Xibalba (Xibalba Itzaes) | website | facebook | twitter |
Released on March 1, 2016 via Nuclear War Now! Productions
Okay, first off, this review features Mexican black metal overlords of the underground Xibalba Itzaes, not the band Xibalba from sunny California. Xibalba is the Mayan underworld by the way, if fans would like to know what the word, Xibalba, refers to. Xibalba Itzaes’ release for Nuclear War Now! Productions is the very superb 7-inch EP entitled, Ah Tza!.
There are only three songs featured in Ah Tza!, so let’s get into it. Xibalba is very adept at high-speed black metal riffs and rung notes. The band has only one full-length release under its belt, entitled, Ah Dzam Poop Ek, and it is reputedly very good. Any release by these death worshippers is worth checking out. As it stands, Ah Tza! maintains the heritage of quality second-wave inspired black metal that these guys have become known for.
The album spans the gamut of tempos in three quality songs. The first track is fast from start to finish, with blastbeats and high-speed tremolo riffs throughout. Track two features a little blast and stop, while track three, ‘Dawn of Endless Horrors’, revisits the old mid-tempo four-four time signature snare, bass hit, snare, bass hit drum pattern that’s as old in black metal as its lifespan. Plenty of bands did it and plenty still do. Xibalba however, makes sure you remember them with this very catchy tune to exit the album.
Nuclear War Now! Productions is a good label to check out what is writhing in the murk of the underground these days, and although Xibalba have attained a kvlt following with previous releases, this band still has plenty of juice in the tank. Having but a handful of releases isn’t always bad for a band, as these guys prove that a small discography is only good if all the releases are of superior quality.
The production captures the razor-sharp guitar riffs perfectly, in classic second-wave guise. The drums are audible, and the bass aptly backs up the drum patterns and riffs to add cohesion. The vocals are stellar, rasping lyrics that elude comprehension, in spite of accentuating the music well. These guys know how to do black metal the old way, without experimenting on prog leanings or dungeon synth.
The members of Xibalba Itzaes write music for the sake of sating their creative impulses, so do reward these artisans with your hard-earned money to help fund more quality releases. I like them, as I always have, and a recommendation of their Ah Tza! release is only warranted, given the quality music to be had here. Echoes and Dust readers need only visit NWN! productions’ website for an EP to last the ages. No hype. Just quality music. Xibalba Itzaes does it again, and that’s not quite a surprise.
