Ratlehole

Wien

Ratlehole is a virtual metal-rock band and artistic project by Austrian lyricist and musician Franz Habegger. It exists at the intersection of human creativity and machine precision — a hybrid sound organism merging classical composition, modern sound design and artificial performance into a new form of digital music theatre. All lyrics and core melodies are written by hand, while voices, orchestras and instruments are produced using state-of-the-art computer technology. Modeled voices, algorithmic orchestras and synthetic guitars merge into a sound that feels half human, half machine. Ratlehole is therefore less a traditional band and more an audiovisual art project exploring the boundaries between composition, AI and performance. Founded in Vienna — in an old rehearsal cellar known as “the rat hole” — the project grew into a symbol of creativity born from darkness, irony and digital vision.