:: NRP ::

Hailing from Pomona, CA, hardcore death metal upstarts XIBALBA are ready for
blood to spill. Xibalba is an ancient Mayan word that literally means place of fear or
land of the dead. Mystical names attached to apocalyptic prophecies aside, XIBALBA
kicks ass. Operating outside the current crop of typical bands, they are actually doing
a style that is more like a hybrid of 90’s hardcore and death metal than modern
deathcore. Downtuned and foreboding, the music definitely has the character and
feeling of impending doom and is not for the faint of heart or soft in taste.

From the first notes of the aural assault that is “Bright Sun” you are not hearing any
kind of trend jumping, prettied up metal for the masses. You hear bold hardcore and
death metal inspired gut wrenching metal made for the stage, the mosh pit and most
of all the microphone pile up. The band has as much in common with HATEBREED as
they do THE ACACIA STRAIN, but again don’t call it deathcore. The slow, punishing
main riffs will have you breaking your neck with glee and throwing the horns. “Madre
Mia“ is next and keeps the brutality level turned on high. The combination of urgent
riffs and tight, technical playing really makes the track. “Never Kneel” just beats your
ear drums senseless with insistent rhythms and crushing chord changes. There is a
definite flavor here like OBITUARY and MALEVOLENT CREATION that continues on
next track “Fallen”. Vocalist Nate Rebolledo sounds like he’s going to scream hard
enough to make his lungs blow out of his chest. His gruff, bowel shattering vocals
have an intensity to match the brooding feel of the music perfectly. “Time’s Up”
sounds like a pre-Roots SEPULTURA with its killer drums supplied by Jason Brunes
and the grinding riffs of guitarists Jensen Hucle and Brian Ortiz. The band is not afraid
to try experimenting or take musical chances which I like, as heard on “We Deserve to
Die”. In between brutal power grooves lay some intricate guitar work that may surprise
you. Later on in the song it’s full on circle pit time. In addition to peppering the album
with some cool intros via movie samples, the last third of the album contains their
earlier releases as well. That way you get the full picture of what this band is capable
of. Good music to either hurt someone else or yourself to.

Xibalba
Madre Mia Gracias Por Los Dias
Southern Lord Records

RATING: 8