Album Review: XENOS A.D. - Third full-length album “Reqviem For the Oppressor” // All Time Metal \\

XENOS A.D. released third full-length album "Reqviem for the Oppressor" on May 23rd, 2025 via My Kingdom Music

Band: XENOS A.D.

Country: Italy

Formed in: 2019

Genre: Thrash Metal

Album: Reqviem For The Oppressor

Label: My Kingdom Music

Format: Digital / CD / Vinyl

Tracklist:

01. 1986

02. Dogma Of War

03. Tears On The Face Of God

04. Crown Of Separation

05. Welcome The Destroyer

06. Children Of The Atomic Sun

07. The Bleeding Hands Of Faith

08. Reqviem For The Oppressor

09. Dance Of The Gods

Album Review:

"Reqviem for the Oppressor" is the third album by the Italians Xenos A.D., an album based on the old-fashioned thrash style, but not only!

The album consists of nine tracks, two of which are Instrumental, the intro "1986" which is a medieval metal composition that predisposes us synthetically but even lyrically for what is to follow and the outro "Dance of the Gods" which is a technically sophisticated composition and performed only by guitars and in this composition the guitarist of the band Giuseppe Taormina gives a recital of virtuosity.

The seven songs that exist in between were built on a classic thrash metal base and were enriched with progressive and well-developed technical parts and a death undertone.

More specifically, "Dogma Of War" is an aggressive thrash track that ties in with the lyrics describing the nuclear disaster of Hiroshima, "Tears On The Face Of God", "Crown Of Separation", "Children Of The Atomic Sun" which are thrash compositions with a progressive touch, excellent technical parts and an underlying death breath.

"Welcome The Destroyer" a thrash base, also with technical parts and three! guitar solos of different styles, one with a virtuoso oriental touch, the second melodic classic heavy style and the third fast solo with sharp turns.

"The Bleeding Hands Of Faith" which is a classic thrash style composition, also with two masterful guitar solos and a dominant bass in combination with intense drums that ideally frame the lyrics that describe the crimes committed for faith throughout the centuries and "Reqviem For The Oppressor" a wonderful seven-minute thrash/prog composition with skillful guitar playing and the only one where we hear growl vocals for a while. In all seven songs we hear wonderful hoarse vocals, that are ideal for old-fashioned thrash metal, in combination with the backing vocals (growls).

Xenos A.D. created an album that inspiredly combines old-fashioned thrash metal with modern progressive style. Rich technical parts and virtuoso performance by the three experienced musicians, who have the knowledge to create an amazing multifaceted thrash metal album for lovers of the genre as well as for demanding fans of metal music!

Excellent! 9.5/10

Album's line-up:

Ignazio Nicastro - Bass, Lead vocals

Giuseppe Taormina - Guitars, Growls vocals

Danilo Ficicchia - Drums

Biography:

Xenos is an Italian thrash metal band formed in 2019 by Ignazio Nicastro (Bass/Vocals), Danilo Ficicchia (Drums) and Giuseppe Taormina (Guitars).

They released their debut full length album "Filthgrinder" in 2020. The band is dedicated to a pure form of Thrash Metal, clearly inspired by Megadeth, Xentrix, Annihilator and Slayer without forgetting a strong dose of personality in every single composition.

The band released the second album "The Dawn of Ares" in 2021 via Iron Shield Records.

Guitar riffs cutting like razors played by the ultra talented guitarist Giuseppe Taormina, killer solos, a hammering and devastating drums by Danilo Ficicchia (Eversin) a pulsing boneshaking bass and a vitriol voice is what you will have listening to XENOS.

Since 2023 the band's name is XENOS A.D. After the release of the third album "Reqviem for the Oppressor" on May 23rd, 2025 via My Kingdom Music, guitarist Giuseppe Taormina left the band for personal reasons and guitarist Roy Zappia joined the band.