Tzitzimine - Extli Xochitl EP (2008)

Death Metal from Mexico.

In Aztec mythology, a tzitzimitl (plural tzitzimimeh) is a deity associated with stars. They were depicted as skeletal female figures wearing skirts often with skull and crossbone designs. In Postconquest descriptions they are often described as "demons" or "devils" - but this does not necessarily reflect their function in the prehispanic belief system of the Aztecs.

The Tzitzimimeh were female deities, and as such related to fertility, they were associated with the Cihuateteo and other female deities such as Tlaltecuhtli, Coatlicue, Citlalinicue and Cihuacoatl and they were worshipped by midwives and parturient women. The leader of the tzitzimime was the Goddess Itzpapalotl who was the ruler of Tamoanchan - the paradise where the Tzitzimimeh resided.
The Tzitzimimeh were also associated with the stars and especially the stars that can be seen around the sun during a solar eclipse. This was interpreted as the Tzitzimimeh attacking the sun, this caused the belief that during a solar eclipse, the tzitzimime would descend to the earth and devour human beings. The Tzitzimimeh were also feared during other ominous periods of the Aztec world, such as during the five unlucky days called Nemontemi which marked an unstable period of the aztec year count, and during the New Fire ceremony marking the beginning of a new calendar round - both were periods associated with the fear of change.
The Tzitzimimeh had a double role in Aztec religion: they were protectresses of the feminine and progenitresses of mankind. But they were also powerful and dangerous, especially in periods of cosmic instability.

 - Quote wikipedia ("Tzitzimine")

Eztli

From open-dictionary.com - the free dictionary.

Nahuatl

Noun

eztli

1. blood

 - Quote open-dictionary.com ("eztli")

Xóchitl (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈʃotʃitɬ]), a hispanicized version of xōchitlNahuatl pronunciation: [ˈʃoːtʃitɬ], (flower), is a feminine given name somewhat common in Central and Southern Mexico...

- Quote wikipedia ("Xóchitl")


Tzitzimine is a Death Metal band hailing from DF, Mexico. They have prehispanic influences in their music, less strongly evident than other prehispanic Metal bands, though apparently their prehispanic musical manifestations are more lyrical than instrumental.

This is fairly fast-paced and brutal Death Metal. Overall, I quite like it. Great riffs with nice harsh vocals. However, it's a short release (it's an EP), and the production could be slightly better.

One note on the quotations above, I couldn't find a translation of the word "extli", not outright anyway. Though I got the expression it is a variation of the word "eztli". My Nahuatl ain't perfect.

Tzitzimine @ myspace

Album Name: Extli Xochitl EP

Band: Tzitzimine

Genre: Death Metal

Year: 2008

Country: México

Track Listing:

1.	Tzitzimine	05:01
2.	Te Espero en el Infierno	04:37
3.	Maldita Perra	02:10
4.	Extli Xochitl	03:33
5.	In Miquixtli Cenca Mahuiztli	05:46
Total playing time		21:07

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Guahaihoque - The Return of the Ancient Gods (2007)

More prehispanic stuff, Guahaihoque from Colombia.

Guahaihoque is the spirit of death, keeper at eternity´s threshold. . He preserves |n the depth dominions of his sacred lagoon the archaic flame of life and death, eternal and ethereal. it is soul in good and evil… it is us, and nature all with time and space, also representing a spiritual path onward the magnificence of human being, as sons of sun we´re, holding on values and principles of memory and ancient tradition.

Many years of efforts & battle to preserve the core of our music passed by, as we introduced ancestral woodwind instruments, as: “Quena-flute, Quenacho-flute, Sikus, Panpipe, Zampoña, Malta”. These native instruments add a mystical & unique spiritual core to the whole Ancient Epic sound.

Guahaihoque constructs its music and sound as a sinergy of various artifacts of Metal “Death / Black / Thrash / Doom / Heavy” and ritual ancestral music originary of this continent… the concept is still growing, as result we have made a recall to our forefathers through emotional & dreaming songs, full of honour, pride & glory, with millenary spirit almost forgotten by today…s mankind, so we can´t deny our origin, legacy and knowledge, a gift from our forefathers, it´s in our soul.

