| CD REVIEW Yaotl Mictlan |
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Band: Yaotl Mictlan Yaotl Mictlan are originally formed in 1999 by two Mexican brothers, Yaotl and Tlatecatl, now hailing from Utah, USA. The band nowadays consists of current and former members from e.g. defunct Ibex Throne and Xolotl. And after two demos / promos (2000 and 2004) they released a first full length, called Guerreros De La Tierra De Los Muertos, in 2006 through American Line Prod. It means that this new album, Dentro Del Manto Gris De Chaac, isn’t but the second official full length in a decade. Yet it was worth waiting for. The band’s lyrics are still heavily inspired by the Mayan culture, and this element comes back from time within the music. There’s the (limited though) use of ‘traditional’ instruments, and the few Pagan / Folk-oriented moments. Overall, however, Dentro Del Manto Gris De Chaac brings fast, epic and warlike Black Metal with an underground-approach. Both the European (especially the Norwegian and Swedish ones) and North-American scene may have inspired Yaotl Mictlan, but this band succeeds to create an own sound – at least most of the time. A few times, the melodies, and especially certain epic guitar lines, bring the Norwegian scene from the early nineties to mind. And what’s more, the individual hymns are, all of them, extremely interesting. Some parts are above average, and this band succeeds to handle a firm yet fast to speeding tempo without exaggerating, or without falling into absurdity. And the tempo-changes, with nicely composed slower parts, are performed perfectly. Another surplus is the equilibrium melody-aggression. The hymns are brutal and hammering, yet at the same time melodic and rhythmic. The length comes close to fifty minutes, which means that the average duration of each song (eight titles) clocks six minutes plus, but I can’t point a drop-back on this album. But I need to be honest: in spite of the lovely but huge compositions, I don’t like the sound. The mix of the instruments fails from time to time (especially when it comes to the drums and bass) and the sound is too shrill. But it isn’t a ‘problem’ at all; I was just looking for a remark to end with, I guess… No, seriously: highly recommended to fans of raw, fast and epic Black Metal. 87/100 Ivan Tibos. |