Tzolk’in unveils a plethora of heavily drenched electronic distortion, all of which is blended with a smorgasbord of symphonic harmony.

[Listen | Purchase] Nicolas Van Meirhaeghe and Gwenn Trémorin are the collaborative duo of Tzolk’in; Tonatiuh being their third proper full-length and the second for Ant-Zen. A logical progression from 2008’s Haab’, Tzolk’in have fast become a household name for their industrially rugged, organic and tribal infested rhythms.

Tonatiuh may have somehow slipped under the radar in 2010, and we’re not quite sure why. Could it be that an album of this magnitude would quietly retreat from media press mayhem when in fact it deserves more of an audience? Let it be known that Igloo Magazine readers should, at the very least, have a listen to the title track (audio stream below) to capture a glimpse of what Tonatiuh has to offer. You may be surprised, with qualified listening, to find that Tzolk’in (meaning Division of Days, as coined by Yukatek Maya) unveils a plethora of heavily drenched electronic distortion, all of which is blended with a smorgasbord of symphonic harmony.

Rumbling bass falls from the edges as every piece featured on Tonatiuh grows from a mere glimmer of subtle rhythmic noise to a full fledged soundtrack epic; this pattern is carefully developed with track lengths spanning from 5 to almost 9 minutes. One can’t help but wonder how this duo creates such a vivid audio assault for mind and body; could it be that their alter ego’s (Flint Glass, Empusae and Sal-Ocin) have given them the experience and know-how to create fluid audio abstractions that surpass time and space? This just might be the case.

Tzolk’in’s trademark tribal grove of electronic manipulation spans from arctic, burnt and rustic beauty on this 7-track opus. Buried deep inside the chaos of fluctuation lies a truly remarkable release that requires attentive and full listening to appreciate its depth and range.

[audio:http://igloomag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Tzolkin_Tonatiuh1.mp3|titles=Tzolkin “Tonatiuh”]

Tonatiuh is out now on Ant-Zen. [Listen | Purchase]