Belgian heavy progressive outfit Hippotraktor will release their third studio album, Annihilist, through Pelagic Records on October 2, 2026.

The Mechelen band continue the path established across Meridian and Stasis, combining progressive metal and post-metal weight with detailed rhythmic construction, melodic passages and large dynamic shifts.

Annihilist develops the recurring narrative that runs through the group’s previous albums, returning to the same unnamed protagonist while moving the story toward a conflict with the force behind his repeated incarnations.

The five-piece approached the writing more collaboratively this time, bringing ideas into the room earlier and allowing arrangements to evolve through the full band rather than arriving as completed instrumentals.

Pelagic Records has confirmed October 2 as the release date, with vinyl and CD editions already available for pre-order. The album follows Stasis and marks Hippotraktor’s third full-length studio release.