Celebrating the Tlacaxipehualiztli Ceremony
Surprise,
really big surprise… These words can easily describe the feelings and
excitements when I found out the information about resurrection of Mexican Xipe
Totec. To be honest: their first record called “Prehispanic Beg” (recorded in 1998
and released by TOAJ Records on tape) is still something unique in my huge
metal collection. Ten extremely superb death metal compositions plus intro and
outro full of prehispanic instruments, but especially three of them are just
pearls of music: “Tzompantli”, “Prehispanic Beg” and “Tonacayutl Tomio”. I
can’t forget about it, I am under the impression while listening to this stuff
all the time. It was my first review ever written with the almost ultimate mark.
Almost… When I had seen the title of the new Xipe Totec performance, I thought
about Desultory. Yes, this Swedish beast returned with absolutely great
recording after many years of physical oblivion. Both bands are my treasures,
so I started to wonder about musical content of “Eztlacuani”. I wasn’t skeptical,
rather just curious. What will the future bring? Is there any chance to hear
spectacular and unforgettable sounds of death metal? I was sure one thing: fortunately
the subject matter didn’t change. The band was still submerged in the Aztec
world, in their deeds and beliefs. And the front cover assured me the blood would
flow undeniably…
To start
writing some wise words about it and make it sincere to my metal heart, one
important thing has to be declared. The cult of Xipe Totec deity wandered to Mexica
land from Tlapanecs living in Tzapotlan, Guerrero. Also Zapotecs were
worshippers of this idol, so everything wasn’t regional. Xipe Totec called “our
lord the flayed one” was a god of spring and new vegetation, he wore a skin
from human victim as a symbol of a new “layer” that covered the Earth in the
time of spring. And I slowly get to the heart of the matter, namely I can see
this Mexican band like new greenery on the spring after very long time of
nonexistence, just like a new corn-cob which will be yielding the heavy crops. The
comparison is exact here, Martin Martinez and Alex Camacho had sowed the grain and
procured the beautiful and strong corn that stands proudly before my eyes…
All right,
let’s write something about musical content. I always will be comparing this
new effort to “Prehispanic Beg” and some facts must be written: Xipe Totec now
is completely different band, yet it is still deeply rooted in the underground.
The only member from the dark past is Martin and he is responsible for all
instruments and songwriting. The second important thing: the realization and
production. Here is the next surprise, because I can hear normal and standard
yet proper and real sounds! No artificiality, no plastic, no falsehood, just
fresh, enjoyable music, even if there is a little step back into the mighty
80/90 years, believe me, it is very seldom to find nowadays such a fine
realization of death metal slab! The guitar sound is ‘slimy’ a bit, with classic
drums, Alex vocals and prehispanic instruments, everything is served in very
good proportions, but bass lines are rather hidden behind guitar works. So, this
is the first good point of “Eztlacuani”, but the realization of sound is
nothing when the music sucks. Now, after many words of necessary introduction,
I can write that these two Mexicans recorded a masterpiece! MASTERPIECE!!! I
know this is very common phrase, however it is the only word which describes
“Eztlacuani” in a perfect way. It is hard to believe but Martin and Alex beat the
previous “Prehispanic Beg”! Listening to the album, it is very easy to forget
about the years of nothingness, I am witness of return in a real glory, and as
you probably suspect, the mark will be… Yes, it will be maximal!
The album
consists of ten gory songs plus three instrumentals. Each song has incredibly
masterful level enriched by unique catchy sounds. The situation is quite
different as compared with previous work. The great power is in all songs, the
entirety which I call eminent and remarkable metal of death. All stuff is
composed by one person Martin Martinez, he is the man who created these anthems
for Xipe Totec. Lyrics are written in Nahuatl (spoken by the Aztecs),
indigenous language of Mesoamerica. Vocals of Alex Camacho are some combination
of many vokills in death metal, I find here some influences of Corpsegrinder, A.
