POTHAMUS + HIPPOTRAKTOR

double bill POTHAMUS Pothamus mixes sludge, post-rock, and tribal into a mesmerizing trip. The trio has impressed in recent years with their energetic live shows and their refined sound. A Spartan sound palette of repetitive riffs and thin drones, driven by frantic drums and fierce bass lines. The band is inspired by spiritual questions and personal meanings to shape their own enigmatic world. Driven by those big questions, Pothamus returns to the basis of music: coming together and drifting away. Let yourself be carried away in this swirling trip. With the birth of 'Abur', Pothamus announces the long-awaited successor to their debut album 'Raya', which was released in 2020 via Consouling Sounds. This debut immediately proved the band's very unique sound - thundering percussion, tempestuous riffs, and booming bass lines that merged into a truly trance-like whole. The band immediately garnered praise from both fans and media (MetalHammer, Decibel Magazine, Rock Tribune), while paving the way along well-known Belgian stages (Ancienne Belgique, Trix, Vooruit) and international festivals (ESNS, ArcTanGent, Motocultor, Alcatraz). ‘Abur' effortlessly confirms Pothamus' unique and original take on sludge and post-metal, and leads them far away from the beaten track to a signature mix that truly sets them apart. Pothamus' ritualistic sound is characteristically tribal and percussion-driven and is mainly materialized by ecstatic rhythmic elements. Icy drone shivers and melodic passages capture the attention without grabbing it, and steadily lure the listener to the approaching maelstrom. Pothamus are masters at creating mystical and meditative landscapes, which meander through both serenity and storm. HIPPOTRAKTOR HIPPOTRAKTOR is inspired by the highlights of contemporary progressive and post-metal and knows how to capture the awe-inspiring power of nature — from the refined beauty of the first falling leaf to the overwhelming cosmic energy of the sun. Since the release of their acclaimed debut EP *P’eau* (2018), these musicians from Mechelen have further sharpened their songwriting and production skills, built a new home studio to record new material, and have grown from a trio into a quintet. With the arrival of singer/percussionist Stefan De Graef (Psychonaut) and guitarist/singer Sander Rom (L’Itch), HIPPOTRAKTOR has become a more versatile formation that can deploy a wider sound palette, taking the band's earlier instrumental prog-metal sound to new heights.