An Interview with XAAR

A brand new release from XAAR comes through with a guttural and dripping scorched metal approach that combines blackened, death, melodic, and some grind core all together to create something that has a very deepening feel and hits like a sucker punch to the gut.

Here's the kicker. This track is a cover of Metallica's "Leper Messiah", and if you're a fan of Metallica then you'll know this is a massive track to cover, and for me, being a huge fan of the band, XAAR did an unbelievable job keeping true to the original, of course, but giving it this grittier, darker, and even edger appeal by thickening things up and using elements of that slew of different metal subgenres to have it hit even harder.

You can tell that there was a lot of attention to detail during the creation of this song. The attention goes mostly to the tones of everything. For example, the bass guitar tone alone is gritty and rumbling with a sharper high end but a vast but fat low end, so what the artist did was take a legendary and classic metal track and put his own spin on it.

Utilizing specific guitar tones, playing around with the arrangement ever so slightly (again, he does keep very true to the original track), and slipping in that grueling death metal and grindcore style vocal that lets everything come through with more weight.

This was an absolute banger and was done with such a love for the craft of building a song and covering a track that obviously influenced him to become what he is today, musically.

It is clearly a love letter to not just Metallica, but heavy metal. Being able to create this massive and incredibly sonically driving soundscape that takes a metal classic and brings it to a different level is something not many can pull off.

The changes are all spot on, the guitar work, the riffs; it's all on point. He does the guitar harmonies, the composition; it all falls right into place like puzzle pieces, exactly the way it should.

This kind of blew my mind.

Here's what blew my mind even more. In case you haven't noticed, I keep saying he and the artist. This is because it's not a full band pulling this off. It's actually one man who is under the moniker of XAAR.

Kenny Lenehan is XAAR, performing all instrumentation and even recording it himself.

At this point, I tried to imagine what it would take to put this together as one person. Where would you start and how would you finish? I still couldn't do it.

When I hear something like this and how well it's put together, it blows me away simply because I can't even imagine it in my head, let alone bring it to fruition.

XAAR is based in Scotland and obviously pays homage to one of his favorite bands by covering a song not a lot would approach and doing it with his own style. Making things almost dripping with a different medal approach while still honoring the original track damn near perfectly.

Just so you know, I'm not a newcomer. I listened to the Master of Puppets album on repeat for months and months at a time.

I've heard countless Metallica covers, and none of them come close to the way this one is approached because it's not just a rehash.

XAAR truly puts his own thing in there and brings his other metal influences to the table while doing it.

That is exactly what makes this stand out.

The thick, grueling, and gritty death metal vocals, the dripping heavy guitars, the rumbling and destructive bass guitar tone—it all works.

You'll have to listen to believe it, but trust me when I tell you, this was a very well-built and performed cover song.

With this track's release, we had to talk to Kenny (XAAR) about how this all came to be and what might be coming up next for the artist.

Here's what happened.

Buzz Slayers: Let's talk about "Leper Messiah"! This is a cover of a classic Metallica track and quite an endeavor! I love what you did with it! What inspired you to cover this song out of the whole Metallica catalogue?

Thanks appreciated! I chose Leper Messiah as this is the first cover I have released in my career…So it did make sense to me that the track would be an unusual choice, Leper Messiah is a track that is less obvious to the public as being a Metallica track, only those who truly know Metallica and the Master Of Puppets album will have heard and will admire the original. Leper Messiah struck me as being a good fit sonically with the XAAR sound. 

Buzz Slayers: I'm hearing a few different approaches to this song! Who are some of your biggest musical influences (aside from the obvious haha)?

XAAR is a dark synth metal project that draws inspiration from many disciplines mainly metal and industrial but goes as far as video games and comics! As far as bands go.. its gotta be - RAMMSTEIN, MASTODON, KORN, LORD OF THE LOST, IN FLAMES (Could be here all day).

Buzz Slayers: Did you record this at a home setup, or at a big studio?

I recorded all takes at XAAR HQ in an undisclosed location in Scotland (In my abode).

All recording by Kenny Lehan (Me)  mix and master by Charlie Wilson Jr of Monolith Studios London.

Buzz Slayers: How did this all start for you as an artist?

I have been a musician since the mid 2000’s and I have always shown a multifaceted nature, although I spent a decade playing bass touring and recording in various projects based in Scotland and London. I was frustrated and came to the conclusion that my own destiny and path was in my hands. XAAR started during lockdown, I had a small intro idea and that became the intro you hear on River Of Bones, it’s literally the first idea/take written for XAAR. 

I also created the XAAR name and logo and the artwork for River Of Bones, DESTABILIZE and Final Light? 

Buzz Slayers: Are you performing everything yourself instrumentally here?

Yes! All takes (Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Synth) although drums are midi at the moment as its an accessible way to produce XAAR music much like how the project started back in lockdown. The drums are programmed MIDI this is because of two reasons, first back in lockdown its was just me working remotely sending my ideas back and forth to producer Steven Jones of “Bleed From Within” there was no drummer. Two because there is still no drummer……

Buzz Slayers: Are you performing live right now? If so, do you have a band that you do that with?

As it stands there has been no XAAR live shows however its always been on the cards to form a live lineup and to gig and eventually tour. (Kenny Lehan Solo) although I have considered performing live solo but I want the live show to be as powerful as possible and would rather have a full live band.

Buzz Slayers: Now that this is out, what's next for you as an artist? Any upcoming releases on the way?

I’m working on new XAAR music and art! I have two solid demos for new tracks and at least 30 fresh riffs and synth ideas that Iam experimenting with.  Feeling nostalgic so some 00s and 90s flavour’s might tinge some of the new XAAR music.

Buzz Slayers: Who's in your headphones right now?

Right now? Gotta be Inflames- Come Clarity. I have loved this album since it dropped in 2006 great nostalgia it has put me in a massive nostalgia trip for the 00’s metal that raised me!

Buzz Slayers: What would you tell people they can expect on this release?

An interesting spin on the classic track that stays true to the original but breaths new life into the 39 year old monster. A surprise awaits in the song but you will have to experience it for yourself! Solid bass that would do Cliff Burton proud! (Kirk may not be as happy however)

Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to express to fans of the music? 

New XAAR music is in the oven! Welcome followers new and old! Its been a while but I have been busy building solid foundations for the XAAR project! I want to thank all supporters and look forward to live streams and live shows in due time! See ya out there!

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