Haatdrager

For the third year running, Roadburn has teamed up with Eindhoven-based music education institute Metal Factory to help usher in a new generation of talent. Through a months-long programme, a group of students have learned new skills and polished existing talents as they have formed a band who will make their live debut at the 2025 edition of the festival. 

Metal Factory is one of three music courses that vocational education institute Summa has to offer. As well as Rock City Institute for musicians, music producers can now take a course at Music Production Lab. This year – for the first time – students from Metal Factory and Music Production Lab have joined forces under the wing of coach Michel Nienhuis and coordinator Kevin Quilligan to put together the band that will take to the stage at Roadburn.

Haatdrager is a 7-piece heavyweight sludge outfit with underground hip hop and electronic elements, drawing inspiration from acts like LLNN, Indian, Backxwash, Dälek, Steen and The Haxan Cloak. Firmly rooted in the kind of heaviness often found at Roadburn, Haatdrager pushes this into atmospheric territory with evocative synthesizers and ethereal clean guitars. This forms the foundations for music producer Roy Broeren to add his unique twisted live electronics on to, and then topped off with vocalist Roos Woertman’s agonizing screams of despair.

Haatdrager’s claustrophobic atmosphere serves as a backdrop for a heartbreaking narrative about the desperation and psychological torment experienced when individuals and their environments suffer the consequences of addiction. Lyricists Roos and Jeroen van den Noordt find themselves torn apart by contrasting emotions and express this best in their native Dutch tongue, aiming for catharsis while pouring out their hearts and addressing stigmas.

Roadburn’s artistic director, Walter Hoeijmakers, watched the band rehearse earlier this year and comments: “The students took this year’s education project to heart, turning it into something extraordinary. It took me completely by surprise as these youngsters are taking cues from sludge, electronica, and even contemporary industrial hip hop whilst amplifying their inner struggles and uncertainties as well. 

“It’s all about tension and release; it’s about catharsis and catharsis is bliss – especially when it comes to Haatdrager. This is the best education project to date and you won’t be disappointed. Don’t miss out, as championing Haatdrager will be very rewarding and is key to nurturing the talents of these seven burgeoning musicians.”

Haatdrager will open the Hall of Fame stage on Saturday, 19 April at Roadburn.

Lineup:

Roos Woertman – vocals
Jeroen van den Noordt – bass, backing vocals
Ibe van Rijn – guitars
Yngwie van den Brand – guitars
Ruben van der Stouwe – synths
Roy Broeren – live electronics
Joris Cox – drums

–  Becky Laverty