It’s not very often that I get to review a Metal album from Sicily. The place where XENOS A.D. hails from is called Agrigento, and that is where XENOS was born in 2019. Until then this Speed/Thrash Metal band already had released two studio albums, “Filthgrinder” (2020) and “The Dawn Of Ares” (2021). For some reason or other they decided to change the name in 2023 to XENOS A.D.. We know it’s not due to a line-up difference, as all three members have been in the band from the beginning. It has taken them another two years to deem us as an audience capable enough to endure their first endeavour under that name for over 42 minutes. This album has the title “Reqviem For The Oppressor” and has a lot of strong points.

If you look up XENOS A.D. on the Metal Archives it says that they are a Thrash Metal band. That is partly true, but then you will have to say that METALLICA also is a pure Thrash metal band. When that band first came to the scene the were dubbed a Speed Metal band, and I feel that is also what XENOS A.D. really is. And yes, that does mean that they are using Thrash Metal riffs and atmospheres, but that they aren’t afraid to step outside those as well.

“Reqviem For The Oppressor” is the first thing I ever listened of this band, and it has me in two minds. I like the heavier and faster songs and even some of the slower ones, but I somehow get the feeling that the band is missing a key element. And that is excitement. What I hear is a band that is enthusiastic, capable and musical enough to make a difference, but somewhere along the line the adrenaline has been phased out of the sound. Positive exception to this rule is “Crown Of Separation”, where you can hear XENOS A.D. giving it their all and enjoying doing so. I would have loved to hear more of those kinds of gems on “Reqviem For The Oppressor”.

And no, it’s not that I don’t like “Reqviem For The Oppressor”. I really feel that this is a good album, but I just can’t shake the feeling that these Italians could have made even more of this piece of slab. I just hope that they will do that on their next record. Because I have a feeling that XENOS A.D. has a lot more to tell us. I now have to hope that the criticism in my review isn’t going to wake the Mob….