Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Italian thrash metal unit Xenos A.D. has been delivering relentless aggression and old-school thrash fury since their formation. Drawing influence from the genre’s legends while injecting Mediterranean intensity into their sound, Xenos A.D. has earned respect from thrash enthusiasts across Europe and beyond. We sat down with the band to talk about their journey, their approach to keeping thrash metal authentic, and what’s next for these Italian metal warriors.
Hello, how are you doing at the moment?
Xenos A.D.: Well, thanks. We just got back from Frantic, and we’ll be back on stage soon with Necrodeath and for more headline dates, and the album is doing great. I’d say we can’t really complain.
You clearly draw inspiration from thrash giants like Slayer, Megadeth, and Kreator; how do you work to inject your own personality into each composition to stand apart from your influences?
Xenos A.D.: The influence of the monsters you mentioned is clearly felt, and we don’t mind that at all, since they’re the bands that ultimately inspired us to pick up instruments. The key is to avoid being just another copy of these bands and to infuse our musical offering with the right amount of personality, shaping a distinctive, distinctive sound. I think Xenos A.D. have always succeeded in this, and “Reqviem For The Oppressor” is the clearest proof of that.
Playing Area 53 in 2022 alongside Testament, Exodus, and Death Angel must have been huge. What was that experience like, and how did it feel to share the stage with your influences?
Xenos A.D.: One of the most important experiences in the band’s career. Area 53 is a human-scale fest, wonderfully organized and extremely professional in every way, and the atmosphere is absolutely relaxed. The crowd was fantastic, all the bands were absolutely friendly. Another fantastic experience was Into The Grave in Holland.
Performing at Wacken Open Air in 2024 is a milestone for any metal band. How did that opportunity come about, and what did it mean to the band?
Xenos A.D.: Our tour manager had asked for the slot in 2019, but then, due to the damn pandemic and everything that came with it, things went to hell. Wacken is a huge festival, an organization so enormous it can’t even be described. For the band, it didn’t mean much, as the festivals I mentioned earlier are much more suitable for bands like ours, but obviously I’d go back to Wacken tomorrow.
Your third studio album released in May 2025 is being called your most complete, violent and brutal work yet. What pushed you to this new level of intensity?
Xenos A.D.: “Reqviem For The Oppressor” embodies all the characteristics of the previous two albums and enhances them to the nth degree. It’s certainly our most violent work, but I wouldn’t say it’s the most complete, as the previous two albums are both excellent.
Roy Zappia joined as guitarist in July 2025. What does he bring to the band’s sound and dynamic, and how has his addition influenced your music?
Xenos A.D.: Roy is a guitarist with decades of experience and a vast musical background, and we’re confident his contribution will be crucial to the band’s future growth. His arrival has given the group a boost, as we were going through a transition period that, honestly, I didn’t like at all.
As a newer band in the thrash scene, how do you view the current state of the genre? Do you feel there’s still room for innovation within thrash metal’s framework?
Xenos A.D.: Thrash Metal has never died and is now experiencing a resurgence. Of course, along with many great bands, there have also been some terrible ones, but that’s the game. I seriously think that innovation is of little importance in Thrash Metal. The thrasher knows exactly what he wants to hear and what characteristics it should have. The most important thing isn’t innovation, but attitude.
How do you approach songwriting as a band? Do you start with riffs, concepts, or themes, and how collaborative is your process?
Xenos A.D.: I compose the backbone of all the songs and, as tradition dictates, I always start with a key riff from which I then develop the entire song. Then, once the backbone of the song is ready, I record a demo and send it to the guys so they can work on it.
You ve played some incredible festivals – how would you describe Xenos A.D s live energy, and what can audiences expect from your performances?
Xenos A.D.: Xenos A.D. are a war machine, and the stage is our battlefield. It makes no difference to us whether we face 10, 100, or 10,000 people; our goal is annihilation.
With three acclaimed albums and major festival appearances under your belt, what are your goals for Xenos A.D. moving forward? Any plans for touring or new material?
Xenos A.D.: We will play with Necrodeath on day 4, then in Pesaro at Spazio Webo as headliners and subsequently other dates will be announced for the end of the year and probably for the first months of 2026.
Thank you for taking the time to do this interview! Is there anything else you’d like to add to our readers?
Xenos A.D.: Thank you, greetings to your readers and THRASH TILL DEATH.
