Wonders no longer await as Xandria hit the highs of Symphonic Metal.

PROLOGUE…

2023’s The Wonders Still Awaiting  marked a rebirth of sorts for Xandria with a new lineup touring the record and cementing their musical connections. The door opened, Eclipse is heralded as “more focused and direct, the lyrics are more outspoken, the contrasts are stronger, and the different musical and vocal colours feel even more naturally integrated into the songs.“

Songwriter Marco Heubaum has drawn musical inspiration from all aspects of his surroundings: music, stories, and emotions that have shaped him since childhood. It is no secret that film scores have always been a major influence while lyrically, Eclipse boldly deals almost entirely with what is happening to our civilization right now. At the core is the voice of Ambre Vourvahis whose confidence, power and passion lift the music to soaring highs.

GRAND GESTURES

Outspoken. Cinematic. Dark and defiant. On the one hand, Eclipse delivers grand gestures that incorporate traditional symphonic heaviness; on the other, the Celtic influence comes across ever so strongly. However, they’ve crafted the perfect gig opening passage with Syzygy providing the grand intro to the title track where the massed ranks of the Sofia Session Orchestra & Choir make their presence felt for the first, but not the only time. A scene setter if ever there were one, that brings together soft and emotional passages, powerful rock vocals, intense dark growls, and operatic parts. All within a thumping and uplifting Metal framework.

The challenge lies in avoiding overuse of the word ‘grand’ and all its thesaurus alternatives. Especially as the band’s longtime friend McAlbi is featured on four songs with his Celtic tin and low whistles to add a mystical quality. The first finds the band yearning to be taken home to the golden fields in The Shannon’s Home that swings with a folk fuelled vibrancy. The second half of Eclipse too is bursting with Celtic vibes and rousing instrumental passages that might offer the intriguing options to either headbang or indulge in a jig.

SYMPHONIC GRANDEUR

Heubaum has certainly not held back on the reins with the Celtic vibes that accompany the Metal with melody and symphonic grandeur, The Grand Delusion and Wave Of Tanis keeping apace. Each offers fragile parts allowing Ambre to sound angelic

While the album closer extraordinaire Lore (again) comes complete with a cameo from Subway To Sally’s violinist Ally Storch and an inspirational melody, the star turn of Eclipse is taken by to the power ballad par excellence of The Last Generation where choirs, orchestras and kitchen sinks come to the party. Piano is performed by Richard Z. Wang, a Hollywood pianist who has worked at Hans Zimmer’s studio and there’s the best guitar solo on the album too, where melody and emotion trumps shredding and technical prowess.

Like the artwork – Eclipse is pure gold. With a new energy and new ambition, Xandria aim high with Eclipse and hit the peaks with a majestic ease.

Here’s the brilliant Northstar:

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