XENOS A.D 03/06/25
Answers by Ignazio Nicastro (voice & bass)
MM: "Requiem for the oppressor" has recently been released .. how pleased are you with the feedback so far?
Absolutely satisfied, the new album is getting great reviews everywhere and is being described as our best work ever as well as one of the best Italian Thrash Metal albums of the last few years.
MM: its is an intense and a thrilling ride! I personnally really love "crown of separation" which track are u most proud of on the new album?
Uhm, probably “Dogma of War” or “Welcome the Destroyer” but tomorrow I could point to “Tears on the Face of God” and “The Bleeding Hands of Faith”. I love every single note of the new album.
MM: The art work is great, can u give us a bit of insight into it conception and ideas
It is the work of Stan Ivan, a russian artist of absolute talent. We wanted something that could represent the oppressor, an image that could give a face to the horror of war, of oppression.
MM: Whats been the craziest thing thats happened when u have been on tour
A girl asked me to autograph the skull of her dead cat.
MM: Who has the most annoying habit on the road
Uhm, probably me since I always want a hotel room all to myself to be able to sleep alone and I always ask for a bottle of tomato juice.
MM: how has your approach changed over the years being a seasoned musician to playing live
Playing live is a dimension in itself and sometimes all the experience accumulated over the years vanishes in an instant depending on the situation. Before I had a much more “easy” approach but obviously it depended on the fact that the stages I played on were modest stages. Since I started playing at certain levels, professionalism and punctuality have become the basis of every single show.
MM: How do you feel about the current state of thrash metal—where is it headed?
Thrash Metal is immortal, it is the quintessence of Metal. In Thrash Metal you find everything, from power to speed, from technique to melody. Nowadays there are so many very good bands even if, unfortunately, many of them all sound the same and I don't like it. I think that personality is the basis of a good band, being able to have your own trademark is fundamental. I hope that Thrash Metal moves further and further away from contamination and that it remains pure. Crossover is shit and kills music.
MM: What do you think your band’s legacy will be in the thrash metal world in years to come?
Ah, I have no idea, ahahaha. I can only hope that people, after listening to Xenos A.D., understand that they have listened to one of the best Thrash Metal bands of the last twenty years. Ultimately, it's the truth.
