Xentrix

Biography

Xentrix () are an English thrash metal band formed as Sweet Vengeance in Preston, Lancashire in 1984. They changed their name to Xentrix in 1988, and released four albums – Shattered Existence×Shattered Existence18 September 1989 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1No Compromise3:072Balance of Power5:173Crimes5:424Back in the Real World4:015Dark Enemy4:146Bad Blood5:097Reasons for Destruction5:358Position of Security5:089Heaven Cent5:12 (1989), For Whose Advantage?×For Whose Advantage?21 August 1990 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Questions5:102For Whose Advantage?6:223The Human Condition3:384False Ideals5:495The Bitter End5:196New Beginnings1:177Desperate Remedies4:508Kept in the Dark4:149Black Embrace3:5210Running, White Faced, City Boy2:47 (1990), Kin (1992) and Scourge (1996) – before disbanding in 1997. After briefly reuniting in 2005–2006, Xentrix reunited again in 2013, and they have since released two more albums: Bury the Pain×Bury the Pain7 June 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Bury the Pain6:362There Will Be Consequences4:093Bleeding Out4:344The Truth Lies Buried6:385Let the World Burn5:146The Red Mist Descends5:127World of Mouth4:558Deathless and Divine4:069The One You Fear5:3910Evil By Design4:08 (2019) and Seven Words×Seven Words4 November 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Behind the Walls of Treachery6:05A2Seven Words3:57A3Spit Coin4:11A4The Alter of Nothing4:00A5Everybody Loves You When You’re Dead5:09B1Reckless With a Smile4:09B2Ghost Tape Number 104:23B3My War4:39B4Kill and Protect4:56B5Anything but the Truth5:19 (2022). As part of the late 1980s-early-to-mid 1990s underground metal scene, Xentrix have been referred to as one of the "Big Four" of English thrash metal, along with Acid Reign, Onslaught and Sabbat.

History

Xentrix were called Sweet Vengeance from 1984 to 1988. The original lineup consisted of vocalist/rhythm guitarist Chris Astley, guitarist Kristian Havard, bassist Paul MacKenzie, and drummer Dennis Gasser. The band received a five-star rating from Kerrang! magazine. Roadrunner Records arranged an audition with the band, after which the band signed to the label and recorded their first album, Shattered Existence×Shattered Existence18 September 1989 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1No Compromise3:072Balance of Power5:173Crimes5:424Back in the Real World4:015Dark Enemy4:146Bad Blood5:097Reasons for Destruction5:358Position of Security5:089Heaven Cent5:12, in the summer of 1989. The band toured with Sabbat to support the album.
In 1990, the band's cover of Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters" theme caused a minor controversy for the unauthorised use of the Ghostbusters logo (with the ghost giving the finger) on the original artwork for the single. The single was re-released with a different cover.
The band opened for Bay Area thrash metal band Testament in 1990. Later that year, they recorded their second album, For Whose Advantage?×For Whose Advantage?21 August 1990 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Questions5:102For Whose Advantage?6:223The Human Condition3:384False Ideals5:495The Bitter End5:196New Beginnings1:177Desperate Remedies4:508Kept in the Dark4:149Black Embrace3:5210Running, White Faced, City Boy2:47, which gained them more interest and their first music video for the album's title track. Xentrix promoted For Whose Advantage? with a tour with Skyclad, and played shows with Slayer and Sepultura.
In 1992, the band adopted a more progressive style with their album Kin, which many considered the band's biggest mistake despite critical acclaim. A video for "The Order of Chaos×The Order of Chaos1992 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAThe Order of Chaos4:41B1Reward2:31B2All Bleed Red3:28" was shot and received some airplay on MTV. To promote the album, Xentrix toured with Tankard.
After a hiatus and replacing Astley with Simon Gordon and Andy Rudd on vocals and rhythm guitar, respectively, Xentrix released their fourth album, Scourge×Scourge1996 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks113 Years6:032Scourge5:223Incite3:234Caught You Living3:425Strength of Persuasion6:086Never Be4:277The Hand That Feeds Itself5:078Blood Nation7:009Creed4:4610Breathe6:47, in 1996. The band adopted a slower, groove metal sound. The band broke up shortly after its release, citing the decline in popularity in the British metal scene as the reason.
In 2005, Xentrix announced its classic lineup would reunite for a small number of dates. They played a handful of shows in the UK in the spring of 2006, including one with Onslaught and Evile. Despite positive response, Xentrix announced in September that they had once again split up.
On 4 February 2013, it was announced via Evile's Facebook page that a reunited Xentrix would join Kreator and Evile for a three-show UK tour in late April. This was initially the full Shattered Existence lineup, but, later in the year, bassist MacKenzie left to be replaced with Chris Shires. On 15 February, the band announced that they were working on new material.
Select shows continued in early 2014, and, at the Up the Hammers Festival in Athens, Greece on 8 March, they debuted the song "World of Mouth", and included it in their set supporting Overkill on their UK tour, starting in London on 13 March. In October 2015, Xentrix embarked on a six-date UK tour with Acid Reign and Shrapnel. On 14 July 2017, it was announced that Xentrix had parted with Astley and replaced him with vocalist Jay Walsh.
On 27 March 2019, Xentrix announced Bury the Pain as the title of their first studio album in 23 years. The album was released on 7 June 2019 through Listenable Records. Bury the Pain peaked at No. 34 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart.
In a June 2019 interview with Metal Crypt, guitarist Havard revealed that Xentrix already had begun writing the follow-up to Bury the Pain. By March 2021, the band had written and demoed at least twelve songs for their new album, and announced that August they were in the studio recording it. The album was completed in June 2022, and a month later, the band announced Seven Words as its album title and that it would be released on 11 November. Seven Words peaked at No. 39 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart. In order to promote Seven Words, Xentrix (along with Whiplash and Artillery) supported Vio-lence on the European MTV Headbangers Ball Tour. Astley rejoined by filling in for Walsh on the tour as Walsh was awaiting the birth of his second child in November 2022. Xentrix renewed their deal with Listenable Records in November 2023, and their seventh studio album, Allied with the Enemy×Allied With the Enemy30 October 2026 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Rip Saw6:082Allied With the Enemy3:163Killer Unknown4:444On Burned Remains5:195Nil by Mouth4:136Doomsday Hook3:447The Dark Eternal6:088Where the Madness Lies2:309Snake in Waiting4:4310No Bridges Left to Burn4:5611We Drink the Same Poison4:53, is due for release on 30 October 2026.