- Quote last.fm ("Guahaihoque")


Guahaihoque are an interesting project, definitely a good quality prehispanic metal band, with heavy folk elements, most evident with the use of woodwind. I do feel the mixing of the different elements in the music doesn't seem to entirely fit, but is good nonetheless. This full length album also seems a bit short.

Definitely check out if into prehispanic stuff which is heavy on folk/woodwind.

Album Name: The Return of the Ancient Gods
Band: Guahaihoque
Genre: Extreme Epic/Folk Metal
Year: 2007
Country: Colombia
Track Listing:

1.	Revelations	06:10
2.	Elder Evocations	04:59
3.	Monminie	05:54
4.	Thy Eternal Golden Dawn	04:35
5.	Woods Whispering	04:04
6.	Along A Path	05:55
Total playing time		31:17

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Tremor & Corubo - Ancestral Metal (2010)

And here is the re-release of the split Tremor and Corubo made in 2009, but this time entitled Ancestral Metal, with new artwork, but otherwise, it does not appear overly different to previous version.

The online/mp3 version came out sometime this year (though I was confused for a long time, the download at their myspace page coming up as the 2009 version for quite a while), and apparently a physical version will be released in 2011.

This download is courtesy of their official myspace page.

Check out this previous post for more on Corubo.

Album Name: Ancestral Metal - The End of Sorrow / Guarani Oporonhenói Gueteri
Band: Tremor/Corubo
Genre: Black, Death Metal/Black Metal, Ambient
Year: 2010
Country: Colombia/Brazil
Track Listing:

Tremor
1.	Pakal	03:51
2.	Denial	04:04
3.	The Hunting	03:14
4.	Wisdom	04:06
5.	Manifest	04:40
Corubo
6.	Guarani Oporonhenói Gueteri	03:04
7.	Oñembyesaráiva	02:10
8.	Hosãva	03:48
9.	Kuarahy Osemba Rire	03:25
10.	Amana	06:57
Total playing time		39:19

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Balam Akab - Xibalba (2006) & Sacrificio (2010)

And from Mexico, Balam Akab.

BALAM AKAB was formed in early 2000 and later that year presented his debut demo entitled STORM characterized as a stand-alone and low production, it should be noted the concept of mysticismprehispanic, legends and ancient ritualsThe lyrics are brought from old books (Popol Vuh, Chilam Balam, the people of the sun and other documents) that describe the life of civilization before the conquest.AKAB BALAM worships these cultures and gives our roots, and on this record called Xibalba (underworld)
We describe the kingdom of darkness and the passing of the man killed in the ball game and facing challenges and to see the light.BALAM AKAB has left an important mark on the Mexican scene, metal made in Mexico for the entire world.

- Quote lastfm.es (roughly translated to English)

Mayans parroted the story of their forefathers who were white and called Balam Akab in Quiche language. That's equivalent to Hebrew Balym Ak'ab or Ba'al Ya'Kab meaning "lords of Jacob". Mayans used the word "sac" to refer to white ancestrals (Isaak in Hebrew).

- Quote here.

 

Another prehispanic BM band, with strong elements of Death Metal. Interesting band, and a nice break from slow ambient/atmospheric BM. Also amongst the prehispanic BM stuff with better quality production.


Balam Akab Myspace Page

Album Name: Xibalba
Band: Balam Akab
Genre: Black/Death Metal
Year: 2006
Country:
Track Listing:

1.	Intro	01:30
2.	Xibalba	05:41
3.	EK	05:07
4.	La Última Batalla	04:50
5.	Ixquik	05:10
6.	Conquista	04:34
7.	Balam	05:47
Total playing time		32:39

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Album Name: Xibalba
Band: Balam Akab
Genre: Black/Death Metal
Year: 2010
Country:
Track Listing:

1.	Guerrero Jaguar	04:41
2.	Tohil	04:44
3.	Invocación	05:53
4.	Sacrificio	06:30
5.	Maiz / Carne - Sangre	03:50
6.	Kin (Nacer del Sol)	05:00
Total playing time		30:38

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Peregrine (+ Auryn) - The Agrarian Curse & Green Scare Benefit Split

So Leech are one of the few outright "primitivist" BM bands around, so I thought, though not one of the early Cascadian BM bands (as is the trend I'm going on in this blog at the moment), I would present another primmie BM band, Peregrine.

