2026 has been a year of discovery where I have turned more towards the Post-Rock and Metal world for a musical fix. Now, I do not intend this to come across as entitled and elitist as it may appear, so I will caveat it by saying that my love of music has always been eclectic and wide-ranging. When your favourite band is Rush, then pretty much anything is on the table in my view.
Hippotraktor – Annihilist
Release Date: 2 October 2026
Words: Paul Hutchings
Belgians Hippotraktor have two previous albums that I now need to deep dive into after listening to Annihilist. By all accounts, Meridian and Stasis are both excellent. The band from Mechelen’s third album only dropped in the inbox recently, so I am reviewing close to its release date of 2 October.
Annihilist is not overly long, 38 minutes and seven tracks focusing on quality rather than quantity. And there is enough of the former to satisfy.
A contradiction of styles and identity, they swerve from place to place with emotion, cinematic passages, soundscapes and a rhythmic force that is at times gentle yet at other times crushingly heavy.
It is the attention to detail, the complex musical ability to soar with harmonies and then drag the depths with visceral rage, that provokes such intense reactions and appreciation. The bludgeoning parts of opener I Breathe. I Am are contrasted by moments of introspective reflection.
A calm that provides sanctuary amidst a raging storm, it is a phenomenal introduction and evidence that instant appreciation can be achieved.
Described by guitarist Chiaran Verheyden as “A good blend between the vibes of Meridian and the technicality of Stasis,” Annihilist merely demands that once you are spent here, then you check out the previous two releases.
Atmospheric parts transform with eruptive angular passages and deep breaks. It possibly shouldn’t work, yet it does so without any challenge at all. There is a comforting confidence with performances from the whole band that simply deserve applause.
Central to Hippotraktor, Lander De Nyn’s drumming is top drawer. A relentless battery that forms the basis for the rest of the band, there are moments of animalistic hedonism as well as nuanced control. How control is exerted is something special.
It is the sum of the parts, though, with Stefan De Graey’s vocals ably supported by those of guitarist Kristof Du Jardin. Harrowing throaty roars combine with perfect cleans on Courageous Apathy, a blistering aural assault that towers to great heights in a mesmerising combination of intricate musicianship. De Nyn’s percussive work is impressive throughout but shines especially bright here.
Annihilist is a truly joyous release. Melancholic yet uplifting, shimmering sections glisten amidst thicker low-end distortion. The title track is evidence of this, whilst the progressive elements of Everything Is Permissible, with a semi-jazz freestyle collective segment, provide another example of why this band refuses to wear one label.
Heavy yet drenched with emotion, Annihilist is explosive. Complex yet inspiring, the Belgians have added another superb release to the avalanche of music that threatens to overwhelm the final few months of 2026.
Hippotraktor released Annihilist LP on 2 October 2026 via Pelagic Records. For more details, visit orcd.co/hippotraktor-annihilist.
