{{distinguish|The Singularity (Phase II – Xenotaph)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Xenotaph | type = studio | artist = Fallujah | cover = Fallujah – Xenotaph.jpg | released = {{Start date|2025|06|13}} | studio = *Flatline Audio, Denver, Colorado *Top Track Studios, Nashville, Tennessee | genre = Progressive metal, technical death metal | length = 42:19 | label = Nuclear Blast | producer = Fallujah | prev_title = Empyrean | prev_year = 2022 | next_title = | next_year = | misc = {{Singles|name=Xenotaph|type=studio|single1=Kaleidoscopic Waves|single1date=March 5, 2025|single2=Labyrinth of Stone|single2date=April 16, 2025|single3=Step Through the Portal and Breathe|single3date=May 14, 2025}} }} '''''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.<ref name="LTW">{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Gareth |date=June 12, 2025 |title=Fallujah: ''Xenotaph'' – Album Review |url=https://louderthanwar.com/fallujah-xenotaph-album-review/ |access-date=June 13, 2025 |website=Louder Than War |language=en-GB}}</ref> It features the singles, "Kaleidoscopic Waves", "Labyrinth of Stone" and "Step Through the Portal and Breathe".<ref name="MI" /><ref name="MS-LOS" /><ref name="DS" />
==Background== 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.<ref name="BM-KW">{{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}}</ref> It was mixed, mastered and engineered by Dave Otero, and produced by the band.<ref name="BM-KW" />
Preceded by ''Empyrean'', the band's 2022 project, ''Xenotaph'' consists of eight tracks,<ref name="MS-KW">{{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}}</ref> ranging between three and seven minutes each, with a total runtime of approximately forty-two minutes. Incorporating progressive rock and jazz fusion, it was noted as encompassing technical death metal.<ref name="LTW" />
The cover art for the album was created by Peter Mohrbacher.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
The band released the first single of ''Xenotaph'' on March 5, 2025, titled "Kaleidoscopic Waves".<ref name="MI">{{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}}</ref><ref name="MS-KW" /> "Labyrinth of Stone" was released as the second single on April 16, 2025, alongside a music video directed by Sam Mooradian.<ref name="MS-LOS">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> It was followed by "Step Through the Portal and Breathe" as the album's third single on May 14, 2025, with a music video.<ref name="DS">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
==Reception== {{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."<ref name="LTW" /> ''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."<ref>{{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}}</ref>
''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."<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{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}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{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 }}
==Personnel== Credits for ''Xenotaph'' adapted from ''Blabbermouth''.<ref name="BM-KW" />
=== Fallujah === * Kyle Schaefer – vocals, programming * Scott Carstairs – lead guitar * Sam Mooradian – rhythm guitar * Evan Brewer – bass * Kevin Alexander – drums
=== Additional contributors === * Fallujah – production * Dave Otero – engineering, mixing, mastering * Mike Low – engineering * Peter Mohrbacher – cover art
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Chart performance for ''Xenotaph'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2025) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| French Rock & Metal Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-la-semaine/top-albums/?categorie=Top%20Rock%20%26%20Metal&semaine=25|title=Top 100 Rock & Metal Albums du semaine 25, 2025|publisher=Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique|access-date=June 24, 2025|language=fr}}</ref> | 54 |}
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Fallujah (band)}} {{Authority control}}
Category:2025 albums Category:Fallujah (band) albums Category:Nuclear Blast albums