Album Review: Hippotraktor – Annihilist

Album Review: Hippotraktor – Annihilist

Reviewed by Oli Gonzalez

Another band from Pelagic Records seemingly never ending pipeline of talent, Belgium’s Hippotraktor are on the eve of unveiling their third full length album, “Annihilist”. New blood and members alongside shifts in song writing philosophy were documented by the band. Though surely we can expect the same thunderous grooves and blistering intensity that has made the band a household name in the post metal scene? Let’s find out…

“Annihilist” kickass off with ‘I Breathe, I Am’. Bass and groove are the immediate standouts and most salient qualities, with bassist Jakob getting his time to shine for long stretches, holding the groove and being the focal point without the weight of the guitars. Especially during the early segments of the track. Vocalist Stefan demonstrates a calming resonance to his voice, and is joined by guitarist Kristof in the dual vocal approach. Though like flicking a light switch, the band can take a U-Turn and unleash unmitigated hell with crushing walls of distorted guitars and Stefan’s all-powerful growled vocals joining the attack! Hippotraktor will challenge you, that’s for sure, by being calm and introspective one moment, then full on corrosive and devastating the next!

‘Courageous Apathy’ follows in a similar suit, with an unshakeable rhythmic foundation that goes way beyond the standard 4/4 time signature, whilst providing a cocktail of soaring melodies and instantly memorable vocal hooks. Alongside some tasty neck snapping grooves, enhanced by the additional percussion instruments. Check out the video for ‘Manifest The Mountain’ to see how Stefan acts like an auxiliary percussionist alongside his lead vocal duties.

These are patterns you’ll see throughout the album; free flowing unpredictable song structures that will keep you on your toes. Though paradoxically, these shifts seem logical and avoid any random scatter gun style bursts. This also means the songs are longer than what most casual listeners will be used to, with complex non-canonical progressions being given the time they need to fully breath and grow.

Now returning to the theme of lead vocals, let’s examine the song writing approach. Stefan describes how himself and new member guitarist/vocalist Kristof wrote their vocal parts independently of one another, only collaborating and comparing efforts when they had finished their pre-production demo phase. As such, you can see examples of some syncopated vocal patterns and lyrics running completely different lines, rather than blindly copying one another. This leads to a much deeper overall texture to the music, with Stefan saying this created ‘one massive whole that is much bigger than what I could have by myself’. Check out ‘Oblivion Walker’ as an example of this vocal synergy. It’s interesting listening to Stefan perform in Hippotraktor, as opposed to his other band Psychonaut. It seems like he has more freedom to express himself and maybe doesn’t feel the pressure of holding down guitar and vocal duties simultaneously in the Psychonaut power trio.

Guitarist and chief song writer Chiaran expands on this collaborative approach, saying how he actively sought the input of the other members throughout the entire writing process, adding how he shared ‘half baked or less goods’ with the band. The approach seems to have worked as we’re seeing a much deeper and atmospheric sound in the already complex and avant-garde puzzle that is Hippotraktor.

If this is the future direction for Hippotraktor, then it’s exciting indeed! We’re looking at the future of not just Hippotaktor but the future of post metal! Hippotraktor hit the road this autumn, culminating with a set at the prestigious Damnation festival. The Bowlers Exhibition Centre better be ready!

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