Xandria, Seven Spires, Tulip – Academy 3, Manchester – Friday 18th September

A whole lotta Symphonic sounding Metal and not a keyboard or orchestra in sight – no room at the inn as the saying goes – as three top notch purveyors in the genre test out the stage capacity in Manchester.

XANDRIA

When we declared Xandria’s recent Eclipse album as “hitting the heights of Symphonic Metal“it was no false claim. The temptation to gloat in the golden glow of the album art with a ‘told you so’ grin seems unnecessary as the Manchester crowd are on the same page. The current incarnation of the band has two albums under their belt since convening in 2022 and the togetherness shows as they rip into an Eclipse focussed set (naturally) while allowing their legacy to provide cherry picked classics to pepper the set.

The third date in after ‘warming up’ in London and Glasgow finds the quartet, led by the golden voice of Ambre Vourvahis, in inspiring form with an ambitious production squeezed onto the Academy 3 stage. Kudos to the crew for getting an impressive set into the space where a wide angle lens is needed for Dimitrios Gatsios’ drumkit alone. So cosy is our venue tonight that with both Marco Heubaum and Rob Klawonn flanking Ambre on riser platforms, the signature low ceiling which has seen many near misses over the years, is in danger of being speared on a regular basis by Marco’s raised bass in particular.

It’s the new album’s title track that has Xandria making a grand entrance and declaring their intent accompanied by plumes and curtains of smoke. A scene that plays out through the set, occasionally seeing the guitar/bass duo stepping back to form an instrumental triangle and leave Ambre to take the spotlight. And despite their musical and visual contributions from three instrumentalists who aren’t backward at coming forward, it’s hard to take your eyes off centre stage. Soaring into grand operatic regions or growling out menacing threas accompanied by the intimidating sight of those eyes staring from beneath a curtain of hair (…ever seen the film The Grudge..?) Ambre is on glorious form.

The signature Celtic influences start to stir with Ravenheart and again, as the song encourages the crowd in declaring fealty in the “I will fight!” chant, Ambre emerges from clouds of mist and spirals into operatic territory. Delving deeper, The Shannon’s Home almost has Manchester parking their pumping fists and indulging in a Metal jig as more new music from the band’s finest hour is still to come in the form of Northstar – where if you haven’t already done a Metal jig, this is your moment – and the Lore encore. The album highlight, The Last Generation, stands proud and given the absence of choir and orchestra, retains the spine chilling aura, topped with the most emotive of guitar solos.

DRAMA PACKED

The set is packed with drama. The band occasionally take a brief leave of the stage as the intros to several songs play out their grandiose intros (remember Queen doing the same with the operatic section of Bo Rhap?). It’s the aspect of the band’s sound that Marco has called “Metal with a film score element“

There’s certainly a grand cinematic quality that surges into every nook and cranny of the venue. Rising again and again. Flying high. A constant stream of majestic music flows as gems from the legacy accompany the striking new songs. Played out in deep colours, the vocal spells are cast in expressive moves and caught in evocative silhouette. While Eclipse is a vibrant new era of Xandria, the likes of Forevermore and Valentine reminds us that Xandria have built a body of work that surely sees them standing proudly and deservedly alongside the giants of Symphonic Metal.

Above all, there’s a sheer joy and exuberance in their performance. Metal on an epic scale. Just a thrill to share the experience in the same room.

A pair of US bands join Xandria in support as the Melodic and Symphonic Metal apple falls not too far at all from the tree. It’s a crowded genre, where Xandria is a nailed-on leading force, yet both bands deliver on atmospheric intensity and (desperately seeking alternative’s for ‘majestic’) grand arrangements while not skimping on melody and heaviness.

SEVEN SPIRES

The appearance of the elfin-like Adrienne Cowan fronting Seven Spires, decked in exotic eye make up and devil’s horn headwear suddenly spurs the thought… “if Elsa from Frozen did metal…” Like all tonight’s vocalists, she’s a powerful presence, her moves reminiscent of, not Elsa but Alissa White-Gluz in her Arch Enemy days. Stalking the lip of the stage, casting looks and gazes that shift from fearsome to seductive. She has the pipes too. While some of her higher register and the occasional orchestral accompaniment might skirt musical theatre boundaries, there’s something deep within that’s somewhat more ominous.

The flick of the switch from angel to devil is a spectacular disparity and provides a when it surfaces throughout the set. She too is flanked by two armed guards who do the shape throwing with aplomb and provide the dramatic waves and show that guitar melody and shredding are both part of their musical menu.

Almosttown delivers the sort of bouncy chorus that suggest comparisons with peers Delain, while Succumb picks up the pace and offers the crowd to join in with some communal arm swaying – hard not to when the chorus literally provokes the reaction plus the type of chilling guitar solo that you wish would last forever. The band are joined by Ashleigh from Tulip for Lightbringer where the tricky chorus chant gets nailed. She returns as a haunting presence clad in long veil for Love’s Souvenir, stage bathed in deep red, as Seven Spires dip into the sad pocket for a short moment of stillness before the song explodes into fifth gear.

The dramatic scale heads further into the red as Gods Of Debauchery delivers both a vicious vocal, demonic tempos and swirling guitar solo which is packed with Eastern promise. Hard to top this highlight of the set.

TULIP

Big shiny Metal tunes (with an apocalyptic bent) come following an intro overture of beats, rap and orchestra. Setting the tone for the evening, Ashleigh Semkiw hold court centre stage, the pair of guitarists monitoring her every move and if you look very carefully, there’s a drumkit hidden right in the shadows of stage right. Such is the enormous shadow cast by the hidden set up for the headliners.

Tulip has a brand new EP to both celebrate and spotlight; a couple of the tracks selected for the half hour set where the quality of Ashleigh’s vocal is apparent from the off. She’s in fine form as The Fall drifts in, whether she’s romantically crooning or growling with intent to disturb. New songs or delving back to 2020’s The Perpetual Dream for Ghosts Of Kyiv and the intense lyric that culminates with “do you think that you could start a war?” we’re never too far from a strong melody or hook or a solo that decorates rather than dominates – Midnight In The Desert the perfect showcase. Unbelievers, head straight to Youtube to be converted.

For a finale, Clone is frantic. One nearby fan mishears the song intro’d as ‘Calm’ but it’s certainly not. Thrash given a textural balance and all action as the Sci-Fi tale plays out to set the seal on a hot warm up.

All photography by Andy Pountney (Event Photography Awards Winner 2024 and 2025). You can check out more of his work on shot_in_the_dark_photography2 on Instagram.

Xandria: Website

Seven Spires: Website

Tulip: Website

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