TAKEN FROM UPCOMING SOPHOMORE ALBUM, ‘ABUR’
Credit: Céline Gladiné
Watch YKAVUS below
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Belgian psychedelic sludge-metal trio Pothamus have shared soaring single & video ‘Ykavus’, taken from their second full-length album, ‘Abur’, set for release on February 14th, 2025 via Berlin’s Pelagic Records.
The heavily anticipated spiritual successor to their 2020 debut ‘Raya’, ‘Abur’ finds the band honing an already formidable sound and widening their distinct musical palette in order to create truly original and staggeringly heavy music that steers them ever further away from well-trodden post-metal paths. Based in Mechelen, Belgium, Mattias M. Van Hulle, Michael Lombarts and Sam Coussens formed Pothamus in 2013 and have been enthralling audiences with their breathtaking command of hypnotic riffage, floating drones, tribal percussion, and abrasive bass lines for over a decade.
‘Abur’ sees Pothamus’ signature ritualistic sound elevated by the haunting sounds of the Surpeti, a drone instrument originating from the Indian subcontinent traditionally used for mantra singing, whilst drummer Van Hulle adds his voice in harmony with guitarist Coussens’ to create an astounding richness and depth. Capturing Pothamus at this creative zenith was musical contemporary and close friend Chiaran Verheyden (Psychonaut, Hippotraktor) who recorded, mixed and mastered the album.
Although more delicate than other offerings on ‘Abur’, ‘Ykavus’ is easily one of its heaviest. With no guitars present and only the icy sound of the Surpeti at its heart, ‘Ykavus’ is meditative patience perfected. The band’s newfound dual vocals freely intertwine, evoking the atmosphere of a sacred ritual and inviting the listener into their inner circle of enlightenment.
The song's music video depicts artwork of Flemish environmental artist Will Beckers, internationally known for his site specific installations and public artworks that show a dialogue and relationship between culture, nature and the environment.
A 44-minute pilgrimage through nature, animism and the depths of the human soul, ‘Abur’ is Pothamus’ answer to the big, existential questions that keep us all awake at night. Titanic, all-consuming heaviness is met with ethereal, airy beauty as the band contemplates the interconnectedness of all things, creating a singular sonic universe balanced perfectly between cosmic creation and absolute destruction.
‘Abur’ is released on February 14th, 2025. ‘Ykavus’ is out now.
Pothamus on ‘Ykavus’:
"We understand Ykavus as a ritual affirmation of the album's central belief that Abur conveys: that all beings are deeply and profoundly entangled with one another and their environment. The lyrics differentiate between the profane (what we, as a social construct, consider valuable) and the sacred (what is truly valuable, deeper and true).
The lyrics as well as the central droning sound of the song encourage the listener to conceive of this song as a meditation, encouraging him/her moving beyond the illusion of an independent and enduring self. By transcending the belief in a separate self, one can cultivate a deeper understanding of the interconnected nature of existence and develop compassion and wisdom. We are not an island unto ourselves, but fundamentally connected to everything and everyone around us.”
Belgian psychedelic sludge-metal trio Pothamus have shared soaring single & video ‘Ykavus’, taken from their second full-length album, ‘Abur’, set for release on February 14th, 2025 via Berlin’s Pelagic Records.
The heavily anticipated spiritual successor to their 2020 debut ‘Raya’, ‘Abur’ finds the band honing an already formidable sound and widening their distinct musical palette in order to create truly original and staggeringly heavy music that steers them ever further away from well-trodden post-metal paths. Based in Mechelen, Belgium, Mattias M. Van Hulle, Michael Lombarts and Sam Coussens formed Pothamus in 2013 and have been enthralling audiences with their breathtaking command of hypnotic riffage, floating drones, tribal percussion, and abrasive bass lines for over a decade.
‘Abur’ sees Pothamus’ signature ritualistic sound elevated by the haunting sounds of the Surpeti, a drone instrument originating from the Indian subcontinent traditionally used for mantra singing, whilst drummer Van Hulle adds his voice in harmony with guitarist Coussens’ to create an astounding richness and depth. Capturing Pothamus at this creative zenith was musical contemporary and close friend Chiaran Verheyden (Psychonaut, Hippotraktor) who recorded, mixed and mastered the album.
Although more delicate than other offerings on ‘Abur’, ‘Ykavus’ is easily one of its heaviest. With no guitars present and only the icy sound of the Surpeti at its heart, ‘Ykavus’ is meditative patience perfected. The band’s newfound dual vocals freely intertwine, evoking the atmosphere of a sacred ritual and inviting the listener into their inner circle of enlightenment.
The song's music video depicts artwork of Flemish environmental artist Will Beckers, internationally known for his site specific installations and public artworks that show a dialogue and relationship between culture, nature and the environment.
A 44-minute pilgrimage through nature, animism and the depths of the human soul, ‘Abur’ is Pothamus’ answer to the big, existential questions that keep us all awake at night. Titanic, all-consuming heaviness is met with ethereal, airy beauty as the band contemplates the interconnectedness of all things, creating a singular sonic universe balanced perfectly between cosmic creation and absolute destruction.
‘Abur’ is released on February 14th, 2025. ‘Ykavus’ is out now.
Pothamus on ‘Ykavus’:
"We understand Ykavus as a ritual affirmation of the album's central belief that Abur conveys: that all beings are deeply and profoundly entangled with one another and their environment. The lyrics differentiate between the profane (what we, as a social construct, consider valuable) and the sacred (what is truly valuable, deeper and true).
The lyrics as well as the central droning sound of the song encourage the listener to conceive of this song as a meditation, encouraging him/her moving beyond the illusion of an independent and enduring self. By transcending the belief in a separate self, one can cultivate a deeper understanding of the interconnected nature of existence and develop compassion and wisdom. We are not an island unto ourselves, but fundamentally connected to everything and everyone around us.”
Links
Thanks to Pelagic Records for the info.
