Kenta Koie, the vocalist who's led Osaka metalcore pioneers Crossfaith since 2006, launched a solo project called AFTERVOID in early 2026—and it's already reshaping how we think about the boundaries between metal and electronic music. While he continues fronting Crossfaith, AFTERVOID represents something entirely new: a hard techno and metal hybrid that Koie creates, produces, and performs entirely on his own, often in DJ set format rather than traditional band shows.
If you've been following the news about AFTERVOID but still have questions about what exactly it is, how it differs from Crossfaith, and where you can actually experience it, we've gathered everything we know so far.
The Quick Version
- AFTERVOID is Kenta Koie's solo project, launched in early 2026, combining hard techno with metal in a club-oriented sound.
- The debut track "RUNNING AWAY (Destruction Test Remix)" was released as AFTERVOID's first output—unusually starting with a remix rather than an original.
- Koie handles every aspect of AFTERVOID himself, from composition to production, according to his social media profiles.
- AFTERVOID is scheduled to perform as opening act on November 4, 2026, during THE ORAL CIGARETTES' tour, appearing in DJ set format.
- Koie continues to front Crossfaith simultaneously—he's now credited as "Kenta Koie (Crossfaith, AFTERVOID)" on recent collaborations.
What AFTERVOID Actually Is
AFTERVOID marks a significant creative departure for Koie, even as he remains committed to Crossfaith. The project emerged from his desire to explore the electronic side of heavy music more deeply than Crossfaith's metalcore-meets-EDM sound allows. According to his own description on social media, he "does everything" for AFTERVOID—writing, producing, and performing the material solo.
The sound centers on hard techno infused with metal elements, designed for both club environments and metal venues. The debut track "RUNNING AWAY (Destruction Test Remix)" illustrates this approach: it was intentionally released as a remix first, an unconventional move described as meant to "blow a hole in the scene." The track emphasizes DJ-compatible structures and four-on-the-floor beats while retaining the intensity and aggression of Koie's metal background.
What makes AFTERVOID particularly interesting is how it positions Koie as a complete auteur. In Crossfaith, he shares creative responsibilities with four other members; in AFTERVOID, every decision—from sound design to arrangement to vocal performance—rests with him alone. This level of control allows him to pursue ideas that might not fit Crossfaith's collaborative dynamic or established sound.
How AFTERVOID Differs From Crossfaith
We've watched Crossfaith evolve since their formation in November 2006, when Koie and four Osaka musicians—Kazuki Takemura (guitar), Hiroki Ikegawa (bass), Tatsuya Amano (drums), and Terufumi Tamano (programming)—set out to merge metalcore with electronic music. Over nearly two decades, they've toured globally, played Reading and Leeds Festival and Vans Warped Tour, and built a reputation for what Koie himself calls "mashing up extreme rock music and electronic sounds with Hi-NRG."
AFTERVOID pushes the electronic component much further. Where Crossfaith builds songs around live instrumentation—guitar riffs, breakdowns, traditional metal song structures—augmented by programming, AFTERVOID starts from an electronic foundation. The beats, tempos, and structures come from techno and club music first, with metal attitude and aesthetics layered in. Koie has described this as allowing him to explore sounds and production techniques that wouldn't serve Crossfaith's identity but fascinate him personally.
The performance format differs too. Crossfaith tours as a five-piece band with traditional rock stage setups. AFTERVOID appears as DJ sets, with Koie behind decks and controllers rather than standing at a microphone stand. This shift reflects the project's club orientation and allows for improvisation and remixing in real time—approaches that don't translate to conventional band performances.
Where You Can Experience AFTERVOID
AFTERVOID is scheduled to make several live appearances throughout the remainder of 2026. On November 4, the project is set to perform as opening act during THE ORAL CIGARETTES' tour, appearing in DJ set format. Additionally, AFTERVOID is expected to serve as opening guest for all dates of the OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE JAPAN TOUR 2026, giving audiences across Japan their first chance to experience the project's hard techno and metal fusion in person.
