Reissue containing bonus disc of live material recorded in 2017. Double disc jewel case with embossed slipcase.
CD shipped in regular jewel case (not double)
Disc 2 recorded live at Delorean Sanctuary, Merica, Yucatan, 2017.
Historical rancor, ethnicity, tradition, and prophecy are all combined with darker heavy metal to give as a result an album totally significant in its concept as in its music.
These Mexicans came from the underworld to say, "Gentlemen, here in the so-called New World, there are many reasons for hatred, resentment, and anger against Christianity! We've come to tell about our pain and fury through unholy black metal.". Therefore, 1994 began a historic dialogue through the raw sound of guitars, drums, and tearing of voice. Since then many metalheads have understood and accepted as valid their blackened and native language.
From my point of view, the harmony achieved by the sound of the strings is outstanding. All raw strumming, arpeggios, and accompaniments with melodies bring an atmosphere of darkness and desolation where hatred grows up and expresses its rage. The vocalization of Marco Ek Balam is ideal to make one feel that all this music comes from the underworld (Xibalba). In particular, I emphasize the bass, which at times plays a leading role in creating fear as in the case of "Furor Antiquus". Another great success is the atmosphere that the drum speed creates, combining times of slowness that generates interesting expectations and emotions.
Xibalba uses the pre-Hispanic instruments in a wonderful way as they allow us to imagine rituals and the worship of pagan gods. When I listen to their sounds (until then, new to the black metal) I feel that all is happening in the damp darkness of the underworld and they remind me of the mythological battles mentioned in the Popol Vuh stories.
Ah Dzam Poop Ek will be a paradigm of Mexican and American heavy metal in the future. Today is an example of the successful combination between ethnic identities and music for Indians,t herefore let's celebrate because it's a classic album forever.
The immediately striking aspect of Xibalba's Ah Dzam Poop Ek is its upbeatness. Yes, the rawness of their sound is comparable to Darkthrone, but the feeling of their music is far different. There is a driving quality to the riffing and vocalls that retains the best qualities of hardcore punk, and infuses that style into a modern black metal concoction. Most of the album consists of violent black thrash material with a strong sense of melody. Every composition has four or five distinct but easily melded sections of verses and bridges, giving each of these songs their own identity. Perhaps the best example of this is 'In Daemones Imperium', which begins with an infectious tremolo melody progressing to a mid-paced dark groove, and ending in a violent tumult.
Throughout the abrasiveness that is Ah Dzam Pook Ek, interacting lead and rhythm guitars produce addictive melody and, at times, beauty. 'Carchah' contains two brief 'Mayan' musical interludes that frame an ambient, instrumental guitar passage. The whole album is interspersed with these subtle, always welcome diversions.
On the surface, this is caustic, raw black metal. The longer the album seeps in, the more Xibalba's varied musical influences bubble to the surface. The ingenious guitar work is the central ingredient here. A passionate and mesmeric release.
Official promo video:
Sample:
