Meet the Ilonggo band that took Philippine metal to Germany

Sentient Void is used to playing for crowds of 20 to 50 people at small venues around Panay. On July 30, the Ilonggo band took that experience to Wacken, Germany, and represented the Philippines at the 2026 Wacken Metal Battle Final after winning the local leg of the competition.

The band is composed of vocalist Richard Arengo, guitarist and vocalist Kevin Sombero, bassist Stephen Benedicto, guitarists Dr. Alfred Gregore and Atty. John Paul Ernest “Jope” Ravena, and drummer Lemuel Anthony Gadong. Five members are from Iloilo, while Gadong is from Roxas City, Capiz.

Performing in Wacken is a dream that started years before the band existed.

From internet cafés to Germany

As high school friends, Arengo and Sombero spent time at internet cafés after school, watching livestreams of bands performing at the biggest metal festival in the world — Wacken Open Air in Germany.

“[We were] just two best friends in high school who couldn’t sing and play guitar properly. Two kids who would go to internet cafes after school to watch live performances of our favorite bands playing at Wacken and hoping that someday we could go there and enjoy the festival,” Arengo said.

Arengo and Sombero were eventually invited to join after Benedicto and Gregore formed Sentient Void in 2022 with two other musicians from Iloilo and Capiz. Sombero had been contributing to the band’s music from the beginning before officially joining in early 2024.

The six members bonded over their shared interest in heavy and dark music, drawing influences from bands such as Meshuggah, Orbit Culture, Emperor, Nails, and Slipknot.

Sombero said the band brings its own twist to heavy metal, combining chainsaw-style Swedish guitar tones, low-end bass, grooving drums, and bellowing vocals.

“Our goal was to create music that would elicit a dreadful yet enjoyable feeling,” Sombero added.

Beyond their sound, Arengo said the band also puts emphasis on its live performances, using theatrics in their sets to make the experience memorable.

“We pride ourselves on making sure that people who watch us, remember exactly who we are and not just another band that played,” said Arengo.

The band’s name was inspired by the “Warp” in Warhammer 40,000, a fictional realm where thoughts and emotions can manifest into physical forms. Sombero said the name fit the atmosphere they wanted for the band and echoed Friedrich Nietzsche’s reflection about gazing into an abyss.

In 2024, the band released its debut EP, Aberrant, which features the singles “Voidwalker” and “The Freak Show.”

The band’s members continue to work regular jobs while making time for rehearsals and performances, playing on weekends as a break from their careers.

The members jokingly call themselves “the 6 angry salarymen,” a reference to their full-time jobs and their shared pursuit of heavy music on the side.

“Considering that all of us have our respective jobs with different working hours and in different places across Panay, proper time management and committing to agreed schedules have always worked for us,” said Ravena.

For Benedicto, the band has become an escape from their 9-to-5 jobs and an outlet for their passion for music and performing.

“It’s not just about the music, but performing as a whole as well. That drives us to create more music, and to perform onstage,” Benedicto said.

The road to Wacken

After establishing itself in the local music scene, Sentient Void entered Wacken Metal Battle Philippines, the local leg of the worldwide competition, spotlighting unsigned metal bands and giving them the chance to perform at Wacken.

Sentient Void went through several qualification rounds before reaching the national finals, where bands representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao competed for the chance to represent the country. After the competition in Marikina City, the band emerged as the national champion.

However, preparing for the international competition brought another set of challenges.

As an independent band based in the region, Sentient Void had to work around financial constraints while preparing for the performance. 

“Like many independent musicians, we faced significant financial constraints, which limited our preparation. We had to make last-minute upgrades to our equipment just to ensure we could compete at an international level,” Gregore said.

When the band arrived in Germany, it experienced more than just the chance to perform. For Benedicto, being able to experience the festival firsthand was his favorite part of the trip.

“We didn’t expect that one day we’d be in Wacken, let alone to be able to play in it,” said Benedicto. 

The members also met bands, promoters, and producers from different parts of the world, including some of their favorite artists.

“We were fortunate enough to connect with different nationalities with just music. Even if everyone didn’t speak the same language, everyone connected through their love of metal,” Benedicto said.

A win built on community

Sentient Void won the Wacken Metal Battle’s first-ever Online Fan Vote Award, along with a €2,500 cash prize. 

“We made it to the competition because of the incredible support we received from our families, friends, fans, and the local music community,” Gregore said.

Arengo said the opportunity to perform in Wacken carried particular significance for the group because all six members come from Iloilo and Capiz.

“It gave us so much joy and pride that we are the first full Ilonggo, born and raised, metal lineup that played at an international event,” Arengo said.

For Arengo, the band’s experience in Wacken has also changed what the members see as possible for Sentient Void.

“This whole band thing we started was only just so we can make the heavy sound we always wanted to do before we retire from playing music altogether. Maybe do this for another 5-7 years and hang our instruments and move on with our lives, because Father Time isn’t slowing down on anybody,” Arengo said.

But after coming into the spotlight, they don’t see themselves stopping anytime soon.

“But since we have garnered national attention from our recent accolades, our paths suddenly changed,” said Arengo. “Hopefully, it opens up many more opportunities for us to play our music and reach as many people as possible.” — Rappler.com