Papangu - Holoceno

Pre-order: this product ships on August 6th.

Holoceno, the debut album by Papangu, is arriving in Brazil for the first time in a special edition on red marbled 180g vinyl, released exclusively by the Taioba label. Acclaimed by both national and international critics for its innovative sound and impactful themes, the album presents a conceptual narrative inspired by ecological eschatology and Northeastern Brazilian modernist literature, particularly influenced by Ariano Suassuna and João Cabral de Melo Neto.

Holoceno tells the saga of a cangaceiro tormented by apocalyptic visions who, in an attempt to change his fate, ends up triggering an ecological catastrophe. To halt the impending disaster, the protagonist resorts to a Faustian pact. Musically, the album blends sludge metal, progressive rock, stoner rock, zeuhl, and traditional Northeastern rhythms, evoking references ranging from Mastodon and King Crimson to '70s regional psychedelia.

Recorded between João Pessoa and Oslo, the album features guest appearances by renowned Norwegian drummer Torstein Lofthus (Elephant9, SHINING), keyboardists Uaná Barreto and Luís Souto Maior, and saxophonist Benjamin Mekki Widerøe (Seven Impale). The album stands out for its powerful instrumentation and rhythmic and lyrical complexity.

This exclusive edition from Taioba includes three live tracks available in digital format for download with the vinyl. Following the successful release of Lampião Rei in early 2025, this marks Papangu's second album released by the Paraíba-based label, setting the stage for the band’s highly anticipated first European tour in the second half of 2025, during which the next album will also be recorded.

A milestone in Brazilian experimental music, Holoceno is an intense and unforgettable sonic journey, now immortalized in the analog experience of vinyl.

Note: The vinyl marbling is handcrafted and may vary in tone and pattern.