The Pitch: California's Xibalba alternate battering death metal and imposing doom on Años en Infierno via Southern Lord.
What I Like: Xibalba is a band that for one reason or another I've always wanted to like but could never get into. Their overall vibe regularly draws my attention, but samplings of past material have left me feeling lukewarm. That changes with Años en Infierno. This album is basically the perfect balance of hardcore-infused death metal with lumbering, sludgy doom. Opening track "La Injusticia" makes this known from the very outset, one moment bruising the listener with D-beat, the next towering ominously with dark bouts of sustained distortion. "Corredor De La Muerte" sounds like it came straight out of some other band's funeral death doom album while "Santa Muerte" immediately follows with pure death punk fury. And you gotta love those tribal drums on "Saka." It's a constant yin and yang of opposing forces that makes for a surprisingly dynamic runtime that is still consistently grounded by Nate Rebolledo's demented, almost Primitive Man-esque growls.
Critiques: While I'm intrigued by the left turn of the mournful and melodic two-part post-metal closer of "El Abismo," it's not particularly engaging or interesting in the long run. Ultimately it makes the album feel like it ends twice, and not on a particularly strong note at that.
The Verdict: Xibalba still have plenty of room to improve if they want to go toe to toe with some of the bigger bands in the genre, but with Años en Infierno I feel like they have taken their first real step towards finding a real foundation on which to build a lasting identity. Whether you've enjoyed their past releases or not, definitely give this one a shot.
Flight's Fav's: La Injusticia, Años En Infierno, Saka
- Review by FlightOfIcarus
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