Holoceno by Papangu
Seven years in the making, Papangu's debut record is a concept album inspired by ecological eschatology and the modernist literature of Northeastern Brazil—a hardy, arid region historically plagued by inequality and violence.
Sung in the band's native Portuguese, the album tells the tale of a cangaceiro—a bandit from Brazil's backlands—who, after being shown a vision of his fate, tries to change it through ritual sacrifice. When his botched attempt backfires and sets off a chain reaction, the protagonist seeks a Faustian pact in order to stop the forthcoming environmental disaster.
Blending influences from sludge and zeuhl, Papangu's fluid sound is sieved through an unique mesh of prog, stoner rock, post rock and the rhythms of Northeastern Brazil, sounding as if Mastodon and mid-70s King Crimson had teamed up to concoct a Magma-like soundtrack to an anti-Bolsonaro play by Ariano Suassuna.
Sludgy riffs are augmented by unusual song structures, syncopated rhythms, unhuman drumming—courtesy of Torstein Lofthus, the juggernaut behind prog legends Elephant9 and blackjazzers SHINING—and guest performances by Brazilian keyboard mages Uaná Barreto and Luis Souto Maior on Minimoog and Prophet-6, along with Seven Impale's saxophonist Benjamin Mekki Widerøe.
Tracklist
| 1. | Ave-Bala | 3:11 |
| 2. | Água Branca | 4:09 |
| 3. | São Francisco | 4:53 |
| 4. | Bacia das Almas | 5:36 |
| 5. | Terra Arrasada | 7:51 |
| 6. | Lobisomem | 7:54 |
| 7. | Holoceno | 10:35 |
Credits
released June 25, 2021
Papangu:
Marco Mayer — bass, vox, guitars, keys
Nichollas Jaques — background vox
Hector Ruslan — electric guitar, vox
Rai Accioly — electric guitar, vox
with:
Torstein Lofthus — drums, cowbell
Uaná Barreto — minimoog voyager (2, 4)
Benjamin Mekki Widerøe — tenor saxophone (6, 7)
Luís Souto Maior — prophet-6 (7)
and
Toby Driver — remix ("Açougue das Almas", bonus track, exclusive to Bandcamp)
recorded by Ruy José at Estúdio Mutuca, João Pessoa
drums recorded by Jørgen Smådal Larsen at Studio Paradiso, Oslo
tenor saxophone recorded by Fredrik Mekki Widerøe in Bergen
overdubs by Marco and Hector at Singaro/Qripta, João Pessoa
between 2019 and 2021
mixed by Jørgen Smådal Larsen at Studio Paradiso, Oslo
mastered by James Plotkin
executive producers Papangu
produced by Marco Mayer
album art by Ars Moriendee
logo by Salomão Montenegro
photography by Malu de Castro
—MERCH—
T-shirts available here: reposerecords.8merch.com/product-category/apparel-merch/
—PRESS—
TREBLE'S 50 Best Albums of 2021 (#49)
www.treblezine.com/the-50-best-albums-of-2021/
MÚSICA INSTANTÂNEA 50 Melhores Discos Brasileiros de 2021 (#2)
musicainstantanea.com.br/os-50-melhores-discos-brasileiros-de-2021/
TREBLE'S 25 Best Metal Albums of 2021
www.treblezine.com/25-best-metal-albums-of-2021/
MACHINE MUSIC'S The Best Metal of 2021 (#43)
machinemusic.net/2021/12/01/machine-music-presents-the-best-metal-of-2021/
LAST RITE'S Staff Top 25 of 2021 (#23)
yourlastrites.com/2021/12/10/best-of-2021-last-rites-combined-staff-top-25/
HUMONEGRO Mejores discos internacionales 2021 (#44)
www.humonegro.com/magazine/articulos/mejores-discos-internacionales-2021/
HITS PERDIDOS 50 Melhores Álbuns Nacionais (#14)
hitsperdidos.com/2021/12/16/melhores-albuns-nacionais-2021/
MINUTOINDIE 20 Melhores Álbuns Brasileiros de 2021
minutoindie.com/top-20-melhores-albuns-brasileiros-de-2021/
THE PROGRESSIVE SUBWAY Albums of the Year 2021 (Tier 1)
theprogressivesubway.com/2022/02/07/reports-from-the-underground-2021-albums-of-the-year/6/
—REVIEWS—
THE PROGRESSIVE SUBWAY - "Holoceno is fit for fans of progressive sludge, or anybody that likes prog metal that strays on the darker, grittier side of things."
theprogressivesubway.com/2021/07/07/review-papering-holoceno/
TREBLE - "The Brazilian band’s debut album reminds us how exciting and kickass prog can be."
www.treblezine.com/papangu-holoceno-review/
HEAVY BLOG - "An album you’ll be sinking your teeth for years to come, trying to fully parse everything that’s happening around your ears."
