Xibalba- Hasta La Muerte ALBUM REVIEW

Listen: • Video
Southern California's Xibalba drags listeners down to the "place of fear" the band's name references, combining the heaviness of doom and sludge with the aggression of hardcore punk and even metalcore. Sunn O)))'s Greg Anderson shows up on a few tracks, too.
What did you think of this album? Love it? Hate it? Why? What should I review next, eh?
theneedledrop.com
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FAV TRACKS: NO SERENITY, LAID TO REST, COLD, THE FLOOD, LUJURIA, HASTA LA MUERTA
LEAST FAV TRACK: IF I HAD TO PICK, MAYBE SOLEDAD. I FIND IT TO BE ONE OF THE LESS DISTINCT TRACKS, BUT MAYBE IT'LL GROW ON ME. SHRUGZZZ
XIBALBA- HASTA LA MUERTE / 2012 / SOUTHERN LORD / SLUDGE METAL, DOOM METAL, METALCORE, BEATDOWN HARDCORE, HARDCORE PUNK
8/10 www.theneedledr...
Y'all know this is just my opinion, right?
Tags:
xibalba, hasta la muerte, album review music reviews indie underground new latest lyrics "full song" listen track concert live performance update "the needle drop" "anthony fantano" vlog talk discussion "music nerd" 2012, hardcore punk, metalcore, sludge metal, beatdown, california, 2012, sunn, greg anderson, nails, no serenity, lujuria, cold, sentenced, southern lord, interview

[@GizmoFan1]

I'm honestly most impressed that they made a nearly hour long hardcore album that manages to be interesting for that entire length.

[@familiaandradeherederodelr2320]

Timothy E. Mostly*

[@DaxWyvrn]

I'd love to see more doom/hardcore reviews or even your top 5 hardcore albums (like the intro to death metal).

[@Gemmyfire757]

I love this album; this and Madre Mia are two of the most influential albums in my local scene. It's best-suited for live beatdown shows, so Internet reviews may not be able to serve Xibalba justice. You guys have to see them live... if you can live through it.

[@theneedledrop]

i haven't really cared for their past two albums. was hearing the new one and wasn't hot on it either. are ou enjoying this one more? what's your take on it?

[@9Blackraven]

you forgot to mention the oldschool death influence, it's pretty obvious that these guys draw inspiration from bands like morbid angel and obituary

[@throwback_kid_84]

Thats because my dawg Big Brian Ortiz listens to nothing but Morbid Angel and Obituary lol his insta is godofemptiness for crying out loud.

[@theneedledrop]

i'll admit part of my enjoyment of it is linked to me digging this kinda stuff when i was younger. i like that they do it with more of a doom edge, which is really more of my style these days. it's like mixing my old tastes with my new. sorta hit me by surprise.

[@theneedledrop]

how do i do that?

[@theneedledrop]

are they heavy in person?

[@theneedledrop]

my heart makes me decide. no, really, i dunno. just sorta when it feels right.

[@theneedledrop]

yeah, the lighting is still a bit off. my face comes off too dark. i'm working on it.

[@theneedledrop]

will do.

[@theneedledrop]

no, thank you for watching / commenting.

[@theneedledrop]

it's currently in consideration.

[@brandy76ferry]

Have you listened to Harm's Way?

[@theneedledrop]

heard about that. lotta drama about it on tumblr. waiting to see if anything actual comes out of it, or if it's just gonna be a series of blocks of text-based accusations from both sides. this and the surfer blood thing actually make me wanna do a video on enjoying music despite bad decisions made by the musicians making the tracks. good or bad thing? etc.

[@theneedledrop]

YOU CAN CATCH ME & MY CREW EATIN' HOT CHEETOS AND TAKIS! MY FYNGAS STAINED RED AND YOU CANNOT GET 'EM OFF ME.

[@1shrine]

I really enjoy this album. That Mala Mujer track you mentioned stands out a bit more than you mentioned aside from the female vocals, it's also the most melodic piece. It's sort of desperately melodiously suspended around all of the other songs, and you get this feeling that there's hope yet. It is about heartbreak, but almost a sort of nostalgic desire for it, or some kind of reminiscing happening. Nice review though, I had a feeling you would like this

[@theneedledrop]

is that new? i'll look it up.

[@1212zeek1212]

I always enjoy these reviews. They're so nicely put together. Pleasant to watch.

[@theneedledrop]

planning on it.

[@theneedledrop]

well, the dude from nails did produce this. check it. hope you like it.

[@theneedledrop]

thinking about it.

[@theneedledrop]

do you know it?

[@theneedledrop]

i know, rite?

[@theneedledrop]

soon, soon.

[@theneedledrop]

i wouldn't say i was a part of the scene. i've gone to some shows, and i think when i was going to shows like that, that's when hatebreed WAS pretty big. i don't think it was into it really early. when some high school kids i knew were listening to it, that's when it was pretty popular. we weren't limited to hatebreed, tho. i was digging stuff like slipknot and mudvayne at the time, too.

[@theneedledrop]

NOT EVER!

[@theneedledrop]

i'll look it up.

[@theneedledrop]

sure, if i get some spare time.

[@theneedledrop]

i think an 8 is a pretty generous score. i do mean what i said, but i did mention there were some moments that, to me, were inconspicuous. i think it's great, well-done, but it's not in my top-10 for the year, ya know?

[@theneedledrop]

same here!

[@theneedledrop]

i gotta listen to it. haven't been huge on their previous releases, but maybe that'll change this time around.

[@theneedledrop]

i think it's a bit too flamboyant. i'm more of a traditional mosher. i love getting bumped around, running through circle pits, and breakin' a sweat. i hope none of that sounded suggestive...

