Channel Zero

Biography

Channel Zero is a Belgian groove/thrash metal band formed in Brussels in 1990. They are one of the best known heavy metal bands from Belgium. They disbanded in 1997. In 2009, the band announced a series of reunion shows starting in January 2010.

History

Channel Zero was formed in Brussels in 1990. They released their first album Channel Zero in 1992. Their second album Stigmatized for Life×Stigmatized for Life1993 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Chrome Dome6:532Repetition4:033Stigmatized for Life6:054America5:185Play a Little4:126Gold4:087Testimony4:118Unleash the Dog3:249Big Now4:3310Last Gasp4:10 (mixed by Vinnie Paul of Pantera) followed in 1993.
They achieved their breakthrough with the album Unsafe×Unsafe1994 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Suck My Energy5:252Heroin3:223Bad to the Bone2:284Help3:515Lonely2:576Run W.T.T.3:597Why2:138No More3:549Unsafe3:3410Dashboard Devils3:0311As a Boy4:1012Man on the Edge / [silence] / All for One10:52 in 1994. The album featured guest vocals of Billy Milano of S.O.D. and Richard 23 of Front 242. Their last studio album Black Fuel×Black Fuel1996 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Black Fuel5:102Mastermind3:323Call on Me5:284Fool's Parade5:055Self Control5:096Misery3:567The Hill5:358Love/Hate Satellite2:229Caveman3:0110Put It In2:5411Wasted2:5712Outro6:27 was released in 1996.
In 1997, the band announced their break-up. They released one last live album of their performance at Marktrock, Leuven in 1997, simply titled Live. Franky De Smet Van Damme went on to form his own band Skitsoy, while Xavier Carion later formed Sons of Jonathas.
In 2010, the band played six reunion shows in the AB concert hall in Brussels. The first three sold out within 49 minutes, and the next two announced one week later, again sold out.
A single, "Black Flowers×Black Flowers20 January 2010 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Black Flowers3:12", was released in January 2010. On 5 April 2010, de Smet revealed that they are working on a new album, during an interview he gave during 'De zwaarste lijst', a radio show on the Belgian radio station Studio Brussel.
The band played concerts at the Graspop Metal Meeting in 2010 and 2011 in Dessel. They also played at Rock Werchter in 1995, back when the festival was still known as Torhout-Werchter, and in 2010.
The band's former drummer, Phil Baheux, died on 10 August 2013 at the age of 45.
In October 2013, the band announced that they would continue the work made on the new album, with Roy Mayorga playing the drums as a session drummer. Chris "Seven" Antonopoulos became the permanent drummer after the album's release. Their sixth studio album, Kill All Kings×Kill All Kings4 April 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Dark Passenger4:352Electronic Cocaine3:323Burn the Nation3:364Digital Warfare3:255Ego3:286Crimson Collider3:497Kill All Kings3:588Brother's Keeper3:519Army of Bugs4:1710Mind Over Mechanics3:3411Duisternis3:1312Heart Stop3:50, was released on 24 June through Metal Blade Records. Christophe Depree, from fellow Belgian metal band After All, joined the band as a second guitarist in late 2017.
On 23 October 2024, the band announced on their social media that they will disband after one last concert on 12 December 2026.

Members

Current members
Franky De Smet-Van Damme – vocals (1990–1997, 2009–present)
Tino De Martino – bass (1990–1997, 2009–present)
Mikey Doling – lead guitar (2009–present)
Seven Antonopoulos – drums (2014–present)
Christophe Depree – rhythm guitar (2017–present)
Former members
Phil Baheux – drums (1990–1997, 2009–2013; died 2013)
Xavier Carion – lead guitar (1990–1997)
Patrice Hubloux – rhythm guitar (1990–1992; died 1995)
Peter Iterbeke – rhythm guitar (1992–1993)
Session members
Roy Mayorga – drums (2013–2014)
Timeline