www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2021/08/04/papangu-holoceno/
COREANDCO (9.34/10) - "[...] riche de 1001 détails s’imposant et se dérobant en même temps, qui dévoile de nouvelles richesses au fur et à mesure que la route se déploie à l’horizon."
www.coreandco.fr/chroniques/papangu-holoceno-8463.html/
MÚSICA INSTANTÂNEA [ex-Miojo Indie] (9.5/10) - "Mais de cinco décadas de referências diluídas em um curto intervalo de tempo."
musicainstantanea.com.br/critica-papangu-holoceno/
COLLECTORS' ROOM - "Sabe aquele momento mágico da descoberta de um álbum cuja primeira audição nos faz perceber que a história da música está sendo escrita agora, diante de nossos olhos?"
www.collectorsroom.com.br/2021/08/review-papangu-holoceno-2021.html
DANSENDE BEREN (4/5) - "[...] verliezen we ons volledig in dit geweldige debuut."
www.dansendeberen.be/2021/10/20/albumreviews-beire-kort-31/
ONDAROCK (8/10) - "Facendo incontrare varie espressioni della ricerca rock e metal dagli anni Settanta a fine Novanta, i brasiliani Papangu si uniscono a questo ristretto e prestigioso gruppo di innovatori, grazie a un esordio maturo e originale come questo 'Holoceno'."
www.ondarock.it/recensioni/2021-papangu-holoceno.htm
METAL STORM - "[...] a pretty unique blend of progressive styles, with organic performances that are given time to build, a great sense of technical intricacies, and uncanny apocalyptic atmospheres. This is some proper avant-garde."
metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=16997
SPUTNIKMUSIC (4.5/5) - "An incredibly musically ambitious album that is executed as well as it is envisioned."
www.sputnikmusic.com/review/83486/Papangu-Holoceno/
HEAVYPOP (8/10) - "Holoceno, das erste Album der 2012 gegründeten brasilianischen Band Papangu, macht kein Geheimnisse daraus, warum sieben Jahre an ihm gearbeitet wurde."
www.heavypop.at/papangu-holoceno/
THE ELITE EXTREMOPHILE (100/100) - "Papangu effortlessly weaves together avant-garde, sludge, and zeuhl influences into a menacing, murky album."
theeliteextremophile.com/2021/07/26/album-review-papangu-holoceno/
MARUNOUCHI MUZIK MAGAZINE (10/10) - "このアルバムの全体的なサウンドは非常に暗く、怒りに満ちていて、時には嘆きさえ溢れています。例えば、MASTODON と MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA が全力でせめぎ合うジャム・セッションが実現したとすれば PAPANGU のようなサウンドかもしれませんね。"
sin23ou.heavy.jp?p=16868
HUMONEGRO - "Pese a estar alejados del radar de la industria, la placa de los brasileños brilla por su legítima genialidad."
www.humonegro.com/magazine/articulos/mejores-discos-internacionales-2021/
LAST RITES - "Papangu balances metal and prog, songwriting and experimentation, convention and avant-garde so expertly and conveys it all with such passion that it feels as familiar as it does strange and dangerous."
yourlastrites.com/2021/12/10/best-of-2021-last-rites-combined-staff-top-25/
Papangu:
Marco Mayer — bass, vox, guitars, keys
Nichollas Jaques — background vox
Hector Ruslan — electric guitar, vox
Rai Accioly — electric guitar, vox
with:
Torstein Lofthus — drums, cowbell
Uaná Barreto — minimoog voyager (2, 4)
Benjamin Mekki Widerøe — tenor saxophone (6, 7)
Luís Souto Maior — prophet-6 (7)
and
Toby Driver — remix ("Açougue das Almas", bonus track, exclusive to Bandcamp)
recorded by Ruy José at Estúdio Mutuca, João Pessoa
drums recorded by Jørgen Smådal Larsen at Studio Paradiso, Oslo
tenor saxophone recorded by Fredrik Mekki Widerøe in Bergen
overdubs by Marco and Hector at Singaro/Qripta, João Pessoa
between 2019 and 2021
mixed by Jørgen Smådal Larsen at Studio Paradiso, Oslo
mastered by James Plotkin
executive producers Papangu
produced by Marco Mayer
album art by Ars Moriendee
logo by Salomão Montenegro
photography by Malu de Castro
—MERCH—
T-shirts available here: reposerecords.8merch.com/product-category/apparel-merch/
—PRESS—
TREBLE'S 50 Best Albums of 2021 (#49)
www.treblezine.com/the-50-best-albums-of-2021/
MÚSICA INSTANTÂNEA 50 Melhores Discos Brasileiros de 2021 (#2)
musicainstantanea.com.br/os-50-melhores-discos-brasileiros-de-2021/
TREBLE'S 25 Best Metal Albums of 2021
www.treblezine.com/25-best-metal-albums-of-2021/
MACHINE MUSIC'S The Best Metal of 2021 (#43)
machinemusic.net/2021/12/01/machine-music-presents-the-best-metal-of-2021/
LAST RITE'S Staff Top 25 of 2021 (#23)
yourlastrites.com/2021/12/10/best-of-2021-last-rites-combined-staff-top-25/
HUMONEGRO Mejores discos internacionales 2021 (#44)
www.humonegro.com/magazine/articulos/mejores-discos-internacionales-2021/
HITS PERDIDOS 50 Melhores Álbuns Nacionais (#14)
hitsperdidos.com/2021/12/16/melhores-albuns-nacionais-2021/
MINUTOINDIE 20 Melhores Álbuns Brasileiros de 2021
minutoindie.com/top-20-melhores-albuns-brasileiros-de-2021/
THE PROGRESSIVE SUBWAY Albums of the Year 2021 (Tier 1)
theprogressivesubway.com/2022/02/07/reports-from-the-underground-2021-albums-of-the-year/6/
—REVIEWS—
THE PROGRESSIVE SUBWAY - "Holoceno is fit for fans of progressive sludge, or anybody that likes prog metal that strays on the darker, grittier side of things."
