In 2021 it was suddenly there: 'Meridian', the debut album by the Belgian HIPPOTRAKTOR. The band managed to crush friend and foe mercilessly with this mud-fat record full of metal pearls.

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Fans of Meshuggah, Goijira and The Ocean can indulge themselves with HIPPOTRAKTOR. The gentlemen combine the best of Prog, Groove, Sludge, Djent and Post Metal in an incredible rollercoaster ride for fans of soaring hooks, technical riffs and earth-shattering breakdowns. The fact that the men already managed to get a deal with the prestigious Pelagic Records for their debut album may say enough.

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The gentlemen combine the best of Prog, Groove, Sludge, Djent and Post Metal in an incredible rollercoaster ride!

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The band draws inspiration from philosophy, religion and the power of nature. In an interview, guitarist and songwriter Chiaran Verheyden says: “'Meridian' originates from everyday moods, taken out of context and transformed into a stylized version that reflects the dreamer in me. It tells the story of someone who is lost in a world too big to comprehend, and who seeks answers in places where none can be found. Meridian was written as an attempt to distill what I felt but couldn't put into words.”

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HIPPOTRAKTOR has managed to manifest itself in a short time as a must-see band in the international metal scene. We are therefore not surprised at all that metal festival Graspop has invited the band. Masterfest is happy that the gentlemen will burst Nederland 3 at the seams on June 30th.