To see a band with any sort of gimmick is far from a rare thing to see nowadays with it feeling like one in every ten bands has a certain theme to their work. It comes in two forms that I know of: (1) where the theme permeates everything that the band in question does from the sound of the music to their on-stage performance (think Alestorm, just to name one), (2) where it stays more in the lyrical content and occasionally through instrumentation. When I saw that Sotz’ was influenced by the ancient Mayans, I was curious to see what was in store and I wasn’t disappointed whatsoever.

If I’m to be completely honest, I was hoping for something along the lines of Cemican, where the theme breathes through folk instrumentation appropriate for the culture, rather than Xibalba (California) who seem to have the theme in name only. In the case of Sotz’, it’s almost directly down the middle where “Popol Vuh” falls. This particular brand of death metal is almost purely that: death metal. But it’s with the Mayan influence that Sotz’ just barely stands out from the crowd to make for an album that’s more than just interesting on paper, and exhilarating in execution once the quality is taken into account. This album is constantly showering us in devastating riffage paired with an unbridled fury that’s beyond intoxicating for the great vast majority of its ten tracks that are constantly keeping the listener engaged in a thrilling trip. I’d even dare to compare the massive trip Sotz’ takes you on here to a safari through the ancient Mayan jungle, but this is so much more visceral and raw than what the measly word “safari” brings to mind, so I think that calling it a trial of blood and anguish through every dark born of anything that’s ever been related to the culture whether it be rooted in truth or fiction. No matter which way you slice it, “Popol Vuh” has so much more to offer than a paltry gimmick that any number of bands could pull off with everything coming together so well to make the record devastating, satisfying, and interesting all at the same time in the perfect amounts.

There isn’t a single thing about what’s been done here that will leave the great vast majority of death metal fans wanting more since Sotz’ has presented everything here so well that it’s downright deadly in even its smallest moments, and it’s intoxicating beyond belief once you really get your teeth into it. “Popol Vuh” has a lot to off in many ways, and it’s just the first of what’s sure to be multiple staggering works from this band that I can’t help but feel are on the way.

“Popol Vuh” releases on November 2nd!

LISTEN to singles from “Popol Vuh” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Sotz’ on Facebook here.