We did think there was going to be more Aztec instrumentation in this…

…but the Aztec influence is still there!

It may sound more gothic with European folk influences, and the dress code is interesting to say the least, newcomers from Mexico Cabrakaän have made their effort to get registered on the folk metal radar. The band tell tales of their homeland mythology with their upcoming EP “Cem Anahuac My Home”.

Cem Anahuac My Home is the second EP album from Mexican group Cabrakaän, and it represents the heart and soul of the band. The stories and mythology behind the lyrics of each song are about this. The group play a mix of death, folk with symphonic European influences with pre-hispanic instruments, along with the storytelling of Mesoamerican tales (Aztec, Mayan, Tlaxcaltecan, Olmecan) plus Mexican folklore such as La llorona, La Bruja and Day of The Dead.

Cabrakaän expand on this saying; “The first song is called Cem Anahuac and it is a faithful representation of our music. The words Cem Anahuac, mean literally “land surrounded by water” in Náhuatl, and that’s how our Aztec ancestors used to call the valley of Mexico before the Spanish invasion. It’s the place where they settled and built one of the most beautiful and impressive cities of all times, “Tenochtitlan”. Our past reflects a lot of our present and Cem Anahuac is in the heart of Mexicans since we are born, that’s the message behind the whole album.”

The cover of Cem Anahuac My Home shows a hummingbird (or Huitzilin in Nahuatl language) and it represents Huitzilopochtli, the god of war, protector of all warriors.

It’s not a track for all, and certainly not fit for tequila consujming. It is definitely worthy of those who enjoy a bit of European melancholy however.

“Cem Anahuac My Home” is out August 27th via Sliptrick Records.