VOID SECTOR ZERO

The vast world of extreme metal is governed by supernatural forces. So when three of its most hellaciously bright stars align, the creative explosion is more powerful than a supernova.

After orbiting each other for years, Void Sector Zero brings together the otherworldly talents of guitarist Christian Muenzner (Necrophagist, ex-Obscura, ex-Alkaloid), vocalist and bassist Alex Weber (Revocation, Malignancy, Exist), and drummer Gabe Seeber (Decrepit Birth, Abigial Williams, Carach Angren). The band are still inspired by the greats, but their debut album ventures into an alien dimension that’s fun, fast, fresh and frightening. Dead Space Enigma rips a hole through the space-time continuum with a modern spin on progressive thrash metal.

“We wanted to create a hybrid between late ‘80s technical thrash metal and early ‘90s technical death metal, mixed with neoclassical metal, U.S. power metal and jazz/fusion”, Muenzner explains. “But while our influences are old school, Void Sector Zero is not a retro or tribute band. With Dead Space Enigma, our aim was to make an album that feels both classic and modern. Both the pacing and production allowed us to explore rhythms and harmonies, which isn’t possible when everything is cranked to the maximum at all times”.

The stars of Void Sector Zero first crossed paths in 2022. Muenzner, Weber and Seeber hit it off while all three were playing together in Obscura during the world tour for A Valediction. Though never far from each other, eventually, they would split off into different factions of metal’s solar system. However, once Muenzner decided on a direction, he knew they would join him on his next trek.

“I’ve always wanted to play tech-thrash", Muenzner says, citing Coroner, Voivod, Toxik, Martyr, Hexenhaus and Aspid as personal favorites. “I was listening to those bands long before I got into technical death metal. When I decided to start my own band in this style, I thought of Alex and Gabe. Not only are they both great players, but I knew from our time in Obscura that we had great chemistry both on and off stage”.

“I am extremely excited to be creating music with Christian and Alex as Void Sector Zero”, Seeber says. “Playing with musicians of this caliber will push me to progress and become a better musician, and there’s no better label to represent us and this sound than Season of Mist”.

“Dead Space Enigma was a real blast to work on”, Weber says. “Chris wrote a very demanding set of tunes that really pushed my bass and vocal techniques to new levels. To date, I feel like this album has the best recorded bass tone that I’ve ever gotten. It also led me to try new things with my voice that I didn’t know I could do. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it!”

Despite the band’s lengthy incubation period, like an experiment secreted at Area 51, Void Sector Zero hatch something truly mind-blowing on Dead Space Enigma. The album isn’t bound to one particular concept, but each song opens another portal into science fiction or cosmic horror. Lead single “Vortex Divinium” whirls at hyper speed through the warped mind of Bob Lazar. Propelled by gravity-defying bass runs, a dizzying guitar solo shreds the cosmic divide between tech-trash,‘70s prog rock and jazz fusion.

“Bluesy guitarists like Jimi Hendrix and Robin Trower influence my approach to soloing as much as Yngwie Malmsteen and other great metal guitarists”, Muenzner says. “Whether it’s neoclassical or classic heavy metal, I like to add contrasts to my solos by introducing new colors”.

While Void Sector Zero gravitate toward tech-thrash, Dead Space Enigma is teeming with life-forms from across the metal universe. Guest vocalist Morean commands the freakishly fast march of “Cybernetic Infantry” from behind an eerily catchy vocoder. Under the influence of hard rock and trad metal, the twisted time signatures of “Extraterrestrial Disassembly” unravel into a DMT trip gone horribly wrong. “I like albums that offer an escape from reality”, Muenzer says. “Ammutseba” bangs heads in honor of the great Lovecraftian deity, but the all-consuming power of its chorus speaks to this band’s place amongst the gods of extreme metal. “A prophecy / Was once foretold”.

On Dead Space Enigma, Void Sector Zero emerge with a star-studded explosion of progressive thrash metal.