The debut track "RUNNING AWAY (Destruction Test Remix)" is available now through digital music platforms, though specific streaming service availability hasn't been detailed in official announcements. Koie maintains active social media presence for AFTERVOID through dedicated accounts, where updates about releases and performances appear regularly.
Beyond the solo project, Koie has begun integrating his AFTERVOID identity into collaborative work. On the OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE tour, he appears as guest vocalist on the track "SAVIOR," credited explicitly as "Kenta Koie (Crossfaith, AFTERVOID)"—a billing that underscores his dual artistic identity and suggests we'll see more cross-pollination between his projects going forward.
Why Koie Launched a Solo Project Now
For an artist who once said "Music is my life; I don't want to imagine not being a musician. Music saved my life and created myself as I am now," launching AFTERVOID represents both creative expansion and personal necessity. After two decades with Crossfaith—a band that's toured extensively through Australia, the United States, and Europe, and become what some observers describe as perhaps the biggest metal band to break out of Japan in recent years—Koie has accumulated both the experience and the creative hunger to explore new territory.
The timing also reflects broader trends in heavy music. We're seeing more metal and hardcore artists engage with electronic music on its own terms, not just as ornamentation. The walls between festival main stages and dance tents have grown more porous. Hard techno in particular has experienced a resurgence, creating space for projects that might have seemed too niche even five years ago.
Koie's background positioned him uniquely for this moment. Crossfaith's entire career has involved navigating the space between metal and electronic music, which means he's spent nearly twenty years learning both languages. AFTERVOID lets him speak one of those languages more fluently than Crossfaith's bilingual approach allows.
Koie's Journey From Osaka to Two Projects
Born on April 27, 1988, in Osaka, Koie came of age in a city with a thriving rock and metal scene distinct from Tokyo's. He formed Crossfaith in November 2006, at just 18 years old, with the ambition to create something that hadn't existed in Japanese heavy music before. The band's early work drew from metalcore foundations—breakdowns, screamed vocals, precision rhythms—but even then incorporated electronic elements that set them apart.
Their EP "Zion" drew significant attention in the UK and helped establish Crossfaith internationally, a rare achievement for a Japanese metal act. The album "Xeno" furthered that momentum, building a global following through relentless touring. Along the way, Koie developed his approach as a frontman who could deliver both aggressive screams and melodic singing, all while performing in English to reach the widest possible audience. "We have Japanese blood and tour around the world," he explained in an interview, positioning Crossfaith as ambassadors carrying Japanese energy to global stages.
That international experience informed AFTERVOID's development. Koie spent years observing how audiences responded to electronic elements in Crossfaith's music, which festivals and venues worked best for genre-blending acts, and where the boundaries of "metal" really lay. AFTERVOID applies those lessons to music built from the electronic side rather than the rock side—a perspective he could only have developed after nearly twenty years in Crossfaith.
What the Dual Projects Mean for Crossfaith
One question we've heard repeatedly: does AFTERVOID signal the beginning of the end for Crossfaith? The evidence suggests no. Koie continues to identify as Crossfaith's vocalist across all his social media profiles, where he describes himself as "singer/lyricist for Crossfaith." His billing on collaborations explicitly includes both projects, suggesting he views them as parallel rather than sequential.
Many artists maintain successful simultaneous projects that serve different creative needs. The key usually lies in keeping the projects' identities distinct, which Koie appears to be doing. Crossfaith remains a collaborative band with a defined sound and touring schedule; AFTERVOID offers solo creative control and electronic experimentation. Rather than competing, they likely feed each other—ideas explored in AFTERVOID might inform Crossfaith's electronic elements, while Crossfaith's stage experience informs AFTERVOID's live presence.
The dual-credit approach also opens practical possibilities. Festivals booking AFTERVOID might also book Crossfaith, or vice versa. Fans of one project provide a built-in audience for the other. And creatively, knowing he has AFTERVOID as an outlet for certain ideas might help Koie keep Crossfaith focused on what it does best, rather than trying to make one band serve every artistic impulse.
