For the past 13 years, Pomona, California’s Xibalba have spearheaded a hellaciously heavy amalgamation of hardcore and death metal full of mosh-driving grooves and instilled with a deep respect for the band members’ cultural heritage.
The trio’s fourth and latest full-length is Años En Infierno — which translates to “years in hell” — a bulldozing eight-track set that’s due on May 29th via Southern Lord. (You can pre-order it now digitally and, starting tomorrow for Cinco De Mayo, in physical formats, including color vinyl and shirt packages.)
Ahead of the big drop, Xibalba have teamed with Revolver to unleash the album’s title cut, a pulverizing, intensely personal example of the trio’s ferocious talents. Blast it and read frontman Nathan Rebolledo’s comments below. According to him, Años En Infierno marks a major turning point for the band, not so much in sound — that’s as brutal as ever — but in lifestyle.
The album was produced by Arthur Rizk (Cavalera Conspiracy, Code Orange, Power Trip) and features stunning artwork by longtime collaborator Dan Seagrave (Dismember, Entombed, Suffocation).
“‘Años En Infierno,’ as a song and record, is the embodiment of the past decade of my life,” Rebolledo tells us. “All that is good and bad in my life is thanks to this band. A selfish way of life where dreams and opportunities have come true at the cost of something or someone one.
I have caused hardship and pain, something I can’t take back, but I need to change. Xibalba as a band has decided to slow down — what the future holds I don’t know but I do know I need to slow down and appreciate.”