took fifteen years for the initial ideas to evolve into a full album. Guitarist Andreas Ballnus (Perzonal War, Paul Di’Anno) and drummer Alex Landenburg (Kamelot, Cyhra) recorded a few demos as early as 2007, but the project was initially put on hold. Both musicians were busy with other bands and toured extensively, so Philosophobia remained a passion project that didn’t take priority. It wasn’t until 2018 that the project was revived, when Ballnus met Kristoffer Gildenlöw (formerly of Pain of Salvation). With the addition of vocalist Domenik Papaemmanouil (Wastefall) and keyboardist Tobias Weißgerber, the band finally took shape.
A debut with character
The result was their eponymous 2022 debut album, which quickly gained attention within the progressive metal scene. While some praised it enthusiastically, others noted its close resemblance to iconic bands such as Dream Theater or Queensrÿche. One thing is certain: even back then, Philosophobia knew how to combine classic progressive metal with emotion, structure, and craftsmanship. It’s an album that doesn’t reveal all its secrets on first listen, but grows on you with every play.
A small anecdote: on my first listen, I thought, ‚Hey, someone’s trying to imitate Damian Wilson’—only to discover that it was Damian himself performing on the track I Am.
Expanding the Concept
With The Constant Void (2024), Philosophobia took a decisive step forward, becoming stronger, denser and more conceptually ambitious. The addition of bassist Sebastian Heuckmann to the line-up added significant depth to the sound. The album explores themes such as human disconnection, environmental destruction and self-reflection — challenging, but never overly complicated. The two-part epic The Forgotten impresses with its dramatic power and musical variety, ranging from delicate piano passages to flowing solos and heavy metal sections.
Critics even hailed The Constant Void as a contender for Prog Album of the Year, notably in the same year that Dream Theater released their first album since the return of Mike Portnoy. Many reviewers also praised the record for its balance of technical sophistication and emotional depth.
Looking Ahead
Philosophobia demonstrates what modern progressive metal can be: virtuosic, emotional and uncompromisingly honest. With their blend of technical brilliance, narrative depth and distinctive sound, they have the potential to rival Vanden Plas as the leading band in the German prog scene — which is precisely why they are my Band of the Week.
Vinyl crowdfunding
Currently, Philosophobia are running a crowdfunding campaign on Startnext to press The Constant Void on vinyl for the first time. This initiative underscores the band’s dedication to providing a tangible listening experience, offering a refreshing alternative to purely digital consumption. Supporters can secure exclusive editions and contribute directly to the album’s success. This is a clear sign that Philosophobia are carving their own path, both musically and in their engagement with fans.
The band at Dark-Art:
Music recommendation:
Upcoming live dates:
Since all the musicians are involved in other projects, it’s a good idea to follow the band’s social media channels so you don’t miss any performances, such as at the Artrock Festival.
Links:
Webseite
Bandcamp
Facebook
Instagram
Spotify
YouTube
Band of the week is our weekly posting about a band we recommend and is posted every Tuesday at 8pm (CEST). These are bands that are just at the beginning of their career and that we think should receive more attention.
You can also find all the bands we’ve featured this year in our playlist on Spotify!
(bei den untenstehenden Links die entsprechende Kalenderwoche ersetzen)
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