Review Summary: Xibalba opt for style over substance
The word “Xibalba” alone sets the tone of the California group of the same name. Translated as “place of fear” in Mayan, the band have made a name for themselves by creating some of the most frighteningly heavy hardcore music in the scene right now. But beyond their brutality, there’s a diversity in their sound. Their first album
Madre Mia Por Los Dias could arguably be classified as metalcore, and its successor
Hasta La Muerte was heavily influenced by doom metal. They again experiment with another genre on their third LP
Tierra Y Libertad; this time, their sights are locked onto death metal.
“Enemigo” opens proceedings with a low guttural roar, launching us in as the listener is thrown from side to side over the album’s run time. Frontman Nate Rebelledo’s strained and intense vocal performance retains the group’s roots in hardcore; “gimme a break, I do as I please” he bellows furiously on “Invierno”. The vocals are laid on top of death metal-esque instrumentation, which is reminiscent of 90’s bands such as Benediction and Entombed. The mixture of down-tuned riffs, slower grooves and pummelling drums makes for an absolutely punishing listen; Xibalba know how to create a truly brutal record through competent musicianship.
However,
Tierra Y Libertad drops the doom metal tone from the last record. This unfortunately means that the album doesn’t make for an entirely inspiring listen; as the record progresses, it becomes very clear that the group went for brutality over any kind of depth, and the tracks begin to roll into the next without anything to particularly make them stand out. “Pausa” takes a stab at creating a haunting atmosphere, but ultimately just acts as a precursor to “En Paz Descanse”. The album’s length at fourty-four minutes long, bloated by the thirteen-minute closing track “El Vacio”, also means that the record seems to drag on for what feels like forever.
Tierra Y Libertad is an incredibly vicious listen; and disappointingly, that’s it. Xibalba have fallen into the trap that so many other run-of-the-mill, machismo hardcore bands have done these days. The songs are well written and work well individually, but they don’t function together as a cohesive unit. What made
Hasta La Meurte an interesting record is unfortunately lacking on this album, and as a result the group struggle to maintain the listener’s attention.
