Volahn, a one-man project of Eduardo Ramírez, is best known as the founding band of the Black Twilight Circle collective, kickstarting the Crepúsculo Negro record label’s catalog with their debut album Dimensiónes Del Trance Kósmico. Their lyrical themes explore ancient Mesoamerican culture and mythology, while their music is in the form of intense, fast-paced black metal.
On their newest album, Popol Vuh (named after the Mayan creation myth), Ramírez is joined by several other session musicians who provide additional vocals, rhythm guitar, drums, bass, and keyboard playing. Overall, the album presents a slight change in style in comparison to their previous releases, I'd say. While their last full-length album, Aq'Ab'Al, released one decade ago, provided plenty of melodic instrumentation, Popol Vuh delivers a much harsher, darker, and denser soundscape, full of chaotic riffing and Spanish vocals drenched in malice. At times, the dense atmosphere reminds me of Arizmenda's Within The Vacuum Of Infinity....
Still, Volahn retain their signature native instrumentation, most prominently displayed in the “Intro”, “Interludio”, and “Outro”. These unique flute, acoustic guitar, and percussion elements add an authentic and immersive quality to the sound, transporting listeners deep into the Mesoamerican jungles. Together with the shrieking cries of feathered serpents and werejaguars, this musical style reminds me very much of another side project of Ramírez: Kuxan Suum. In fact, I'm pretty certain that the exact audio sample of a blood-curdling shriek that concludes the album is the same as the opening cry on the Black Twilight Circle compilation Tliltic Tlapoyauak.
Most of the album is dominated by the overlapping layers of sharp, dizzying guitar riffs. It's a style that's perfect for fans of very raw black metal and is in line with many of Ramírez’s side projects. But, it may be more of an acquired taste for the average black metal listener. While I personally miss some of the more melodic guitar solos and the catchy riffs that were quite prominent on their previous album Aq'Ab'Al, the aggressive and oppressive maelstrom of wicked, unrelenting black metal is quite the sight to behold. Such wrath that oozes from the vocals and the interweaving guitar riffs is quite impressive and enjoyable in their own special way.
Overall, Volahn remain a force to be reckoned with, and their contrasting mix of harsh black metal and native ambience is always a winning combo. It's good to see the two heads of the Black Twilight Circle, Volahn and Arizmenda, still being active these days (at least, as active as you'd expect trve underground bands to be), with Arizmenda releasing Spiders Lust In The Dungeon’s Dust in 2022, and now Volahn’s output in 2025. Let's hope their creative juices never stop flowing, because no one plays their special flavor of black metal quite like they do.