[@theneedledrop]

SAME HERE.

[@Heavyshadowsound]

Fights don't happen at Xibalba concerts, Xibalba concerts happen at fights

[@AnIdiotAbroad89]

How aren't you madly famous yet? I could listen to these reviews all day. Very articulate.

[@theneedledrop]

does he got a new LP on the way now?

[@theneedledrop]

i like some of their older records. haven't heard the new one. to be honest, i stopped following them when hardcore stopped being a genre i liked a lot in HS. along with punk, nu metal, and all that kinda stuff.

[@theneedledrop]

yes, yes it is.

[@theneedledrop]

i can't play it, it's in flac.

[@theneedledrop]

OMG, you should chill with the guys further below in the comment section. Their OCD is freaking over it, too.

[@666warschau666]

did you know that the lyrics of "mala mujer" are from a thin lizzy song called "still in love with you"?

[@theneedledrop]

sounds intense.

[@theneedledrop]

he's been practicing.

[@theneedledrop]

yeah, i can only hate the guy for so long. he still annoys me, but we're buds now.

[@theneedledrop]

oh, boy.

[@theneedledrop]

will do. :-)

[@theneedledrop]

it's my next vid.

[@theneedledrop]

were you?

[@theneedledrop]

i'll get back into the swing of that soon.

[@theneedledrop]

a list of hip hop albums i've rated high: killer mike's rap music death grips the money store asap rocky's live love asap danny brown' xxx milo's i wish my brother rob was here ghostface killah's apollo kids das racist's sit down, man heems' nehru jackets shabazz palaces' black up there are a lot more where that came from

[@theneedledrop]

i try.

[@paris-1911]

you definitely did, anthony.

[@theneedledrop]

i was checking the gaza. wasn't as hot on that as i am this.

[@theneedledrop]

i dig the track, but i'm not planning a review ATM.

[@theneedledrop]

i haven't reviewed a metal record for weeks.

[@theneedledrop]

thx.

[@theneedledrop]

the...food?

[@theneedledrop]

indeed!!!!!

[@theneedledrop]

it's lulzy.

[@theneedledrop]

i'll do it for my country.

[@theneedledrop]

that would be an uber challenge.

[@Bananahogie]

Thanks for doing your reviews Fantano, I'm subscribed to a good number of channels but you're the only one I follow quite closely. Not saying I'm close enough that I know where you live... but I'm getting there

[@barrytrotter6790]

harms way is the shit.

[@uglymeez236]

I never knew melon had good taste

[@theneedledrop]

thanks for the kind words. hmmm. bathroom reviews, eh?

[@theneedledrop]

mocking? what am i mocking?

[@theneedledrop]

it's sort of a thing.

[@theneedledrop]

how old do you think i am?

[@theneedledrop]

considering doing that for the album when it drops. :-)

[@theneedledrop]

this.

[@rattlesnakechroniclesonyt]

Looks like you and Cal are getting along these days. That's pretty cool man. Keep up the great work, Fantano! (and you too Chuchesta!)

[@theneedledrop]

yes, it's devolved into a lotta tumblr talk, unfortunately. i'm really interested in what actually happened, and if any other witnesses could come forward. more people have to have seen this. there's no video of it? nobody else affiliated with the band / venue confirming or denying it?

[@theneedledrop]

it's in flac. :-(

[@theneedledrop]

the internet, mostly.

[@theneedledrop]

i'll look it up. :-)

[@theneedledrop]

lol, i don't like it either, but the wall came that way. :-P

[@theneedledrop]

i'm not reviewing it now, i'm reviewing it next.

[@theneedledrop]

gotta do this soon, soon. :-)

[@theneedledrop]

why should it be centered? lol.

[@theneedledrop]

me2

[@BuckFiftyGaming]

Love the Dan Seagrave album cover.

[@theneedledrop]

next review.

[@matlac781]

Thanks for bringing the zanyness back to the reviews. Also, did you do the pitchfork people's list? You should post it if you did.

[@theneedledrop]

woot.

[@theneedledrop]

no, thank u.

[@TheBronxUberVillain]

You're pretty much on point with this. Honestly i thought most of the production was boring. I appreciate you were a bit more honest than the Dead End Hiphop guys. On another note was discussing with a few guys in the street a week ago. Folks feel like you review albums too fast. Like how can you really honestly review a record if you haven't absorbed it. 2Chainz i get. But some of the better actual 'albums' not so much.. None the less I do enjoy watching you reviews. Peace.

[@theneedledrop]

lol, i wouldn't say it's something i'm just getting into now. i'd say i'm entering a post-appreciation period.

[@theneedledrop]

i won't! :-)

[@theneedledrop]

yeah, i saw that. amazing coincidence that i was writing my review the night this happened, lol.

[@theneedledrop]

NO, THANK U

[@theneedledrop]

thanks! :-)

[@theneedledrop]

oh, we all know that song reaches a plain of perfection that would be sullied by a review. HEYYYYYYYYYY SEXY LAYYYYDAYYYYYY

[@theneedledrop]

lol, i will.

[@lifeblood086]

Project 86 is releasing their album this week. Such an amazing band, you need to check out the new album, Wait for the Siren!

[@theneedledrop]

ohhhhhhh, i dig it. :-)

[@theneedledrop]

either that or peeing really hard.

[@theneedledrop]

i will look it up! :-)

[@theneedledrop]

glad you dig. :-)

[@Brainjuicebreakdown]

Dude.....you are the best Reviewer i've ever listened to !

[@BRILLiantMindzMedia666]

you should talk about 100 demons, or death threat