Welcome to the Place of Fear:
Xibalba’s Hasta La Muerte

I’m going to come right out and say that Xibalba has outdone themselves with Hasta La Muerte, their first release for the almighty Southern Lord. Their second full-length following the crushing Madre Mia Por Los Dias, Xibalba has crafted a warhorse of a record that is likely to rival if not belittle anything similar this year. Xibalba has perfected the art of corporeal hatred with Hasta La Muerte. It is first and foremost a dark hardcore masterpiece, replete with enough malice to send chills down your spine. Xibalba continues their judicious use of death metal while demonstrating song writing skills that far and away outdo any prior material. The record’s first five tracks are Xibalba at their usual, crafting feral hardcore with death metal’s shuddering thunder. Hasta La Muerte balances its fury with calculated brooding channeled through down tuned dirges that permeate the record’s middle. Xibalba has added a sparse blackened flavor to their sound, most noticeable on “Sentenced”, which calls to mind Behemoth’s seminal Zos Kia Cultus.

[audio:http://staging.cvltnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/05-Sentenced1.mp3|titles=Xibalba – Sentenced]

[audio:http://staging.cvltnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/08-Mala-Mujer.mp3|titles=Xibalba – Mala-Mujer]

Interlude “The Flood” marks a noticeable change of pace as a doom laden sonicscape is crafted from thin air. This transition is seamless and an honest wonder to behold when the title track weaves itself between hardcore and sludge. “Hasta La Muerte” is nothing short of the most pissed off track on the record, juxtaposing well with its successor “Mala Mujer.” The guitar play here is akin to Crowbar’s Odd Fellow’s Rest, swooning the listener with surprising melody and raw emotion. “Mala Mujer” is hands down my favorite track off Hasta La Muerte. “Lujuria” is the record’s longest  most diverse track, blending all of its best elements into a visceral whole. Signature track “Cold” ends the record for good measure. The artwork is something of note as well, reminding of the covers of Suffocation’s best albums. The ruined pyramid against the backdrop of a swirling broken sky, the lone figure facing this mystery alone: the art speaks much of Hasta La Muerte’s consistent wrath and isolation.

Hasta La Muerte is available for pre-order at southernlord.com and their first record can be found at a389records.com. Be sure to catch Xibalba on tour this fall with Alpha and Omega.