Xandria

Hailing from the town of Bielefeld in the Teutoburg Forest, Xandria is one of Germany's most popular exponents of symphonic metal. Guitarist Marco Heubaum formed the band in 1994 and eventually recruited a full lineup of musicians, most notably vocalist Lisa Middelhauve. Combining the thundering drums and heavily amplified guitars of heavy metal with operatic vocals and orchestral arrangements, the band began releasing original material with 2003's Kill The Sun. The debut album charted at Number 98 in Germany, while its 2004 follow-up, Ravenheart, peaked at Number 36. Ravenheart was the band's first album to feature not only the vocal talents of Lisa Middelhauve, but also her songwriting chops. Heubaum and Middelhauve continued to collaborate heavily on albums like 2005's India and 2007's Salomé – The Seventh Veil, both of which were Top 50 hits in Germany. Middelhauve left the group in 2008, however, and Xandria recorded its next album, Neverworld's End (2012), with temporary vocalist Manuela Kraller. Two years later, the band changed directions yet again by recruiting Dutch vocalist Dianne van Giersbergen, who handled all lead vocals on 2014's Sacrificium. Van Giersbergen remained in the group for 2017's Theater of Dimensions, which charted at Number 17 in Germany, then left Xandria's lineup later that year. By the time Xandria returned in 2023 with The Wonders Still Awaiting, Heubaum had reshuffled the band's entire lineup, with vocalist Ambre Vourvahis emerging as the group's newest frontwoman. The revamped lineup supported the album on European dates with Delain and a North American tour with Kamelot in 2023. Xandria expanded this era with the EP Universal Tales in 2024, combining four new songs—including “Universal,” “200 Years,” and “No Time to Live Forever”—with orchestral versions of earlier tracks. The band returned to North America as special guest to Delain in 2025. Bassist Tim Schwarz left in April 2026 to focus on Velvet Rush, with founder Marco Heubaum taking over bass duties for live performances. Xandria then introduced its ninth studio album, Eclipse, through the singles “The Shannon’s Home,” “Colours,” and “Northstar.” The album was released through Napalm Records on August 7, 2026.