Tom Radar of Hellkern Warriors: “Our priority is creating music that resonates with us first — everything else follows from that”
Hellkern Warriors are a cross-continental darkwave outfit founded this year. Uniting musicians from Italy, Germany, and Colombia, the project also veers into gothic rock territory - beautifully showcased on the band's latest single, Helkern Warriors. Cinematic and darkly atmospheric, it's a striking piece of music that refuses to leave my head.
Wanting to know more about the artists and the sonic world they're building, I was thrilled when band member Tom Radar said he'd have a chat with us.
Going through some of the band's biggest musical inspirations, how they navigate the balance between staying true to their vision and adapting to changing trends in the music industry, and what comes next for Hellkern Warriors, please welcome our new friend, Tom Radar!
Hey Tom, it's great to have you here! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us!
Let's kick things off with an easy one...Who are Hellkern Warriors, and how did you all find one another?
The story of Hellkern Warriors begins in the shadows of early 2025, when Kabal Apokalyse (Pietrasanta, Italy) reached out to Mauricio Castro (Ibagué, Colombia) with the idea of shaping a new musical vision. What started as a conversation soon grew into something more — a calling that needed a spark.
That spark arrived in June, when Tom Radar (Berlin, Germany) unveiled his haunting song ideas: the raw and evocative riffs of Helkern Warriors and Endless Road. To capture the atmosphere he imagined, Tom recorded demo versions of both tracks, lending his own voice to guide the vision.
The effect was immediate. Kabal, Mauricio, and Fabian Parra (Ibagué, Colombia) felt the pull of the music — cinematic in scope, yet intimate in its shadows. Each brought their own artistry to the table, weaving together threads of analog synths, spectral guitar lines, and rhythms that echo like a heartbeat in the dark.
From this alchemy, Hellkern Warriors were born — an international collaboration bound by the desire to create soundscapes that are as haunting as they are alive.
Your latest release, Helkern Warriors, is a highly intriguing piece of dark, gothic rock. It's powerful stuff - and it's a tune I can't quite shake.
Do you remember the track's "birth", so to speak? That initial spark that set the song in motion?
Tom had the song in a raw guitar version lying on his desk for years — almost like a sleeping creature waiting for the right moment to wake. When Hellkern Warriors was born, the connection was immediate. The name, the energy, the vision… it all echoed the spirit of that riff. Bringing it back to life felt less like a decision and more like destiny. It became the spark that ignited the fire of our debut track.
There's usually a wonderful backstory to a musician or band's chosen name, and it's a question I just love asking artists.
How exactly did Hellkern Warriors come about?
The name Hellkern comes from a computer virus (Helkern) — an invisible force that moves through digital darkness, powerful and unstoppable. That concept instantly resonated with us: a raw, disruptive energy breaking through boundaries.
Hellkern Warriors grew out of that idea — a name that reflects the intensity behind our music, the fight, the force, and the uncompromising spirit that drives the band forward.
Who are some of the band's biggest musical inspirations?
And, if you could collectively "steal" one song in the world and claim it as your own, what would it be and why?
Some of our biggest musical inspirations come from the darker corners of rock and metal — bands like Sisters of Mercy and Type O Negative shaped the atmosphere, intensity, and cinematic feel that we aim for in our own music.
If we could “steal” one song and claim it as our own, it would probably be:
Tom Radar: Bauhaus – Bela Lugosi’s Dead
Kabal Apokalyse: Type O Negative – I don´t wanna be me
Fabian Parra: The Cure – A Forest
Mauricio Castro: Sisters of Mercy – This Corrosion
Each song is a masterpiece of dark, cinematic intensity — the kind of epic, haunting energy.
German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said, “Without music, life would be a mistake.”
What would your life look like without music, and what fills your days when you’re not busy creating?
Without music, life would feel empty, like a world without color or shadow. It’s not just what we do — it’s how we process everything, how we express the things words alone can’t capture. Without it, I think I’d be lost in routines, missing a way to connect with both my own emotions and the world around me.
When I’m not creating, I fill my days with a mix of inspiration and reflection — reading, exploring sounds, diving into books and films that spark ideas, and connecting with friends and collaborators who keep the creative energy alive. Music is always there in the background, shaping everything I do, even when I’m not actively writing or recording.
How does the band navigate the balance between staying true to its artistic vision and adapting to changing trends in the music industry?
We have our own style, and our main focus is always on staying true to our artistic vision. We’re aware of trends in the music industry, but we let them influence us only when they feel natural.
The core concept and energy of Hellkern Warriors always remain intact. Our priority is creating music that resonates with us first — everything else follows from that.
What do you love most about being a musician? And on the flip side, what are some of the biggest challenges that you’ve faced so far?
What I love most about being a musician is the freedom to create worlds through sound — to turn emotions, stories, and visions into something tangible that connects with people, whether it’s through my own ideas or in collaboration with Kabal, Mauricio, Fabian, and others. There’s nothing quite like the moment when a riff, a lyric, or a melody comes together, and you feel it resonate, not just with yourself but with everyone who hears it.
The biggest challenges are often the same things that make it rewarding — finding the right balance between creativity and the practical side of making music, collaborating across borders, and constantly pushing yourself to evolve without losing your core identity. It’s not always easy, but those challenges are exactly what shape the music and the journey.
Tom, it's been an absolute pleasure having you here! Thanks again for taking the time!
Before we say farewell for now, what comes next for Hellkern Warriors, and do you have any words of wisdom you'd like to leave us with?
Our next release is the new single Endless Road, along with its official music video, featuring all of us. It’s coming soon, and fans can find all the latest updates on our website.
Thank you for having us and for the intriguing questions. We hope our music continues to take listeners on a journey — dark, cinematic, and unmistakably Hellkern Warriors.
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