Search - Mayan Factor :: In Lake Ch

A rare gem

Pharaoh | Erie, PA | 03/30/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Mayan Factor have great potential, but it's easy to see they're still in their infancy, as they're not quite sure what they're going for yet. First, the good stuff. They really are unique and have many nice, well thought out ideas. The songs follow a conventional rock format but don't sound mundane in the slightest, with a distinctive (but not overpowering) tribal influence. Heaviness takes a backseat to mood and atmosphere, the complex, interwoven acoustic guitars responsible for a lot of the tense nature of this CD. The bassist does his thing and the solid, straightforward drumming keeps the whole thing from becoming too left field. The songwriting, overall, is very good. "Son of Sam" is dark and claustrophobic, like the rainforest under the jungle canopy. "Aim for the Sky" is a more gentle, peaceful ballad type while opener "Warflower" (which would be a great single) builds up to an inspiring, epic chorus that rings in your ears. The Mayan Factor has a keen appreciation for dynamics and the songs never become bogged down. But halfway through they abruptly shift gears, becoming a bizarre Dredg meets Limp Bizkit bastard child. I don't know why singer Ray Ray insists on rapping, as he certainly isn't lacking in the chops department, but the uptempo white-boy angsty rapping parts distract and are just too much of a departure from the rest of the CD. Unfortunately half the songs have this pitfall, and with nu-metal dead and buried it'll just sound more and more stupid with the passage of time. But the rapping doesn't detract from the general high quality of the rest of the CD. In Lake'ch closes in grand fashion, with "Reborn" showcasing the many facets of the band, from the good (uptempo melodies, spirited choruses, a long, drawn out interlude) to the bad (that damn rapping again). The last part is the chorus from the first song Warflower - not the same musical arrangements, just Ray, alone, singing the words for all the world to hear. Gives a sense of closing to the album, I thought. The Mayan Factor definitely set high expectations for themselves, and for the most part they succeed in their aims, but the jarring juxtaposition of expressive modern rock and rapping may be too much for some listeners to handle. As soon as they sand down those rough edges they'll really be a band to watch."

Underappreciated Band

T. Hils | Connecticut, USA | 12/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This band is an amazing find and, recently, one of the few bands I've actually put down money for. Check out their other CD, 44."

Unbelievable

Austin Dougherty | albuquerque | 11/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this band is ridiculously good i mean i can not believe that they are not more popular.... as a huge fan of tool and this band is that calibur...check them out"