During METALCAFE LIVE on March 30th, we had a change to talk with ONKT. These Dutch progressive metalheads have been around for a while. After a break, they’re back with ONKT 2.0. Check out the interview on our Youtube channel, or read a shorter version down below.
Can you please introduce yourselves?
We are ONKT! I’m Isaac, the guitar player, though I used to be the singer up until recently. Raaf is our new singer; he’s been with us for a few months, and this is his first show. Jordy is our other new guitar player, and it’s his first gig with us as well. Our drummer, Michiel, is backstage not feeling great, and our bass player, Rob, is… well, he’s a bass player, so who knows where he is! Today (30 maart 2025, during METALCAFE at the Vorstin, Hilversum) is the first gig for this new lineup.
How long have you been a band?
The band has been around since April 2005, so it’s been almost 20 years. Myself, Isaac, and Michiel, the drummer, are original members. Rob, the bassist, has been in the band for about 12 or 13 years, so we consider him an original member too. The rest of the lineup is new.
What led to the recent lineup changes?
We took a break for almost exactly a year. After a really fun gig last year, one of our guitar players quit because he wasn’t feeling it anymore and decided to leave all three of his bands. The other guitarist, who relied on the first one for rides to rehearsals, decided to leave as well. So, we suddenly had no guitarists. We held auditions and found Jordy. Raaf also auditioned for guitar, but it wasn’t quite the right fit for him in that role. I, Isaac, hadn’t seriously touched a guitar in 20 years, but I recently bought a tiny headphone amp that let me practice quietly at home, and I got back into it. So, I decided to switch to guitar, and we asked Raaf if he’d like to be our singer. He agreed, noting that learning the lyrics was easier than learning the complex songs on guitar.
Is it true that Meshuggah is a big inspiration?
Yes, they still are a huge inspiration. Our drummer, Michiel, is probably their biggest fan. His garage, which is our rehearsal space, is a shrine to them—filled with Meshuggah posters, shirts, and vinyl. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him wear a shirt from another band. We’re actually playing a Meshuggah cover tonight to celebrate the band getting back together.
How has your musical style evolved over 20 years?
It has mostly evolved as we’ve become better musicians. When we started, we weren’t very good. Michiel and I have been writing the music together for 20 years, and we just kept improving. We still play one of the first songs we ever wrote because it’s fun and a good song, but the rest of our material has evolved a lot, simply through experience.
What are the ambitions for the new ONKT?
The main ambition is to write and record new material with this lineup. Over the last year, we’ve focused entirely on practicing the existing set so we could get back to playing live. Now, we’re really curious to see how the band will evolve with everyone’s new styles. We want to make our music even more complex, but also catchier and more understandable for the audience. The ultimate dream is to open for Meshuggah!
What do you think of the current Dutch metal scene?
The bands in the Dutch metal scene today are really good. Thanks to the internet, musicians have so much inspiration, and the quality is high. The problem is that the scene itself feels like it’s dying out a bit. It’s much harder to get people to come to shows now than it was in the late 90s. Back then, I’d be touring with my grindcore band, barely able to play, and the places would be packed with people moshing. Now the bands are better, but the crowds are smaller.
Thanks ONKT! We’ll be staying tuned for new music! In the meantime, if you want to know more about this band, check them out on their website.
