Where do I even begin when speaking on the prog/death metal kings in Fallujah? The band is not only one of the most exciting and interesting metal bands in the country, but their ability to reignite the genre to the foreground of the music world through their passion and musical talent is nothing short of amazing. The band is gearing up to release their brand new album, Xenotaph, on June 13th via Nuclear Blast Records and I am sure it will catapult the band to new heights while ushering in a new era for the band.
The band has been making waves since their inception back in the early 2000's and even though they have had several line-up changes, I would argue that this current one is allowing Fallujah to fire on all cylinders and become a beast of a project. The album seems to be less of a series of individual songs thrown together, but more of a story or journey of a character undergoing changes, challenges, trials, and the listener can find themselves following this character throughout their journey. Speaking on the album, vocalist Kyle Schaefer mentions:
“I wanted everything to feel very sci-fi and abstract rather than resembling any traditional human ideas of heaven or hell. This ‘guide’ accompanies the narrator on a journey through incomprehensible new worlds as well as the inner working of their own psyche and memories, leading the narrator to develop a profound sense of enlightenment and attachment to this new plane of existence. The twist that comes later, though, is the realization that this character isn’t dead, that the entire experience has been a lie, and that the angelic guide is really more like a parasite inside the character’s mind, trying to trap and deceive them into surrendering their soul instead of waking up from this dreamlike state.”
Each and every song unleashes a barrage of electrifying guitar work, and bass lines that drive emotion and dance beautifully alongside a balance of harsh vocals and angelic singing. Take a song like "Step Through the Portal and Breathe" and tell me you weren't impressed for the nearly 7 minute long expedition it takes you on. I don't know whether I want to mosh, head bang, battle with a sword, or take notes of the intricacies of the musicianship of each band member. What I do know is that my jaw is on the floor and I need help picking it back up.
You know what is even better than just one song leaving you feeling this way? An entire album of it. From start to finish, this is going to be an album that will continue to take fans by surprise. While I believe that Fallujah were already on their way to becoming a powerhouse in the metal world (let's be honest, they already were), with the release of Xenotaph, there will be no denying that Fallujah is here to stay and is going to skyrocket to the top of the music scene.
