🎶 Xandria
🌎Bielefeld, Germany
📀Eclipse
® Napalm Records
📅 06/08/2026
The German symphonic metal veterans return with their ninth full-length album, “Eclipse”, three years after the acclaimed “The Wonders Still Awaiting” (2023) and the transitional EP “Universal Tales” (2024). While staying true to the foundations of their sound, XANDRIA take another step forward, embracing greater theatricality and musical diversity.
Marco Heubaum once again proves that he knows how to keep a genre many consider oversaturated feeling fresh and inspired. The compositions on “Eclipse” make full use of the classic ingredients of symphonic metal—choirs, lush orchestral arrangements and the operatic vocals of the outstanding Ambre Vourvahis—but they never rely on them as mere embellishments. Instead, every element serves the songs, enhancing their emotional impact rather than stealing the spotlight. A carefully balanced production allows the guitars to shine while maintaining a seamless connection between the album’s more delicate passages and its explosive, heavier moments.
The orchestral opener, “Syzygy,” serves as the perfect introduction, setting the tone before flowing naturally into the title track. “Eclipse” immediately draws the listener into the band’s magical new world through crushing riffs, soaring orchestral climaxes and a magnificent choral introduction. “Colours” kicks off with Heubaum’s brief but effective growls before Vourvahis takes over in a mid-tempo anthem built around one of the album’s catchiest and grooviest choruses—one destined to become a live favorite.
The first single, “The Shannon’s Home,” follows with its unmistakable Celtic influences. Guest musician McAlbi’s Irish whistles play a crucial role in shaping the song’s vibrant identity, resulting in one of the album’s most memorable and uplifting moments.
On “The Grand Delusion,” the band shifts the focus away from the orchestral elements and toward powerful guitar work and thunderous drumming that drives the entire composition. A concise yet highly effective guitar solo stands out as one of the song’s highlights. “Wave of Tanis” ranks among the album’s most compelling compositions, thanks to its dynamic shifts and strong cinematic atmosphere, while “Northstar” revisits the Celtic influences with a more emotional approach, featuring one of Ambre Vourvahis’ finest vocal performances on the record.
The darker and more theatrical “Masquerade” impresses with its memorable chorus and the flawless balance between orchestral arrangements and heavy guitars. “The Last Generation” begins with Vourvahis delivering a warm, heartfelt performance before gradually building toward an epic climax. It is one of the album’s most ambitious pieces, enriched by a children’s choir and the contribution of pianist Richard Wang, whose impressive résumé includes collaborations with Hans Zimmer.
The penultimate track, “The Poetry of the Real World,” is arguably one of the album’s less distinctive moments and is somewhat overshadowed by both “The Last Generation” and the epic finale that follows. Nevertheless, its melodic character and Vourvahis’ expressive vocal delivery make it an enjoyable listen.
The album concludes with the nearly nine-minute “Lore,” a majestic composition that encapsulates everything XANDRIA set out to achieve with “Eclipse”. Epic orchestral arrangements, folk-inspired passages, dramatic dynamic shifts and guest appearances from both McAlbi and SUBWAY TO SALLY violinist Ally Storch come together to create a breathtaking finale worthy of closing such an ambitious record.
Overall,” Eclipse” is a meticulously crafted album. The cinematic orchestrations by Lukas Geppert and Ishaan Tyagi strengthen the songs’ almost narrative quality, while the Sofia Session Orchestra adds depth and grandeur without ever overshadowing the band’s metal foundation. Meanwhile, Greek-German vocalist Ambre Vourvahis further establishes herself as one of the leading voices in modern metal, proving that she has become an integral part of XANDRIA’s identity.
With “Eclipse”, XANDRIA demonstrate that even after more than three decades of existence and nine studio albums, a band can continue to evolve without sacrificing its identity. The result is an inspired, ambitious and remarkably cohesive record that stands among the strongest symphonic metal releases of the year.
★ 8,5/10
✍🏻 Kostas Boudoukos
