Xenotaph
| Xenotaph | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 13, 2025 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Progressive metal, technical death metal | |||
| Length | 42:19 | |||
| Label | Nuclear Blast | |||
| Producer | Fallujah | |||
| Fallujah chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Xenotaph | ||||
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Xenotaph is the sixth studio album by American death metal band Fallujah. It was released on June 13, 2025, via Nuclear Blast Records, in vinyl, CD and digital formats.[1] It features the singles, "Kaleidoscopic Waves", "Labyrinth of Stone" and "Step Through the Portal and Breathe".[2][3][4]
Background
[edit]Kyle Schaefer, the lead vocalist of Fallujah, described the album as their "most technical, dynamic and progressive material to date", calling it the band's most "collaborative" and "ambitious" album.[5] It was mixed, mastered and engineered by Dave Otero, and produced by the band.[5]
Preceded by Empyrean, the band's 2022 project, Xenotaph consists of eight tracks,[6] ranging between three and seven minutes each, with a total runtime of approximately fourty-two minutes. Incorporating progressive rock and jazz fusion, it was noted as encompassing technical death metal.[1]
The cover art for the album was created by Peter Mohrbacher.[7]
The band released the first single of Xenotaph on March 5, 2025, titled "Kaleidoscopic Waves".[2][6] "Labyrinth of Stone" was released as the second single on April 16, 2025, alongside a music video directed by Sam Mooradian.[3][8] It was followed by "Step Through the Portal and Breathe" as the album's third single on May 14, 2025, with a music video.[4][9]
Reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Blabbermouth |    |
| Metal Hammer | |
| MetalSucks | |
Gareth Allen of Louder Than War remarked, "This is quite simply a must listen metal album that redefines the creative possibilities within technical death metal."[1] Blabbermouth rated the album eight and a half out of ten, stating "There is no denying that Fallujah are clever bastards, but soul and emotion are bubbling away, close to the surface and fundamental to the band's refined artistry. Put more simply, Xenotaph is a transcendental tour-de-force."[10]
MetalSucks gave it a score of four and a half out of five and described it as "a tremendous accomplishment that further validates Fallujah as a dominant force in the realm of progressive/technical death metal."[11] It was given a rating of eight out of ten by Tom O'Boyle of Metal Hammer, who noted, "With Xenotaph clocking it at only 44 minutes, Fallujah retains a degree of accessibility to their glitzy technicality."[12]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "In Stars We Drown" | 3:06 |
| 2. | "Kaleidoscopic Waves" | 4:12 |
| 3. | "Labyrinth of Stone" | 5:45 |
| 4. | "The Crystalline Veil" | 5:46 |
| 5. | "Step Through the Portal and Breathe" | 6:40 |
| 6. | "A Parasitic Dream" | 3:33 |
| 7. | "The Obsidian Architect" | 5:47 |
| 8. | "Xenotaph" | 7:30 |
| Total length: | 42:19 | |
Personnel
[edit]Credits for Xenotaph adapted from Blabbermouth.[5]
Fallujah
[edit]- Kyle Schaefer – vocals, programming, production
- Scott Carstairs – guitars, production
- Sam Mooradian – guitar, production
- Evan Brewer – bass, production
- Kevin Alexander – drums, production
Additional contributors
[edit]- Dave Otero – engineering, mixing, mastering
- Mike Low – engineering
- Peter Mohrbacher – cover art
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Allen, Gareth (June 12, 2025). "Fallujah: Xenotaph – Album Review". Louder Than War. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
- ^ a b Kennelty, Greg (March 5, 2025). "Fallujah Streams First New Single With Their New Lineup, Announces Xenotaph". Metal Injection. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
- ^ a b Keenan, Hesher (April 16, 2025). "Fallujah's Music Video for "Labyrinth of Stone" is All Fast Cars, Cash Money, and Face Tattoos". MetalSucks. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
- ^ a b Weaver, James (May 14, 2025). "Fallujah release new music video for 'Step Through the Portal and Breathe'". Distorted Sound. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Fallujah Announces New Album Xenotaph, Shares 'Kaleidoscopic Waves' Single". Blabbermouth. March 5, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
- ^ a b Keenan, Hesher (March 5, 2025). "Fallujah Herald Upcoming Album Xenotaph by Streaming Single "Kaleidoscopic Waves"". MetalSucks. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
- ^ "FALLUJAH - Xenotaph". Nuclear Blast. June 13, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
- ^ Mahmud, Abir (April 22, 2025). "News: Fallujah Release New Song 'Labyrinth of Stone'". New Noise. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
- ^ Keenan, Hesher (May 14, 2025). "Fallujah Urge You to "Step Through The Portal And Breathe" with Their New Single". MetalSucks. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
- ^ Lawson, Dom (June 10, 2025). "Xenotaph". Blabbermouth. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
- ^ Blum, Jordan (June 11, 2025). "Review: Fallujah Masterfully Blend Chaos and Calmness on Xenotaph". MetalSucks. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
- ^ O'Boyle, Tom (July 2025). "Xenotaph". Metal Hammer. No. 401. Future plc. p. 93. ISSN 0955-1190.