theprogressivesubway.com/2021/07/07/review-papering-holoceno/
TREBLE - "The Brazilian band’s debut album reminds us how exciting and kickass prog can be."
www.treblezine.com/papangu-holoceno-review/
HEAVY BLOG - "An album you’ll be sinking your teeth for years to come, trying to fully parse everything that’s happening around your ears."
www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2021/08/04/papangu-holoceno/
COREANDCO (9.34/10) - "[...] riche de 1001 détails s’imposant et se dérobant en même temps, qui dévoile de nouvelles richesses au fur et à mesure que la route se déploie à l’horizon."
www.coreandco.fr/chroniques/papangu-holoceno-8463.html/
MÚSICA INSTANTÂNEA [ex-Miojo Indie] (9.5/10) - "Mais de cinco décadas de referências diluídas em um curto intervalo de tempo."
musicainstantanea.com.br/critica-papangu-holoceno/
COLLECTORS' ROOM - "Sabe aquele momento mágico da descoberta de um álbum cuja primeira audição nos faz perceber que a história da música está sendo escrita agora, diante de nossos olhos?"
www.collectorsroom.com.br/2021/08/review-papangu-holoceno-2021.html
DANSENDE BEREN (4/5) - "[...] verliezen we ons volledig in dit geweldige debuut."
www.dansendeberen.be/2021/10/20/albumreviews-beire-kort-31/
ONDAROCK (8/10) - "Facendo incontrare varie espressioni della ricerca rock e metal dagli anni Settanta a fine Novanta, i brasiliani Papangu si uniscono a questo ristretto e prestigioso gruppo di innovatori, grazie a un esordio maturo e originale come questo 'Holoceno'."
www.ondarock.it/recensioni/2021-papangu-holoceno.htm
METAL STORM - "[...] a pretty unique blend of progressive styles, with organic performances that are given time to build, a great sense of technical intricacies, and uncanny apocalyptic atmospheres. This is some proper avant-garde."
metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=16997
SPUTNIKMUSIC (4.5/5) - "An incredibly musically ambitious album that is executed as well as it is envisioned."
www.sputnikmusic.com/review/83486/Papangu-Holoceno/
HEAVYPOP (8/10) - "Holoceno, das erste Album der 2012 gegründeten brasilianischen Band Papangu, macht kein Geheimnisse daraus, warum sieben Jahre an ihm gearbeitet wurde."
www.heavypop.at/papangu-holoceno/
THE ELITE EXTREMOPHILE (100/100) - "Papangu effortlessly weaves together avant-garde, sludge, and zeuhl influences into a menacing, murky album."
theeliteextremophile.com/2021/07/26/album-review-papangu-holoceno/
MARUNOUCHI MUZIK MAGAZINE (10/10) - "このアルバムの全体的なサウンドは非常に暗く、怒りに満ちていて、時には嘆きさえ溢れています。例えば、MASTODON と MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA が全力でせめぎ合うジャム・セッションが実現したとすれば PAPANGU のようなサウンドかもしれませんね。"
sin23ou.heavy.jp?p=16868
HUMONEGRO - "Pese a estar alejados del radar de la industria, la placa de los brasileños brilla por su legítima genialidad."
www.humonegro.com/magazine/articulos/mejores-discos-internacionales-2021/
LAST RITES - "Papangu balances metal and prog, songwriting and experimentation, convention and avant-garde so expertly and conveys it all with such passion that it feels as familiar as it does strange and dangerous."
yourlastrites.com/2021/12/10/best-of-2021-last-rites-combined-staff-top-25/
