Post-metal as ritual, sludge as transcendence.
2 years after their critically acclaimed debut ‘Raya’ (2020, Consouling Sounds), Belgian trio POTHAMUS returns with ‘Abur’—a bold step forward in both sound and scope, and their first release with genre-forward label Pelagic Records, home of some other Belgian best outfits such as B R I Q U E V I L L E, Hippotraktor, PSYCHONAUT or Thot.
With ‘Abur’, the band transforms post-metal/sludge into ceremony: an immersive blend of crushing riffs, hypnotic drones, and percussive ritualism, underpinned by a deep engagement with metaphysical and esoteric themes.
Produced by Chiaran Verheyden (Psychonaut, Hippotraktor…), the album is an uncompromising sonic pilgrimage. Tracks like “Zhikarta” and “Ravus” unfurl with slow-burning tension, erupting into cathartic crescendos that echo both spiritual ascent and existential release. The 15-minute closer is a meditative epic—where guttural vocals and layered textures blur the line between the corporeal and the cosmic.
Drawing on eastern mysticism, western drony ritual, and tribal post-metal’s most atmospheric traditions, ‘Abur’ invites comparisons to Five the AmenRa, B R I Q U E V I L L E, Five The Hierophant, SUNNATA and even the cinematic weight of Cult of Luna. While its pacing occasionally falters, the album’s ambition and execution remain striking throughout.
With ‘Abur’, POTHAMUS don’t just follow the lineage of heavy music—they expand it. This is more than an album. It’s a metaphysical journey, delivered with the force of a ritual and the depth of a prayer.
…Tracklist…
- 01 Zhikarta
- 02 Ravus
- 03 De-varium
- 04 Savartuum Avur
- 05 Ykavus
- 06 Abur