What People Are Saying
One longtime Crossfaith fan wrote on social media: "I wasn't sure about AFTERVOID at first because I thought it might mean Crossfaith was ending, but hearing the debut track made me realize this is just Kenta exploring a different side of his sound. Both projects can exist and both are valid."
A DJ and producer in the hard techno scene commented: "What's exciting about AFTERVOID is that it's not just a metal guy dabbling in electronic music—Kenta clearly understands techno structure and club dynamics. The 'RUNNING AWAY' remix works in a DJ set, which most metal crossovers can't claim."
An attendee of one of AFTERVOID's early appearances observed: "Seeing Kenta in DJ format was surreal if you're used to Crossfaith shows, but it worked. The energy was different—less mosh pit, more dance floor—but just as intense. It's genuinely a different project, not just Crossfaith without guitars."
A music journalist who has followed Japanese metal for years noted: "AFTERVOID positions Koie alongside artists like Yoshiki from X Japan, who've successfully maintained multiple projects. It's becoming more common for Japanese rock and metal musicians to explore solo work without abandoning their bands, and Kenta's approach seems thoughtful rather than impulsive."
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AFTERVOID replacing Crossfaith?
No. Kenta Koie continues to front Crossfaith and identifies as the band's vocalist across all his profiles. AFTERVOID is a parallel solo project, not a replacement. He's credited as "Kenta Koie (Crossfaith, AFTERVOID)" on recent collaborations, indicating both projects remain active.
Where can I listen to AFTERVOID's music?
The debut track "RUNNING AWAY (Destruction Test Remix)" is available on digital music platforms, though specific streaming services haven't been detailed in official announcements. Following AFTERVOID's official social media accounts will provide updates on new releases and availability.
Will AFTERVOID tour outside Japan?
No international tour dates have been announced yet. The project's confirmed appearances through late 2026 are in Japan, including the November 4 performance with THE ORAL CIGARETTES and the OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE JAPAN TOUR dates. International expansion may depend on how these initial shows are received.
How is AFTERVOID different from Crossfaith's electronic elements?
AFTERVOID builds from electronic music foundations—specifically hard techno—and adds metal elements, while Crossfaith starts from metalcore and incorporates electronic sounds. AFTERVOID also appears as DJ sets rather than traditional band performances, allowing for club-oriented presentation and real-time remixing that wouldn't work in Crossfaith's format.
What does "doing everything" for AFTERVOID mean?
According to Koie's social media description, he handles all aspects of AFTERVOID himself—composition, production, arrangement, vocals, and performance. Unlike Crossfaith, which involves five members collaborating, AFTERVOID gives him complete creative control and allows him to make every artistic decision independently.
Looking Ahead: What's Next for Both Projects
As AFTERVOID moves through its scheduled performances in late 2026, we'll get a clearer picture of how audiences respond to the hard techno and metal fusion, and whether the project expands beyond its initial Japanese dates. The November 4 appearance with THE ORAL CIGARETTES and the OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE JAPAN TOUR dates represent crucial tests—will metal fans embrace the DJ format? Will electronic music audiences engage with the project's heavier elements?
For Crossfaith, the question becomes how Koie's electronic explorations feed back into the band's sound. We've seen musicians return from solo projects with new perspectives that revitalize their main bands, and given Crossfaith's history of evolution—from their early metalcore through their increasingly electronic-influenced recent work—they seem positioned to benefit from whatever Koie learns through AFTERVOID.
What's certain is that Koie remains as committed to music as ever. Nearly twenty years after forming Crossfaith at 18, he's still pushing boundaries and refusing to settle into comfortable patterns. Whether you're following him for the metalcore intensity of Crossfaith or the techno experimentation of AFTERVOID—or both—the months ahead promise to show us new dimensions of one of Japanese heavy music's most distinctive voices.
