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Vice Blog

A FIST IN THE FACE OF GOD - XIBALBA

So it seems I have overlooked black metal somewhat on here. The reasons are many; however, now is the time to bore a new hole in your mind with Mexico's Xibalba.

In Mayan mythology, Xibalba is a place of total fright. This was the name of the Mayan underworld, which was ruled by the spirits of disease and death. They were mean sons of bitches who invited innocent children down to play ball games, and then they killed them. The entrance to Xibalba was to be found in a cave in Guatemala or Belize or somewhere, though the physical realm of Xibabla is actually the Orion Nebula. Anyways, all of this cannot be a bad theme for a black metal band, can it?

Stylistically the music is reminiscent of early- to mid-black metal-era Darkthrone, with shades of Burzum accompanying Immortal-esque rasps. However, they cite Bathory, Cryptic Slaughter, and Voivod as influences. The second part of this particular track is very melodic, almost poppy, weirdly. They are another band who did a few demos and released only one long player--this being the opening track from 1994's majestic Ah Dzam Poop Ek. Click here to view a video of two guys in corpse paint with spiralling shots from inside Mayan temples, P.O.V. shots running through corn fields, corn on the cob burning on an open fire, and eerily shifting close-ups of corn off the cob. Xibalba - "Furor Antiquus" †ROCKWELL†

PS: If you somehow missed Fenriz's mix of black thrashing death last week, click here. It would be sheer lunacy on your behalf not to. Till next week, mortals…