Mutilated Tyrant - Ho'dichiih Dóó' Sáji'

 

Artist: Mutilated Tyrant

Album: Ho'dichiih Dóó' Sáji'

Label: Self-Released

Year: 2020

Country: USA

Genre: Black Metal

Mutilated Tyrant are a black metal trio from Ganado, Arizona, which is on the Navajo Nation Reservation. This is their second release and first EP. While their first demo, Dark Sign of the Baphomet, was more death metal influenced and steeped in metal cliches of satanism and blasphemy, this EP sees the band honing in a more purely black metal sound, definitely inspired by the second wave Norwegian scene. As the EP's title would suggest, this release also focuses more on the band's Navjo/Diné roots. The title translates to "Birth to Old". 

The EP begins with the sound of crows cawing over a sinister synth loop and the beating of war drums, setting the attitude for the journey ahead. The band wastes no time after the intro, with "Under the Cold Dark Moon" starting immediately with an assault of tremolo picked chords and blasting drums. The music evokes the feeling of a nightside journey under the full moon on horseback through the vast deserts that the Navajo call home. The band does an excellent job of breathing new life into the cold and bleak sounds that the Norwegians innovated, without sounding like a lazy copy cat. There is a mystical nature to these songs, that would fit nicely as soundtrack to a nocturnal ceremony around a large fire. The band mentions that these four songs are going to be part of a full-length album due some time in the near future, and I look forward to when that day comes. 

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Zurg - Decolonizing Black Metal

 Artist: Zurg 

Album: Decolonizing Black Metal 

Label: Self-Released 

Year: 2020

 Country: USA 

Genre: Raw Black Metal

Zurg are a three piece black metal band from Arizona. This is their debut demo. Inspired by the members collective Apache, Pima, and Zapotec ancestry, they create raw black metal teeming with ancestral rage. The tape begins with the sounds of war as it would sound in the 1800s, with muskets blaring, horses galloping, and bugle fanfares before a the beat of a war drum begins and the first riff enters. With the tone set, the band delve into a old school black metal march. Following the first track we get more aggressive cuts like "Paleface" and "Ancestral Terror" which sound like the band are out for colonizer blood. This is a strong beginning for this band and I look forward to what their future holds

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Resistant Culture - Welcome To Reality

Artist: Resistant Culture

Album: Welcome To Reality

Label: Seventh Generation Records

Year: 2006

Country: USA

Genre: Grindcore

Resistant Culture are a grindcore band. Originally from LA but now situated in Seattle, the band formed in 2003, raising from the ashes of Resistant Militia. The band's founding members are indigenous descended, and they incorporate native flutes, drums, and chants into their ripping grindcrust, and preach a message of Native American rights, environmentalism, anarchism, and anti-colonialism. This debut album is a bombardment of grinding crust metal, fitting 16 furious tracks in a mere 31 minutes. Metalheads and punks alike will finding something to love about this record.

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Xolotl - Xolotl

Artist: Xolotl 

Album: Xoltol 

Label: American Line Productions

Year: 2009 

Country: USA 

Genre: Black Metal

Xolotl were a pre-hispanic black metal band based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. They share members with Yaotl Mictlan, and released this one self-titled album. The band takes their name of the sinister Aztec god of lightning and death, and lyrically draw from stories in both Aztec and Mayan mythology. Musically, Xolotl obvious carries some similarities to their sister band, but opt for shorter, more violent tracks than the long-form atmospheric black metal of Yaotl Mictlan. In addition the band incorporates many traditional indigenous flutes, whistles, and percussion into their music that adds a layer of mystique and transports you to the temples of Tenochtitlan. 

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Sangre Y Tierra - Cuando Los Blancos Vienen

Artist: Sangre Y Tierra

Album: Cuando Los Blancos Vienen

Label: Self-Released

Year: 2009

Country: USA

Genre: Black Metal

Sangre Y Tierra was a one man raw depressive black metal act from Holyoke, Massachusetts. This is their debut EP. In addition to themes of self-hatred and depression, Sangre Y Tierra write songs about Puerto Rican and Taino history and ancestral pride. On their debut offering, Sangre Y Tierra create a short but power statement of hatred and loathing. The record starts with a mid-pace dirge seething with venom and a pain that is palpable in the vocal performance. Right after "Pegado A Mierda" unleashes a belligerent torrent of contempt, only with things to slowly crash and fade into oblivion on the final track. A formidable initial offering from this Taino DSBM act. 

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Morbithory - Unholy Fucking Diné Black Metal Hell

Artist: Morbithory

Album: Unholy Fucking Diné Black Metal Hell

Label: Death Portal Studio

Year: 2013

Country: USA

Genre: Black Metal

Morbithory are a Diné black metal band from Many Farms, Arizona. Their debut offering couldn't possibly have a more apt name. Morbithory waste no time unleashing black metal hell on the listener, with furious and blazing black metal assaults that reek of blasphemy and misanthropy. Across three hellish hymns they spread their hate, with lyrics that are against Christianity, against man, and for total destruction. 

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Horned Warrior - Horned Warrior

Band: Horned Warrior

Album: Horned Warrior

Label: Death Portal Studio

Year: 2013

Country: USA

Genre: Black Metal

Horned Warrior is a one-man Diné black metal band from Shiprock, New Mexico. Sole member Hellheart crafts an eclectic mix of black metal on this debut demo, from raw and raging tracks, to songs that channel more DSBM vibes, as well as some haunting synth tracks. The album is rife with contempt for life and a searing hatred for Christianity. Just as black metal should be.

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Mi'gauss - Open Season

Band: Mi'gauss

Album: Open Season

Label: Moria Records

Year: 2003

Country: USA

Genre: Death Metal

Mi'gauss are a death metal band from Greensburg, Pennsylvania. They take their name from a form of ancient warfare practiced by the Middle-Algonquin warriors and their songs are about their traditional Shawnee traditions and storytelling. Musically, this is war ready death metal with a large variety of riffs and light hints of doom and black metal thrown in the mix.

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Axeman - Arrive

Artist: Axeman

Album: Arrive

Label: Crepuscolo Negro

Year: 2010

Country: USA

Genre:  Metal/Crust

Axeman are an entity of the Black Twilight Circle. Another solo project from group leader Volahn, Axeman's debut demo is a glimpse into the darkness of the Mayan underworld. Taking inspiration from Amebix and 80's Brazilian black metal, Arrive is a violent display of total 80's metal perfection. From the frenzied riffs, kosmic atmosphere, and whirlwind shredding solos, this debut shows incredible promise. Hopefully a proper full-length is on the horizon, as this is Axeman's only proper release to date.

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VOLAHN - DIMENSIÓNES DEL TRANCE KÓSMICO

Artist: Volahn

Album: Dimensiónes del Trance Kósmico

Label: Crepúsculo Negro

Year: 2008

Country: USA

Genre: Black Metal

Volahn is a one-man black metal band from Los Angeles, California. Volahn's sole member, Eduardo Ramirez, is the leader of the Black Twilight Circle, a collective of Pre-Columbian artists who largely create black metal inspired by their indigenous heritage. This is Volahn's debut offering of ritual kaos, an exalting journey that transcends time and space.  

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