Black and green metal from the Allegheny-Monogahela bioregion of Pennsylvania.
Anti-racist, anti-homophobic, anti-nationalist, anti-sexist, and anti-civilization. Pro-wildness, pro-collapse.
IF YOU ARE RACIST, HOMOPHOBIC, CHRISTIAN, MISOGYNIST, STATIST DOUCHE BAG AND/OR BAND, DO NOT CONTACT US, DO NOT FRIEND REQUEST US, AND DEFINITELY DO NOT ASK US TO HELP YOU WITH SHOWS. JUST FUCK OFF.
Peregrine is an anarcho-primitivist/savagist death metal band based out of southwestern PA. It was started at the end of 2006 by KT in Athens, GA as a release for overt anger against the world that domestication and civilization have created. Fueled by a love of wildness and solidarity with the lives of those directly confronted by the cannibalistic cycles of necessary growth of civilization. The purpose has been simple; spreading the directed hatred of civilization as a critique rather than a collection of misanthropic notions and undermining the domesticating process that is constantly reinforced in our lives.
     The music is the result of a sense of urgency and rage combined through the most appropriate forms: blackened death metal infused with elements of hardcore and crust.
    As of November 2008, KT moved back up to Pennsylvania and has re-established the band there with Jordan Villella on drums (Mammoth Bath, ex-Zimmerman's Note, ex-Circle of Dead Children), Jared Ondovchik (ex-Auryn) and Steve Kirk on guitar. The change up has brought in vigorous new blood and an entirely anarchist line up.
    We hate writing bios, hate civilization, love wildness, and stip the fuck out of whatever we can.
The word 'Peregrine' means wanderer, which, given our history/future as nomadic gatherer-hunter bands, is fitting enough. Bu the name comes after the Peregrine falcon. The fastest bird in the world, swooping at speeds over 200 miles per hour, is also one of the most widespread birds in the world. It inhabits every continent except Antarctica. And it was almost completely wiped out by DDT. Powerful. Amazing. Resilient. WILD.

- From their Myspace Page

And...

Peregrine's frontman, Kevin Tucker, is an anarcho-primitivist writer and speaker. He is the editor of the magazine, Species Traitor, and together with John Zerzan he has engaged on multiple speaking tours about civilization and primitivism.

- From Metal-Archives.com ("Peregrine")

Peregrine isn't really a Cascadian BM band, musically speaking, not to mention geographically (residing in Georgia and Pennsylvania apparently). Most say they are more similar to some sort of Death Metal (and grind), with differing degrees of BM influence. Not usually my cup of tea, but interesting nonetheless.
 
Buy it if you dig it.

Peregrine Official Myspace Page

Album Name: The Agrarian Curse
Band: Peregrine
Genre: Black/Death Metal
Year: 2008
Country:
Track Listing:

1.	Intro	02:32
2.	Anatomy of the Machine	04:35
3.	Empires' Playground	03:30
4.	Starvations' Servants	02:46
5.	Blood Over Borders	03:26
6.	The Domesticators' Hand	01:22
7.	Thirteen Days	03:42
8.	When the Lights Go Out	03:53
9.	Amor Fati	04:31
Total playing time		30:17

DOWNLOAD 

Album Name: Green Scare Benefit Split
Band: Peregrine/Auryn
Genre: Black, Death Metal/Hardcore
Year: 2009
Country:
Track Listing:

Peregrine 1. Reduced To Ashes 05:31 2. The Sacred Game Defiled 04:14 3. The Final Act 04:57 Auryn 4. Titan's Eyes 5. Silphion's Spell 6. Like Roaches 7. Untamed Sun DOWNLOAD

Corubo (+ Tremor) - Discography

And now I begin the posts relating to prehispanic BM (or similar), and in this specific case they refer to themselves as Indigenous BM. I'm of course referring to the band Corubo from Brazil. To give credit where credit is due, I discovered this band from a thread at the RABM forum.

