The Holeum

Baptized with a name derived from astrophysical theories about dark matter and black holes, THE HOLEUM was formed in 2014 in Alicante, Spain. Founded by former members of NahemaH, Demised, quantumXperience, Hela, Neptunian Sun, and Priest of Dawn, the quintet set out to push the boundaries of heavy music and to intensify the emotional impact of darkness in sound. Their concept is both cosmic and sonic: “THE HOLEUM is related to the dark matter that forms the black holes in the universe. THE HOLEUM is not a black hole, but black holes are formed by The Holeum. That is the idea from which we extract our concept – we are a sonic and cosmic vision of the sublime.”

With their third album “Ensis” (2025), the band continues its journey through experimental metal, death doom, melodic metal, and post-metal. This work is more than a continuation – it is a condensation and expansion of their previous soundscape. “Ensis” reveals itself as finely nuanced, challenging, yet at the same time profoundly sensitive and multifaceted. The songs unfold like cosmic landscapes where heaviness and melancholy meet subtle emotionality. The intensity remains palpable, but it is complemented by a deeper sensitivity that draws the listener into a fragile balance between harshness and delicacy. “Ensis” is an album that demands and touches at once – a work that makes the complexity of human existence audible in the mirror of the universe.

In 2016, the band released their debut album “Negative Abyss” via LIFEFORCE RECORDS. This first effort combined downtempo dark metal and doom with melancholic melodies and unexpected elements such as trumpets, establishing their reputation for deep atmospheres and intensity. The album led them to stages across Spain, France, and Italy, including the Rock the Coast Festival, where they shared the stage with bands such as Opeth, Carcass, Dark Tranquillity, Jinjer, and Igorrr. Guitarist Julián Velasco later joined the lineup, solidifying the quintet’s sound.

Their second album, “Sublime Emptiness” (2019, LIFEFORCE RECORDS), marked a significant evolution. The record was heavier, darker, and more defined – rooted in the doom traditions of the ’90s and early 2000s. At the same time, it expanded into post-metal, drone, dark ambient, and cinematic textures. The music was characterized by contrasts, mood shifts, and the search for meaning, offering listeners a frightening yet liberating confrontation with darkness. “Sublime Emptiness” stood for musical catharsis and elevated the elaboration of darkness into an art form.

Thus, the arc stretches from “Negative Abyss” through “Sublime Emptiness” to “Ensis” – a trilogy that impressively documents THE HOLEUM’s evolution and at the same time shows that their journey through cosmic darkness and melancholic intensity is far from over.