1.Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?
Yaotl Mictlan is a flag in which we express our ancestral past thru extreme metal.
Our lyrical content is based on the various cultures of Mexico and Central America before 1521 when the Mexican (Aztlec) empire was destroyed. The lyrics are in Spanish and some Nahuatl and Maya. We add Indigenous instruments to invoke an ancient feeling to our music.
2. What is the meaning behind the band's name?
Yaotl Mictlan means “ Warriors from the land of the dead” in Nahuatl.
3.How would you describe your musical sound?
Pre-hispanic Black-death metal ,played with a lot of anger ,pride and passion. We incorporate to the music a lot of pre-hispanic instruments to help to have that ancient feeling in the music.
4. How would you describe the lyrical content of the music?
Each track varies in content, like in Garra de Jaguar who was a warrior who lived in the 11th century in the current state of Oaxaca. Gemelos Heroes talks about the Hero Twins creation stories of the Popol Vuh from Mayan Guatemala, to our last track in the album Nada Verde Crece Aqui which is a compilation of free thinking Aztec writings, who were questioning their strict religion, and the meaning of life as they knew it.
5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
One time playing in L.A. was great because people were very excited about us being there, before the show we had many people come up to us and ask us very specific questions about our lyrics, and while we were playing many of them were singing along, which was an amazing feeling.
Our stage show varies too, sometimes we have Conquistador heads on stake which is actually a historical scene of when the Spanish were in Mexico in one of the many battles the Aztecs started taking Spanish captives and would take them to the foot of a temple and offered their blood by decapitating them right there and putting their heads on the stake facing the top of the temple.
6. The new album is coming out on Candlelight Records, how would you describe the support you have gotten from that label so far and how would you compare it to the other label that you have been on?
Both labels are and have been very supportive, both are very serious and professional.
7. When I listened to your album it seems like that while some bands have written about Mayans and Aztecs you have taken it a step further and created a new style of black metal, are there any other bands that have styles similar to yours?
I and my Tlatecatl moved to the States at 14 and 11 and since then we got cut off from the Mexican metal scene so when we got the idea to start this project we had not heard of any one doing something like this. After a while I started to find bands in Mexico that did have some prehispanic themed lyrics but nothing to serious. Now though there is what I consider some really “true” bands but they are less than four!
8. The band originally came from Mexico and now lives in Utah, how would you compare the scene in America to the one in Mexico?
I have to say that in Mexico the attendance is much higher at any show, and people are a bit crazier. But I would also have to say that the Utah scene is very dedicated, we have rioted and brawled for the sake of metal!,
Seeing chairs and tables fly across while playing our set is more common that not here in Salt Lake, compared to other scenes in the country.
9. How has the music been received so far from black metal fans worldwide?
My perceptions are that it has been received very well, and we are excited to have our lyrics and concept be heard by people all over the world.
10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and what are you listening to nowadays?
Besides the black metal classics from the 80’s and 90’s which is the foundation of our style of music, we also listen to Aztec/Mayan music. But everybody in the band listens to a variety of metal that do end up influencing our riffs and feel.
11. How would you describe your views on the Mayan and Aztec religions and do you have any interest in any other cultures or forms of occultism?
My views on the Mayan and Aztec religions are that the earliest and un-corrupted believes and practices were very authentic and pure. Their religions were based on their surroundings, environment, and the struggles that they had to face on a day to day basis. Later on when the “divine kings” started controlling and exploiting their religions to control the people it just became a tool much like our current religions do today.
12. What are some of your interests outside of music?
We read, watch documentaries, and we go to the ruins to learn more about our ancient cultures.
We consider ourselves activists in our community so we volunteer, we organize, and most importantly we empower the “Latino” youth to hold their chins very high, even in this Anti Mexican environment that we are facing, in hopes that they don’t stray away from the path to success in this country.
13. Any final words or thoughts?
Muerte al Traidor! “ Death to the traitor” May Huitzilopochtli decapitate them quickly!
Thank you for taking the time to find out more about our band.
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