Corubo have been around since 1999, well before the Cascadian BM scene came into being. Brazil, and Latin America in general have a very prominent (black) metal scene, and mix this with the strong current of radical environmentalism I have heard about in Brazil (but not limited to), perhaps it is no surprise to see a band like this. Even some Norwegian BM bands recognise Brazil being a pioneer of BM. Check out the wikipedia article on Sacrofago for specific details. Corubo's lyrics are in multiple languages, such as some indigenous languages of their region. Infact, their name is a reference to a term used for one of the tribes in the Amazon not exposed to civilisation. The political content of their music is obvious, anti-colonial, ecological, anarchistic.



Musically, there is difintely quite a variation amongst their different releases. I'm much more a fan of their earlier stuff, such as their demo and the Mordaz EP. I guess I feel their earlier stuff has more variation, less a wall of ambience. I think maybe the earlier stuff also incorporates elemental sounds better. Like the lightning on Mordaz, and though not elemental, the felling of trees on the demo. And of course I just generally have a soft spot for music, like BM, that is not from Europe or North America.

They also have a split with the Colombian band Tremor, who have similar beliefs, but a very different type of BM. I still like it though. I'm generally more an ambient/atmospheric BM guy though.

Check it out. All this stuff is availible for download from their myspace anyway.

Corubo Myspace Page
Tremor Myspace Page

Album Name: Jahe 'Opapá (Demo)
Band: Corubo
Genre: Black Metal/Ambient
Year: 2006
Country: Brazil
Track Listing:

1.	Intro	04:00
2.	Jahe'Opapá	04:45
3.	Árvores Mortas	07:23
4.	Finishing the so Perfect Race	05:16
5.	King of Stellar War (Rotting Christ cover)	06:01
Total playing time		24:38

DOWNLOAD (courtesy of hellhorde blog)

Album Name: Mordaz
Band: Corubo
Genre: Black Metal/Ambient
Year: 2007
Country: Brazil
Track Listing:

1.	Cântico Mordaz	03:36
2.	Terrorshed	04:12
3.	Nhanderu Hasy Katú	04:12
4.	Goitacás	05:49
5.	Ma Ieiye Nã	05:04
6.	Jahe'Osoró	06:10
7.	Aturu Ypy	09:02
8.	Ñaiménte Ipýpe	02:54
Total playing time		40:59

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Album Name: Ypykuera
Band: Corubo
Genre: Black Metal/Ambient
Year: 2008
Country: Brazil
Track Listing:

1.	Princípio de Sabedoria	07:03
2.	Untitled	04:25
3.	25/09/07 - Meu Irmão	04:42
4.	Venha e escute na direção do espírito guarani	06:19
5.	A ilusão da personalidade - o lobo e suas almas	05:34
6.	Ch'ilib	05:18
7.	He'la Yucatec	03:41
Total playing time		37:02

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Album Name: The End of Sorrow / Guarani Oporonhenói Gueteri
Band: Tremor/Corubo
Genre: Black, Death Metal/Black Metal, Ambient
Year: 2009
Country: Colombia/Brazil
Track Listing:

Tremor
1.	Pakal	03:51
2.	Denial	04:04
3.	The Hunting	03:14
4.	Wisdom	04:06
5.	Manifest	04:40
Corubo
6.	Guarani Oporonhenói Gueteri	03:04
7.	Oñembyesaráiva	02:10
8.	Hosãva	03:48
9.	Kuarahy Osemba Rire	03:25
10.	Amana	06:57
Total playing time		39:19

 DOWNLOAD

Album Name: Ãngy Mbya Kueíry Hachypáma, Opa Mba'e Achy Avei
Band: Corubo
Genre: Black Metal/Ambient
Year: 2009
Country: Brazil
Track Listing:

1.	Oheja Ñandéve, Ñanderekópeguarã, Mba'e Ivaíva	05:04
2.	Ãngy Mbya Kueíry Hachypáma, Opa Mba'e Achy Avei	05:54
3.	Esperança Obscura	05:02
4.	Sapy'ánte Pyharevove	04:07
5.	Ñorairô Rekorekávo	04:37
6.	As Coisas Recomeçam Por Seu Fim	04:24
7.	Mombyryeterei Che Rendarãgui	05:16
8.	Yma Guaré Ñe'ê	00:46
Total playing time		35:10

 DOWNLOAD


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There is also due to be a re-release (or new version?) of the Tremor/Corubo split entitled Ancestral Metal sometime this year, aswell as a re-master of Corubo's lastest release.