We 've had a few shows, not yet to promote the album since is wasn’t released yet, but also been rehearsing some of the new material to incorporate on the set
Although we don’t play that much really
2.You have a new album coming out in December which is also your second full length, what are some of the things the band has done different musically with this recording that you where not able to do with previous releases?
Our main musical influences haven’t really changed at all, we evolved all along with the music since the early days, and all of that has always been reflected into our songs, maybe the only thing that has change is the ways of recording, since there are a lot of facilities in these days, compare to the old times
I don’t see that much differences in any of our recordings, maybe the listeners do, but not me, so can’t tell that much about it
3.The band has been around since 1992 but has mostly released ep's and demos, can you tell us a little bit more about it?
Yes we have an had a lot of songs that hasn´t been released yet, many of them we recorded in rehearsals, or in demos only for us to not forget about them, we have made a lot of songs throughout the years, that we got to a point that we just should decided to release some of them in any way, that’s why we ended up with the “2010 Demo tape” and also the “Ah Tza!” Ep, as well as the demos released on the “Ancients” LP, still we have some unreleased stuff that might be unearthed some day
Most of this music has been planned for a full length, but for some reason has just ended up in a demo and an Ep
4.The band was split up for a few years, can you tell us a little bit more about what was going on during that time frame?
Nothing really, everybody took their own way and the band was not in sight for anyone, I think we didn’t really know that we were about to got back together as we are now
Still music was always there, we never stop listening to it
I was still writing a lot in that period though, reading a lot and writing topics and some sort of lyrics or stories I would say, which some of them has now been taken again for these recent songs
5.Both the lyrics and band name comes from Mayan Mythology, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic and also do you get more deeper into it than more well known material on this subject besides 'Popol Vuh?
Yes there’s a vast bibliography on ancient history about the cultures that dwell in these regions, not only the Popol Vuh it’s a source, and we have always been immerse into it, not only in the interest of writing songs and put an album about it, but as fulfilling a very personal and individual spiritual goal for each and one of us.
Looking for to free our minds and souls from modern blindfolds, and with your own culture and values is the only way
We also have several archaeological places that we could hold on to
Spiritual freedom shall tear down the lie that is this plane
6.The band was formed in the early 90's, do you feel with both your lyrics and musical style that you had a great influence on the later black metal bands that came out of your home country?
Well that I can’t tell, but what I have seen is that recently, there are many bands coming from our country that has been touching ancient culture topics and even imagery merged with their metal music, being death, black or whatever
What I can say is that nothing like this happened when we started,
Maybe we have had an influence on some of that, who knows, which is good in some way, as long as it’s real, and not just for the sake of having a 10 minute fame to it
7.The band members also have been listening to metal for 30 years, what are your thoughts on the way the music has evolved over the past 3 or 4 decades?
Yes we started listening to the old bands from the late 70’s such as Sabbath, Priest, we were little kids, but seen the evolution into thrash metal with Venom and Metallica, and getting into this Grind stuff with Napalm Death, I mean from the old rock and roll and heavy tunes and ending up with this ultra fast beating, is was very exciting and interesting to live through all of it, discovering bands, sounds and styles was the best thing that could ever happen to music at all, and to us with it.
I think the last good thing for us to live was the black metal refreshing sound of the 90´s
I think is difficult to live that again in these days, hopefully not
In my very own personal opinion, since those days music has been stagnated for some unknown reason,
Maybe the actual evolution has been notorious only in the recording technology, and not in the music itself, which has put a standard sound to every instrument they record, so that every band could sound exactly the same, which is really sad
8.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the album cover?
It reflects the essence of what the band is, relying on our ancient culture and ways of living, worshiping the gods of the skies from one of our earthly temples
It’ all on our lyrical content, been proud of our roots, musically and lyrically,
9.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
We do not play that much, so I must say that each performance we have had is good for us, recently we’ve had more shows outside of our country, which has let us spread our music in different places,
I think we enjoy a lot our show in Finland on 2015 and one in Canada on 2017
On stage we always reflect the ancient ways of making these metal music
Because of the lyrical topics, the sound could be perfectly merged to create an atmosphere that allows us to call the gods for a minute, but we also go wild a little as well, I think we try to take the listener into a journey above the pyramids and beyond, if you just listen closely and let yourself go into these whole ambient,
It could help if you know our music and know what the band is all about
10.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?
We’re doing these show at the Never Surrender Fest in Berlin Germany on November 2, which is just a few days after the release of the Album,
We also have two more dates to finish the year in the US: one in Chicago on December 7 and the other in Oakland on December 8
11.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?
We‘ve had a very good response to our music lately, I think even more that we get in the past when the band was new
So we thank all the people that still believe in the band and we welcome the new comers
12.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Hopefully we will still release the kind of music we like in the way we think it should be done, and hopefully trying to innovate as much as we can into it
Innovation doesn’t mean to lose or twist the path we have created, but grow from it into a bigger structure
13.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
I’m pretty sure you can hear some old styles in the album and some specific bands that has influence the sound,
About what we’re listening to nowadays, I don’t’ think I have that much to say, to be honest I’ve been listening to the same music I used to in the past over and over again, rediscovering old bands and old styles, that music is so good you can’t let it go away, For good or bad, I don’t really listen to that much to new music, but I’m not close to it, if there’s something good and interesting
14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Yes thanks a lot for your interest in the band and to all the people that has followed us and still do so, look for the “Ah Tza Xibalba Itzaes” album on NWN, and hope to see you all on our tour dates
www.xibalbaitzaes.com
Cheers to all of you!!
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