photos by Domenik Papaemmanouil
European progressive metal quintet, PHILOSOPHOBIA – formed by former and current members of Kamelot, Paul Di’Anno, Wastefall, and more – delivers another new video, for the song “Underneath Grassroots.” The heartfelt song is found on the band’s second album, The Constant Void, out now on Sensory Records.
PHILOSOPHOBIA was formed in 2020, with its members spread across Europe, in Germany, The Netherlands, and Greece. 2022 saw the release of their eponymous debut album, which left a huge impact on the international prog metal scene, with numerous 10/10 reviews, Album Of The Month in Rock Hard France, multiple Album Of The Year rankings, and more.
The Constant Void takes PHILOSOPHOBIA’s musical vision to the next level. With most of the lineup returning from the first album – guitarist Andreas Ballnus, drummer Alexander Landenburg, vocalist Domenik Papaemmanouil, and keyboardist Tobias Wergerber – the new album sees original bassist Kristoffer Gildenlöw replaced with virtuoso bass player Sebastian Heuckmann, who has been playing live with the band since 2024. With nine magnetizing tracks clocking in at almost sixty-five minutes, The Constant Void is a white-knuckled ride between progressive metal and emotional and melancholic tunes, combining the strength of the debut album with a more modern and heavier twist.
As with their acclaimed eponymous debut, PHILOSOPHOBIA returned to Phil Hillen at SU2 Studios in Germany (Powerwolf, Kamelot) who engineered, recorded, mixed, and mastered The Constant Void. The fascinating cover artwork was again handled by Björn Gooßes at Killustrations in close cooperation with PHILOSOPHOBIA mastermind Andreas Ballnus, and photography was handled by Maj Music. The song “F 40.8” features a guest keyboard solo by Vikram Shankar, and the epic twenty-minute closing track “The Forgotten Part Il” features a spoken word passage by Rob Leland.
The Constant Void is the band’s proof for this statement; PHILOSOPHOBIA has come to stay in the sphere of progressive metal. Fans of Kamelot, Dream Theater, Pain Of Salvation, Threshold, Control Denied, Pharaoh, and Nevermore should have PHILOSOPHOBIA on their priority list.
With the new video, Andreas Ballnus writes, “‘Underneath Grassroots’ is probably the most personal on the album. What it means to me might mean something completely different to another one. It basically is about someone you loved and who has passed. At some point you realize that you haven’t visited the grave for a long time. But does it mean that you have not been mourning or thinking about them? Everyone has to decide their own if it really needs the place to think of someone and to keep on loving the ones who have faded away.”
PHILOSOPHOBIA’s video for “Underneath Grassroots” is now playing RIGHT HERE.
The Constant Void is out now on CD and digitally via The Lasers Edge webshop HERE and Bandcamp – standard HERE and the hi-res HERE – and several previously released videos from the album are playing on YouTube HERE.
“…you can definitely hear the prog metal side of their sound—complete with keyboard flourishes and strong, clear melodic vocals—but there’s an intense heaviness in their drop-tuned riff work, as well… a moody plea for mercy for Planet Earth.” – Decibel Magazine
“I’m glad this band is still going and producing quality material. I hope they have plans for a third album, because that would be very welcome indeed. 9/10” – The Progspace
“What sets PHILOSOPHOBIA apart is their approach to progressive metal. Rather than showcasing their virtuosity and intricacy for its own sake, they prioritize crafting memorable songs and melodies. The result is an album that’s both heavy and highly appealing, with a focus on emotional resonance and musicality. With The Constant Void, PHILOSOPHOBIA show themselves to be a band that’s not just creating great music, but one that will continue to make waves in the progressive metal scene for years to come.” – Sea Of Tranquility
“The band’s musicianship is probably their strongest feature, followed closely by their sense of grandiose (at times) songwriting. One of the better surprises on the album are the gentler songs, that just feature one main melody. Simplicity can indeed be elegant. The album combines the best of what progressive music has to offer its fans, and I found the listening experience to be excellent.” – Metal Temple
“If Dream Theater thought they had 2025’s Progressive honours all-sewn-up with the Parasomina album, then PHILOSOPHOBIA might just have rained on their parade.” – The Razor’s Edge
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