TZITZIMITL - Lobos (2016)

Tzitzimimeh Are Sniffing at the Wolves

That’s true my folk black metal knowledge is limited to a couple of bands and now it’s even hard to me to call them all out from my memory. To put it briefly, such genre is not my everyday toy as I consider it completely nothing special to listen to, sometimes when it comes to musical very poor quality, sometimes when it comes ideologically proposing nothing but a crass stupidity. This album is my first meeting with the Tlaxcala de Xicoténcatl based band and I was very curious the final result, not only because I’m just a metal freak, but I have been interested in Mexico history since the ages. Although one thing made me wonder at the start, namely why all the words have been written in Spanish? This fact is incomprehensible for me, as the band’s name comes directly from the Aztec mythology. However, finally Spanish is definitely better than English.

Well, let’s focus on the music itself. “Lobos” are opened by… too long introduction (2:33) and damn, I have an impression I started to listen any stuff of Necrophagia or Mortician. The latter is shorter one lasting 1:40 and becomes just a pure tribute to the simple Scandinavian second wave black bestiality. And these tracks might mislead, as the remainder is Tzitzimitl style exclusively. But Mexicans don’t provide equal good sounds that may be above any standard. Definitely I raise objections when it comes to the average black metal outbreaks (“Cuatro estaciones”, “Cuando el sol cae”) or irritating use of keyboards (glaring example in “Cuando el sol cae” which makes this track terrible despite of promising beginning). Then two tracks: if “Canto del coyote” is a perfect song to bang the head at the live performance due to catchy heavy thrashing riffs, “Piedra canteada” seems to be poor imitation of Running Wild or any Alestorm’s cover – this drunken musical revelry doesn’t convince me at all. And, in spite of vocals efforts, these songs aren’t kept in black manner. But, the album keeps going, and the ending three tracks deliver “Lobos” from artistic death. Really good using of clean vocals (long “Invocación a la fuerza”, “Tierra de gigantes”), straight-forward riffs and some influences from Motörhead (“Tierra de gigantes”). Yes, finally, my blood starts to run faster!

Allory Studio did a good job with sound realization, all served in natural way, even bass has its splendid moments (did Laloch terrorize the studio with his rifle?). When it comes to folk adjective in band’s style: this is definitely an added value, both Jo Malix (prehispanic drums) and Lince Memok (prehispanic ocarinas) improve and enrich the thing creating quite intriguing tunes. Then, vocals of Centinela (and different kinds of choirs) are another strong point of “Lobos” – it has been given in a good way, even blackish screams freeze my blood. So, the journey with wolves Tzitzimitl offers is like a roller coaster. From very average black portion I mentioned which does not repulse but does not convince me either, to interesting and promising moments that give a hope to hear something better in the future. But the whole must be equal in every single aspect, coherent and well balanced. Unfortunately “Lobos” aren’t a guarantee of it. 

55/100

-Tlacaxipehualiztli

(written in February, 2017)