Camargo and M. Marzari of Rebaelliun. Of course, there is no cheap imitation, ‘animal’
growls are mixed with bestial screams sometimes, Alex uses his throat just very
good, yet his vocal is rather clear and audible. What a pity the lyrics are not
included in the booklet… All right, let’s dive into “Eztlacuani” (which means
‘bloodthirsty’ in English) world. The first song called “Aca Ihuitl”, as the
great opener, causes a total astonishment. On the spur of the moment this
Mexican machine attacks with murderous drums blasts, frantic guitar lead, hard,
massive riffs and vokills of Alex. And when the song reaches thirty second,
prehispanic instruments enter the stage in the storm of sounds. This time it is
a kind of flute, but later there are rattle-boxes, tambours, teponaztli and palos
de lluvia, all mixed perfectly, so once again I have to glorify Martin for such
great using of these instruments, some totally unknown for me. “Aca Ihuitl”
goes on, I admire next masterly solo leads, blasts and some slow-downs. On the
end tempo changes a bit due to very interesting part of guitars which makes
this track a real brilliant metal performance. What is interesting this is the
longest (circa 4:40) track of “Eztlacuani”. And one thing is sure: Xipe Totec
returned in eternal glory as I wrote earlier, the first song is the best
example. The next one called “Huel Ontlami In Teix, Inteyollo” is nothing new,
it is like a touch of perfection, the song is full of splendid guitar leads
displays, it is opened by not so fast riffs and drums, some marching tempo and
using of flutes… I wonder here if there is a sense to write about each song,
when I think of “Eztlacuani” I deal with one of the best death metal ever
recorded, and the following Xipe Totec breaths are just another bricks in the Mexica
wall. Of course this sentence also refers to the three instrumental tracks
(number four, eight and eleven) full of indigenous instruments mentioned just
above. I call them as a soundtrack to tlacaxipehualiztli (flaying of men) which
was a ceremony for Xipe Totec. Sounds coming to my ears and mind are hypnotic,
full of trance, madness and unspeakable horror. These three tracks are really
helpful to feel the atmosphere of bloody solemnities. The blood was the mortar
to build new lives. And these two Mexicans, Martin and Alex, revived the spirit
of these memorable days, which is the next huge advantage in my opinion.
To sum all
the things up I have to declare that Xipe Totec recorded a perfect death metal
album. This fact is unquestionable. Now we have 2012 and there is very
difficult to show original effort. And when I thought about some metal
influences, Nile and some representants of Brazilian death metal (Krisiun,
Rebaelliun) came into my head because of extreme intensity and brutality of
music. Even if I found some similar tunes which remind me of the mighty debut
album of Crypt of Kerberos (“World of Myths”) in solo leads in tracks
“Timocalaquis In Tzonhuazo In Mecac” and “Ezapan”, and Dissection (“Storm of the
Light’s Bane” era) parts of guitars in the title closing song (listen carefully
from 1:30, pay attention also on blackish Alex screams). But most empathically
I can declare that Xipe Totec beats those bands. Why? I will try to explain it.
For me “Eztlacuani” is a personal (!) music which can be consumed and
interpreted individually, for sure it makes me draw my own pictures and visions,
this is the soul side, but when I refer to music itself, I get rather short,
concise songs with soul and no-machine feelings, everything is bathed in
prehispanic times which I like most. Even if I think that Martin is a kind of
virtuoso, I do not call this album as ‘technical’ or something like that
because “Eztlacuani” is filled with passion and beating heart, and no (!)
artificial sounds can be found here, just death metal fury, unique dismaying atmosphere
and history. To put it simply, I have never even dreamt about resurrection of
Xipe Totec, so word ‘surprise’ is a matter of course. But the bigger surprise
is the quality of “Eztlacuani” and its freshness. Being a huge fan of Mexican
death metal scene, I can frankly write that this album stands proudly amongst
the best performances of The Chasm (“Conjuration of the Spectral Empire” and
“Farseeing the Paranormal Abysm”) and Mictlan’s “Donde habitan los muertos”. Beyond all
question “Eztlacuani” became a classic METAL album in my collection. The band
also informed about another album in 2012. I think it will be a real test for
the musicians. It is always easy to record a weak album, and it is always very
hard to maintain the masterly level of the previous one. So, Martin and Alex
have to face a really difficult task, but I believe that they are able to
create another masterpiece of death metal. For sure Xipe Totec is proud of them
seeing such killing release. What about me? With strong faith I close my tired
eyes and fly straight to the Mexica land…
100/100
-Tlacaxipehualiztli
(previously written for Encyclopaedia Metallum, on February, 2012, now modified a bit)
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