Xerath blends the aggressive thrust of thrash and death metal with sweeping symphonic arrangements and erudite lyrics rooted in scientific, philosophical, and theological themes, all within a progressive metal framework originating in Basingstoke, England. Guitarist Andy Phillips, bassist and guitarist Owain Williams, and drummer Michael Pitman launched the project in 2007, intending to merge film-score aesthetics with jagged, syncopated rhythms and ferocious guitar textures echoing Sweden’s Meshuggah. The resulting demos secured the reader-voted “Best Unsigned Band” honor from Terrorizer Magazine that same year and secured a contract with Candlelight Records. The label subsequently issued the band’s austerely titled albums I in 2009 and II in 2011, both of which drew broadly favorable notices. After Phillips exited, the lineup grew to include vocalist Richard Thomson and bassist Christopher Clark.
