Progressive technical death metal innovators Fallujah are preparing to return to Australia for SHRED FEST 2026 alongside Obscura, bringing songs from their acclaimed new album Xenotaph to stages across the country.
Ahead of the tour, I caught up with vocalist Kyle Schaefer to discuss putting his own stamp on the record, incorporating more clean vocals without sacrificing complexity, the band’s surprisingly cheap rap-inspired music video, teaching scream vocals, and why Darwin might become the most memorable stop of the tour.
Making Xenotaph His Own
While Empyrean marked Schaefer’s first album with Fallujah, much of that record had already been written before he joined. Xenotaph, however, was a different story.
“I knew exactly what direction I wanted to go,” Schaefer explained.
“I knew what new elements I wanted to bring in and which old elements I wanted to make sure not to lose. I was able to have quite a bit of input on this album and the other guys were very open to that.”
The result was a record that embraced psychedelic textures and atmospheric soundscapes while pushing the band’s technical side even further.
More Clean Vocals, But Not A “Poppy” Album
One of the biggest talking points surrounding Xenotaph has been the increased use of clean vocals. Schaefer revealed that accessibility was never the goal.
“I wanted this to be the album with way more clean vocals, but I didn’t want it to be our poppy album,” he said.
“I wanted this to be our most technical album and our most dynamic and craziest album. I told the guys, ‘I’m going to sing more, so the guitars have to be even crazier.’”
Rather than following predictable song structures, the band intentionally placed choruses in unexpected places and aimed to keep listeners guessing.
The $200 Music Video Everyone Talked About
The video for “Labyrinth of Stone” raised eyebrows with luxury cars, fake money and a visual style inspired by rap videos.
According to Schaefer, the whole thing cost roughly $200.
“We spent fifteen dollars on all that fake cash,” he laughed.
The band’s guitarist Sam handled the production in-house, allowing them to create a third music video without label funding.
Despite some fans interpreting the clip as parody, Schaefer said the video was actually born from genuine admiration.
“The joke wasn’t making fun of rap videos. The joke was, what are these guys doing in a rap music video? We have no business in these cars.”
From Indie Rock Singer To Extreme Metal Vocalist
Long before joining Fallujah, Schaefer’s musical journey began with clean singing and indie rock bands.
“I started with singing first,” he revealed.
“I would do open mic nights and had an indie rock band with some friends from college. I always loved metal, but I didn’t really know how to make that kind of music until later.”
Eventually, he began experimenting with harsh vocals and today even teaches screaming techniques to aspiring vocalists.
Why Screaming Is More Mental Than People Think
As someone who teaches vocal lessons, Schaefer believes extreme vocals are heavily tied to the mind-body connection.
“You can’t see what you’re doing like you can with guitar. You’re relying on sensations and imagination, and it’s different for everybody.”
He also stressed that the voice is an unpredictable instrument.
“Your hydration, your sleep, the temperature in the room—everything affects it. A big skill for vocalists is learning how to roll with whatever your body throws at you.”
Surprisingly, Schaefer says talking all day can sometimes be more exhausting than performing.
“After a day of interviews, my voice feels more worn out than after playing a show.”
Discovering Darwin
Fallujah’s upcoming SHRED FEST run will once again take the band across Australia, but one destination has stood out to Schaefer more than any other.
Darwin.
“Everybody keeps saying, ‘You’re playing Darwin? Nobody goes to Darwin!’”
The city will also provide the band with a rare luxury—a full day off after the show.
“It sounds like that’ll be a good place to have a celebratory off day at the end of the tour.”
Expect Plenty Of Xenotaph
Although the final setlist has yet to be decided, Schaefer confirmed fans can expect a strong focus on the new album.
And yes, fan favourite “Kaleidoscopic Waves” will be there.
“We’ll definitely do Kaleidoscopic Waves. It’s gone over really well live and we love playing it.”
With SHRED FEST 2026 shaping up to be one of the biggest technical death metal tours to hit Australia and New Zealand, Fallujah are ready to unleash their transcendental soundscapes once again.
“We’re super excited to come back to Australia. Check out the new album Xenotaph and come out to the shows. Hope to see you guys there.”
