Artist of the Month - XANDRIA

[Corki]

As mentioned in the recent "Tune or No Tune" thread, Xandria are going to be the Artist of the Month for August.

 

I can probably hear many of you going "who?". Firstly, the group are from the German city of Bielefeld. As mentioned in the Tune or No Tune thread, exact classification of their music is difficult, as they seem to cover a variety of genres. But most of the time they are regarded as 'Symphonic Metal' or 'Symphonic Rock'. Other bigger groups of the 'symphonic metal' genre include Nightwish, Within Temptation, After Forever and Epica. But 'symphonic metal' is quite a large sub-genre in the world of metal music as power metal, gothic metal and death metal are sometimes included in this sub-genre.

 

I won't bore you any longer on the ins and outs of the sub-genre! Now, the band members. Currently it exists of:

 

- Marco Heubaum (Guitar)

- Philip Restemeier (Guitar)

- Nils Middelhauve (Bass)

- Gerit Lamm (Drums)

 

Sadly, the vocalist, Lisa Middelhauve left Xandria earlier this year, citing personal reasons and discomfort at being the band's leader. I feel this is a big shame as she has great vocals, and has the ability to sing in a variety of styles. I know Xandria are actively recruiting for a new singer. I just hope they pick someone as good, and not do a Nightwish - sorry, but Tarja Turunen is better than Anette Olzen. But that is an argument for elsewhere! lol!

 

The group have released 4 albums, and a "Best Of" album. Kill the Sun was released in 2003, and followed that up with an album called Ravenheart a year later. India was released in 2005, and Salomé - The Seventh Veil in 2007. The "Best Of" album, Now & Forever - Best Of Xandria, was released in June 2008. There have been a few EPs and Demo's as well as a host of singles.

 

Formed in 1997, it took some time for success to come via demos and MP3 portals in the underground scene, but it paid off. For it allowed the release of their first album in 2003. That album only debuted at number 98 on the German Chart. Ravenheart fared a lot better, staying in the German Chart for 7 weeks, peaking at number 36. Both albums gained glowing reviews in Germany, and this laid the platform for expansion across Europe. This was achieved with the third album, which gained chart success in places like the U.K., Russia and Mexico. Numerous invites to festivals have also followed, broadening the band to new fans.

 

When you listen to their early songs, a hint of a fantasy land is very evident. The single

definitely explores a fantasy world, which you drift off into. This is very prominent in the video - and I suspect Lisa's red hair helps! And I am sure the tale in the song could fit into many a fantasy novel. The song also ties the traditional metal style to a ballady style. Overall, it is a great song, and has come to be considered a classic of the genre.

 

The early songs certainly have a mythical element to them. Aside from the single Ravenheart, is a good example of this. The symphonic feel grew more prominent in the third album, India, and the following tracks from the album are good examples:

- In Love With the Darkness

- Like a Rose on the Grave of Love (this is also a very ballady song)

I don't own the 4th album, but I believe this symphonic feel continues. But when you listen to

, I get a sense of an element of pop music coming into it - which give it quite a catchy tune. It may just be me... Oh, and that song always reminds me of the Sisters of the Light from Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series.

 

Like any good symphonic metal band, Xandria is able to cover a variety of songs, whether they are heavier metal songs (Save My Life) or ballady songs (

). And it is a credit to Lisa's vocals that this can be achieved. I just hope the new singer can fill some rather large boots!

 

Feel free to ask any questions on the group and their songs or even how I found them.

 

For further information on the group, visit either of the following sites:

- http://www.xandria.de/ (official website - does have an English option)

- http://www.myspace.com/xandria (Xandria's myspace page)

[Samuraiflip05]

This'n never got going I guess.  I don't know anything about this band, but the songs in the links sound really good.  I liked the Celtic(Don't twap me if I'm wrong Tay)sound of "Like a Rose on the Grave of Love".  Good stuff, overall.  ;)

[Corki]

I'm guessing it is because it is the summer and a few other reasons...

 

Glad you liked that song. It ranks as one of my favourites by the group.

[Samuraiflip05]

Yes, but Summer is winding down and I have seen enough activity to warrant a comment in here.  ;)