Xenotaph

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.{{Cite web |date=March 5, 2025 |title=Fallujah Announces New Album Xenotaph, Shares 'Kaleidoscopic Waves' Single |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/fallujah-announces-new-album-xenotaph-shares-kaleidoscopic-waves-single |access-date=June 13, 2025 |website=Blabbermouth |language=en}} It was mixed, mastered and engineered by Dave Otero, and produced by the band.

Preceded by Empyrean, the band's 2022 project, Xenotaph consists of eight tracks,{{Cite web |last=Keenan |first=Hesher |date=March 5, 2025 |title=Fallujah Herald Upcoming Album Xenotaph by Streaming Single "Kaleidoscopic Waves" |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2025/03/05/fallujah-herald-upcoming-album-xenotaph-by-streaming-single-kaleidoscopic-waves/ |access-date=June 13, 2025 |website=MetalSucks |language=en}} 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.

The cover art for the album was created by Peter Mohrbacher.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-13 |title=FALLUJAH - Xenotaph |url=https://www.nuclearblast.com/pages/album/xenotaph |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=Nuclear Blast |language=en}}

The band released the first single of Xenotaph on March 5, 2025, titled "Kaleidoscopic Waves".{{Cite web |last=Kennelty |first=Greg |date=March 5, 2025 |title=Fallujah Streams First New Single With Their New Lineup, Announces Xenotaph |url=https://metalinjection.net/video/fallujah-streams-first-new-single-with-their-new-lineup-announces-xenotaph |access-date=June 13, 2025 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}} "Labyrinth of Stone" was released as the second single on April 16, 2025, alongside a music video directed by Sam Mooradian.{{Cite web |last=Keenan |first=Hesher |date=April 16, 2025 |title=Fallujah's Music Video for "Labyrinth of Stone" is All Fast Cars, Cash Money, and Face Tattoos |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2025/04/16/fallujahs-music-video-for-labyrinth-of-stone-is-all-fast-cars-cash-money-and-face-tattoos/ |access-date=June 13, 2025 |website=MetalSucks |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Mahmud |first=Abir |date=April 22, 2025 |title=News: Fallujah Release New Song 'Labyrinth of Stone' |url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/news-fallujah-release-new-song-labyrinth-of-stone/ |access-date=June 13, 2025 |website=New Noise |language=en-US}} It was followed by "Step Through the Portal and Breathe" as the album's third single on May 14, 2025, with a music video.{{Cite web |last=Weaver |first=James |date=May 14, 2025 |title=Fallujah release new music video for 'Step Through the Portal and Breathe' |url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/fallujah-release-new-music-video-for-step-through-the-portal-and-breathe/ |access-date=June 13, 2025 |website=Distorted Sound |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Keenan |first=Hesher |date=May 14, 2025 |title=Fallujah Urge You to "Step Through The Portal And Breathe" with Their New Single |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2025/05/14/fallujah-urge-you-to-step-through-the-portal-and-breathe-with-their-new-single/ |access-date=June 13, 2025 |website=MetalSucks |language=en}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = Blabbermouth

| rev1score = {{Rating|8.5|10}}

| rev2 = Metal Hammer

| rev2score = {{Rating|8|10}}

| rev3 = MetalSucks

| rev3score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}

}}

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." 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."{{Cite web |last=Lawson |first=Dom |date=June 10, 2025 |title=Xenotaph |url=https://blabbermouth.net/reviews/xenotaph |access-date=June 13, 2025 |website=Blabbermouth |language=en}}

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."{{Cite web |last=Blum |first=Jordan |date=June 11, 2025 |title=Review: Fallujah Masterfully Blend Chaos and Calmness on Xenotaph |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2025/06/11/review-fallujah-masterfully-blend-chaos-and-calmness-on-xenotaph/ |access-date=June 13, 2025 |website=MetalSucks |language=en}} 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."{{Cite news |last=O'Boyle |first=Tom |date=July 2025 |title=Xenotaph |work=Metal Hammer |publisher=Future plc |pages=93 |issue=401 |issn=0955-1190}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Xenotaph track listing

| total_length = 42:19

| title1 = In Stars We Drown

| length1 = 3:06

| title2 = Kaleidoscopic Waves

| length2 = 4:12

| title3 = Labyrinth of Stone

| length3 = 5:45

| title4 = The Crystalline Veil

| length4 = 5:46

| title5 = Step Through the Portal and Breathe

| length5 = 6:40

| title6 = A Parasitic Dream

| length6 = 3:33

| title7 = The Obsidian Architect

| length7 = 5:47

| title8 = Xenotaph

| length8 = 7:30

}}

Credits for Xenotaph adapted from Blabbermouth.

• Kyle Schaefer – vocals, programming, production
• Scott Carstairs – guitars, production
• Sam Mooradian – guitar, production
• Evan Brewer – bass, production
• Kevin Alexander – drums, production

• Dave Otero – engineering, mixing, mastering
• Mike Low – engineering
• Peter Mohrbacher – cover art

{{Reflist}}

{{Fallujah (band)}}

Category:2025 albums

Category:Fallujah (band) albums

Category:Nuclear Blast albums