[Cover artwork by Adam Burke]
I’m amped.
You know that feeling you get after listening to a piece of music that really gets the blood flowing? The kind that could push you to survive some deadly ancient battle even though you’d be the first to die? Perhaps I’m not giving myself enough credit, but I’d at least be an early victim—probably via an axe to the skull, if I had to guess.
However, I’m not here to discuss my demise. I want to spread the good word about this new Tzompantli album Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force. If you’ve followed this indigenous death-doom outfit over the last couple of years, you probably caught wind of their debut full-length Tlazcaltiliztli. Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force is not just a continuation of that record. It’s a unique blend of tribal and death-doom elements, a fusion that has upped the intensity—or ancestral force—to create one massive-sounding album.
The record starts strongly with “Tetzahuitl,” backed by folk instrumentation and war cries that set the tone. This track is a prime example of how the tribe can articulate death-doom without it being too death-doomy, for lack of a better descriptor. They truly understand how to pick up and draw back the pace of their music—even the solo is perfectly placed. It’s probably the most Coffins-sounding track on the album. Then, “Tlayohualli” is a mixture of Mournful Congregation and Hooded Menace. There’s a sense of melancholy here through the guitar riffs, chest-pounding rhythm section, and the vocals near the tail-end that paint a picture of pure sorrow. As I mentioned, this record does a great job of letting the emotions ooze.
“Tlaloc Icuic” is a prime example of how Tzompantli creates these beautiful songs backed by indigenous instrumentation and natural soundscapes. Holistically, their ability to weave the heaviest riffs between these unique sounds makes these albums what they are. Of course, the songwriting is there, but they’ve developed a style that works perfectly for the atmosphere they’re trying to create, much like Nile has done and continues to do. “Chichimecatl” relies simply on the death-doom heaviness to carry the song; however, the howling chants hovering over the riffage add yet another layer. It’s these little intricacies that genuinely shine for the band. And that chunking riff on the track? So sick.
At times, the record reminds me of Ch’ahom’s Knots of Abhorrence. That probably rings the truest on “Tetzaviztli,” where the band dances between the slower and faster time signatures. At this point, it should also be mentioned that Tzompantli is all about the entirety of listening to an album. Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force should be consumed as one piece of art. Take, for example, how well “Tetzaviztli” flows into “Otlica Mictlan,” perhaps the closest to a primitive death metal song on the record. The finale, “Icnocuicatl,” is the most robust offering on the album, clocking in at just over nine minutes. It’s sad, heavy, yet weirdly hopeful. Here, the band let their funeral doom influences shine, channeling the spirit of bands like Evoken. The entire track is a spiritual journey from start to finish, with the chanting breaks before diving right back into a doom beat. The lead playing at the end is the quintessential cherry on top.
In hindsight, I knew I’d enjoy this new Tzompantli record. I’m more obsessed with it. While death-doom can become a tedious listening experience at times, Tzompantli strays far away from that, and created an album that will always be due for more listens. There are more than enough details to pick up on with each subsequent spin. And the songwriting is not just good; it’s top-tier. If you create death-doom, make it your own, just like Tzompantli. They have truly crafted a unique and compelling album, and I hope they continue to place heads upon spikes for years to come.
photo by Luckee Ngin
