Cemican
In Ohtli Teoyohtica In Miquiztli
**** out of *****
The band name Cemican means the name means “the duality of life and death” in the indigenous Nahuatl language of Mexico. This group digs deep into their Aztecan roots resulting in a fresh mix of what they are calling folk/metal; combining pounding modern metal sounds with tribal instrumentation resulting in the engaging In Ohtli Teoyohtica In Miquiztli
The players (Tlipoca- Drums, Percussion, Wind instruments, Vocals, Tecuhtli-Vocals, Guitars, Wind instruments, Mazatecpatl- Wind instruments, Xaman-ek- Wind instruments, Vocals, Yei Tochtli- Wind instruments, Vocals, Ocelotl- Bass) export their culture by fusing it with the heavy sounds in exciting ways, wind instruments sit right next to sludge bass and screaming six strings. On opener "Guerreros de Cemican" what would normally be high pitched guitar turns out to be flute like wind instrumenting hovering above the fury.
The band loves fusing these influences as the pounding metal and guttural vocals of "La Que Baja De Las Estrellas" with the light and airy wind instruments that survive harrowing breakdowns. "Itlach In Mictlantecuhtli" uses chunky headbanging riffs before transforming into a melodic/symphonic second half with excellent results. That theatrical, more melodic tone also arrives during "Cuando Los Muertos Suspiran (Mihcailhuitl)" which starts totally tribal/acoustic before s slamming finale.
All tracks are so layered with sounds there are hidden gems unveiled with multiple spins of the record, but "Ritual" instantly jumps out as a highlight. Hardcore ferocity and ominous harbinger sounds open the tune before things quickly spiral out of control. The fury has broken loose as one can easily see the bedlam become the perfect soundtrack to a human sacrifice as drums pound, chants reign down and chaos fills the air; exhilarating.
The band incorporates female vocals into the maelstrom for "Luna Desmembrada" while didgeridoo like sounds kick off the groove heavy pounding on the infectious "Aztec Soy" with blazing success as the thrash metal amps up to a climax. Like a lot of metal songs can run long, but tracks like the closing "Donde Nace El Viento (Ehecatl)" incorporate so many metal sub-genre's as well as their tribal heritage that things never become dull.
This is a unique outfit worth the time of any metal fan, and well beyond as aligning ripping riffs, thunder filled percussion and tribal wind instruments works incredibly well on Cemican's In Ohtli Teoyohtica In Miquiztli, a successfully unique metal offering .
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Another amazing bandcamp find. Support the artists, buy the album, stream it, peep some video:
Theme music to the Reconquista (in a good way).
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