XENITH
Words by Glenn Sargeant
Feature Image Photo Credit: @orlaevansphoto
XENITH continue to build momentum with the release of their new single and video, Incite The Tragedy, out on Friday 21st August. The track is the latest to be lifted from the band’s forthcoming debut album, To No Avail, due for release on Friday 28th August 2026.
Who is in Xenith, how did you meet and what do you play?
Xenith is myself [Billy Hourigan] on guitar and vocals, Casey Dennis on guitar, Jamo Morris on bass and Karim Treifi on drums. We met through our local scene, we’d all had some awareness of each other from our respective past projects so when it came time to look for musicians, we already had a good idea of who we wanted in the band.
What is your earliest musical memory?
Probably being in the car with my parents listening to Jamiroquai and being absolutely blown away. I think those songs still hold up so well and are more relevant now than ever.
When did you begin songwriting?
I started songwriting in my previous band. After I left, I had a batch of songs that eventually because our EP. I think before then I’d never really thought much about songwriting and was more focused on technical skill but as soon as I started taking writing seriously, it became my main focus as a musician.
You have your debut album ‘To No Avail’ released on 28th August 2026. How did you want to approach the making of the album?
I wrote most of the songs before we had a full lineup, so it was quite an isolated writing experience initially. With each song I wasn’t thinking massively about any specific genre or anything, I really just wanted to capture how I was feeling at the time of writing and try and create something that felt more honest than our previous work. I think taking a more personal approach just naturally lead to more experimentation and incorporation of all the music I enjoy rather than sticking to one thing throughout the album.
Where did you record the album and who produced it?
We recorded guitars, bass and vocals in my bedroom. The drums on the album are programmed and were arranged by our previous drummer, Ozzy. We didn’t have the biggest budget to record the album so we really prioritised doing as much as possible DIY to be able to invest more in the mix and master, which was done by Cam Shuck. Cam was an absolute pleasure to work with, he completely understood our vision and gave us a final product that really captured the old school raw feeling we wanted without losing out on the modern heaviness. Our biggest worry had always been going with someone who would over-produce and over-edit us so when we found out about Cam and his ethos, it was an absolute no-brainer.
Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?
We were really struggling to come up with a name for the last track on the album, it had gone through a handful of different names and none of them had felt right. Eventually Jamo said something along the lines of “We’re out of content… out of contempt” and that’s what ended up sticking.
Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?
All the guitars were recorded using my Ibanez prestige from 2012. It’s loaded with DiMarzio tone zone pickups which have a really versatile sound, great for heavy stuff but they also really let all the nuances of your playing shine through. In terms of tone and the overall sound of the record, we entrusted all of that to Cam and we couldn’t be happier!
Which of your new album tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?
Our happiest is definitely “No Time To Waste”, it’s a really fast, super shreddy song. There are a lot of traditional metal influences on that track which definitely gives it a more uplifting energy. Our angriest is probably “Killer Instinct” which is partly why we chose it as the lead single, we really wanted to switch up our sound and mark a new era. And the most reflective is “The Weight To Pretend”. This track was written during a really difficult time. The vocals are from the original demo to try and preserve the feeling of the song so it’s definitely the most raw and honest track on the album.
Was it a difficult album to write?
Yes, but I think that helped make the songs the way they are. Because the majority of the record was written before we were even a full band there was basically zero expectation, so a lot of the music came quite naturally. The hardest thing was the lyrics and trying to say everything I wanted to say with the record whilst still making it a fun listen.
Who designed the album artwork?
The artwork is by Mark Erskine. As soon as we saw it we knew it was perfect for the record. We really wanted something not super traditionally “metal” so the more atmospheric vibe of the artwork really spoke to us.
One of the tracks is the single ‘Killer Instinct’ out now. What was the story/inspiration behind the track?
This was the last track written for the album. I felt like we needed something super heavy to introduce the second half of the record and add some more diversity to the track listing. I was listening to lots of black metal at the time and I thought injecting some of that energy into a more traditionally heavy song would be a good way to go about it and really define this new era for the band.
The single is accompanied by an official music video. What was the thought process behind it and who directed it?
The video for Killer Instinct is a visualiser we made ourselves but for our next single we will have a full music video. We recorded it using an old Panasonic camcorder and edited it ourselves to keep with the DIY mentality we’ve had throughout the album process.
Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?
We are from Manchester. In five words: very good metal, supportive scene.
How do you look after your voice?
I usually spend the weeks leading up to a show practicing vocals every few days and then trying to take as much vocal rest when I can. Doing that and drinking lots of water is what seems to work best for me, but I honestly think knowing when to just stop talking and save your voice is the main thing.
Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2026?
We have our album launch show on September 3rd at the Star and Garter in Manchester. We will then be supporting our friends in 1986 from the 4th-6th of September in Bournemouth, Newport (Wales) and Birmingham.
What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?
I think we hope to have entertained and provided people with something they might not have expected from us on the surface. Especially when the guitar slide comes out a lot of people are quite surprised, so I think more than anything we want to contribute something new with our shows whilst still keeping it musical and cohesive.
Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?
My Kemper has been an absolute life saver over the years. It’s so convenient to use and the tone options are absolutely limitless, its incredibly useful if you have lots of different tones you need. That and my Ibanez prestige, I’ve had the guitar for a few years now and I’m still yet to find anything that plays better than it. It really makes performing and writing a lot easier having an instrument that does exactly what you want.
You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?
Right now I’m in the middle of reading The Idiot by Dostoevsky, I can imagine writing a really depressing score for an adaptation of that would be quite fun.
Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?
Our biggest influences are definitely Opeth, At The Gates and Children of Bodom. All of those bands are absolutely fundamental to our sound. In terms of recommendations, some really great underground bands are: Final Dose, Powerplant, Andracca, Gorgon Vomit, Coffin Mulch and Blood Countess.
What makes Xenith happy and what makes you unhappy?
I think a lot of what is happening in metal right now is incredibly exciting, there is more experimentation than ever but also, I think given the modern times we’re living in there’s a lot more respect for the old-school so there are lots of really cool bands coming out that sound fresh and relevant, but still classic. I think the latest worm record is a really good example of that. For something that makes us unhappy, AI in music. To me, metal has always been about the underground and being part of a community so it seems a bit backwards taking that away and involving a machine in the creative process.
Feature Image Photo Credit: @orlaevansphoto
XENITH’s new single ‘Incite The Tragedy’ is released on Friday 21st August 2026.
Pre-Save Here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/xenith4/incite-the-tragedy
Their debut album ‘No Avail’ will be released on Friday 28th August 2026.
Pre-Save Here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/xenith4/to-no-avail
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/xenithband
