Brian Itztlakamayeh Ortiz describes Temilotzin, the new TZOMPANTLI EP, as a tribute shaped by ancestry, friendship and personal loss. Released October 12, 2026, through 20 Buck Spin to coincide with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the three-track recording brings the collective’s traditional folk music to the foreground.
Led by Ortiz, also the guitarist of Xibalba, TZOMPANTLI incorporates traditional elements into its death doom. On Temilotzin, the approach is acoustic, with vocals entirely in Náhuatl and many lyrics drawn from the words of Náhuatl warrior-poets.
“Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Today, we want to honor Indigenous peoples everywhere by sharing our new EP, Temilotzin,” Ortiz states. “This recording leans into the more traditional folk side of TZOMPANTLI. It is acoustic and sung entirely in Náhuatl, with many of the lyrics drawn from the words of Náhuatl warrior-poets.”
Ortiz connects that musical direction to the circumstances surrounding its writing: “This release is deeply personal. Not only was it written to pay homage to our ancestors and Indigenous peoples, but also in the aftermath of losing my best friend and dog, Soprano, along with other family and friends who would begin their next journey. We chose to name the EP after Temilotzin, a warrior-poet remembered for his poem about friendship and for his close friendship with Cuauhtémoc, the last Mexica emperor.”
His statement closes: “May our ancestors, family, and friends remain close. May their voices endure. May we continue to remember.”
The EP’s instrumentation includes drums, huehuetls and other percussion performed by Alejandro Aranda, Jason Brunes, Mateotl Gonzalez, Oscar Ortiz and Brian Ortiz. Brian Ortiz also performs death whistles and flutes, and shares shells, shakers and guiros with Aranda. Guitars and bass are performed by Brian Ortiz, Erol Ulug and Matt Boughton. Brian Ortiz handles vocals, with backing vocals from Brunes, Ulug and Aranda.
The announced TZOMPANTLI Tribe for Temilotzin comprises Brian Itztlakamayeh Ortiz, Manzig Yohualli Sanchez, Eric Cuillotic Delgado, Mateotl Boughton, Jason Katulu Brunes, Erol Ulug, Alejandro Aranda, Mateotl Gonzalez and Justin Ton. Antonio Hdz created the cover artwork; Brian Nicolás-Espinoza and Hugo Silva created the logo used on the EP.
- Temilotzin
- Xolotl
- Nitlayocoya
All three tracks are exclusive to this release and will not appear on TZOMPANTLI’s forthcoming third album. The EP serves as a prelude to that LP, expected in 2027, which the announcement says will combine traditional elements with the band’s death doom. Further album details are due in early 2027.
Temilotzin is available on Bandcamp and other streaming platforms.