Members

Current line-up

Kristian Havard – lead guitar (1988–1997, 2005–2006, 2013–present)
Dennis Gasser – drums (1988–1997, 2005–2006, 2013–present)
Chris Shires – bass (2013–present)
Jay Walsh – vocals, rhythm guitar (2017–present)
Former members

Paul MacKenzie – bass (1988–1997, 2005–2006, 2013)
Chris Astley – vocals, rhythm guitar (1988–1994, 2005–2006, 2013–2017, guest 2022)
Simon Gordon – vocals (1995–1997)
Andy Rudd – rhythm guitar (1995–1997)
Timeline

Studio albums

Shattered Existence (1989)
For Whose Advantage? (1990)
Kin (1992)
Scourge (1996)
Bury the Pain (2019)
Seven Words (2022)
Allied with the Enemy (2026)

Other releases

Hunger for Demo (demo, 1987)
"No Compromise" (single, 1989)
"Ghostbusters" (single, 1990)
"For Whose Advantage?×For Whose Advantage?21 August 1990 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Questions5:102For Whose Advantage?6:223The Human Condition3:384False Ideals5:495The Bitter End5:196New Beginnings1:177Desperate Remedies4:508Kept in the Dark4:149Black Embrace3:5210Running, White Faced, City Boy2:47" (single, 1990)
"Questions×Questions6 March 2020 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks1Questions5:102For Whose Advantage?6:223Reward2:294Ghost Busters2:485Kept in the Dark4:146Interrogate3:157Running White Faced City Boy2:478Heaven Cent5:129The Human Condition3:3810Dark Enemy4:1411The Order of Chaos4:4012Black Embrace3:5213Crimes5:4214Bad Blood5:0915The Bitter End5:1916All Bleed Red3:2817False Ideals5:4918Balance of Power5:1719Nobody’s Perfect3:48" (single, 1990)
Dilute to Taste (live EP, 1991)
"The Order of Chaos×The Order of Chaos1992 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAThe Order of Chaos4:41B1Reward2:31B2All Bleed Red3:28" (single, 1992)
Demo 1994 (demo, 1994)