Just when you think a particular sound has mostly fizzled out for the year, there’s almost always something else that comes around that catches you off-guard and grabs your attention in such a way that is nigh on fascinating to watch unfold. Folk metal has had an absolutely massive year with loads of names big and large coming out of the woodwork to push the sound further than it has for a long time, and I was convinced the sound was largely done with its big moves for the rest of the year. Returning from a six-year silence that came to a fantastically well-timed conclusion, Cemican shows us what the sound still has up its sleeves with their fourth album.

There are plenty of trends that are to be found throughout metal, and while there are plenty that have received loads of attention for all the right reasons, there are just as many, if not more, that are begging to be expanded upon. While folk metal has been having a tremendous streak as of late, there has been an undeniable if only moderate rise in Hispanic representation in what the sound brings to the table, and here I was convinced that Impureza would be the one to bring that sort of excellence to folk metal when 2025 was all said and done. Rising once again after six years, it’s with “U k’u’uk’ankil Mayakaaj” that Cemican offers a tremendous counter to Impureza that’s as intrinsic as it is uncompromising. It’s clear that since their last outing that Cemican has spent a lot of time in honing their craft to their highest points yet with the results obvious in every one of these twelve sprawling tracks. Entrenched in Mayan mythology that offers us a unique lens into a culture’s history that isn’t given nearly enough time in the spotlight, it’s here that Cemican capitalizes once again on their huge potential. After wholly embracing their heritage and taking it to the next level to showcase how dynamic and unique metal can still become, “U k’u’uk’ankil Mayakaaj” gives us a tremendous display at just how fully capable Cemican still is with their impressive showcasing of riffs but constantly thriving in the thick jungles and underneath a blanket of stars.

“U k’u’uk’ankil Mayakaaj” beckons you into its rich tapestry. It would be a true shame to deny such magnificence. Folk metal has had so much done within its vast confines throughout the past ten months, and if Cemican is to be the last stop for the genre before the year comes to a close, then it would be a tremendous note to leave off on. Cemican’s power has only risen over the years with their almost certainly their most accomplished creation to date.

LISTEN to “U k’u’uk’ankil Mayakaaj” on Bandcamp here.

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FOLLOW Cemican on Instagram here.