HACAVITZ

Mexico's HACAVITZ was birthed from RAVAGER (an earlier incarnation of which was called DOMAIN),a band that released a couple of albums on Osmose. DOMAIN/RAVAGER founder/vocalist/guitarist Antimo Buonnano charged forth, releasing a self-titled 7" on Osmore before infecting the earth with "Venganza". Combining the death metal blasting of KRISIUN, the creepy hymns of early MORBID ANGEL, and the plague-wielding sickness of the grimmest black metal, Mexico's HAVAVITZ have spawned an incurable diseased called "Venganza". Relentless blasting, riff tornadoes, sickening vocals, searing solos, and horrifying atmospherics make "Venganza" one of the most violent discs you are likely to hear in 2006.

Intent on the listener suffering through full body shivers, and alternating hot and cold flashes, "Venganza" consists of impossibly fast, blast-beaten attacks, for the most part interrupted only by any one of several nightmarish interludes. Beginning with what sounds like a not-so-friendly ritualistic gathering, complete with menacing tribal drumming, the speed killing begins in earnest on "Nightwinds", the swirling razorblade licks and Buonnano's hellish screams jarring as hell. Missing the one opportunity you had to leave town, the next 46 minutes or so is one harrowing ride. Giving bands like the indomitable ANGELCORPSE a run for their money, "Venganza" attacks like a packed of starving, rabid dogs. Save for those moments where an uneasy slowing of the pace occurs (the mid-section of "Old Rancor", the beginning of "Mixtla Miquiztli", for example),it is one long fight to survive what might as well be a series of chainsaw massacres.

Rather than serving as cut-and-paste instrumentals, the morose soundscapes are carefully woven into the fabric of the album, intended to be absorbed as fully as the formal compositions. These creations of dark art are often colored with instruments from (in the words of Buonnano) pre-Hispanic Mexico. Imbuing the music with the spirits of Mexico's ancients gives the album a malefic feel that makes the shrapnel blast arrangements that much more menacing.

This is dangerous stuff, kiddies. You might want to keep the lights on when playing "Venganza". And try not to shit your pants, please.