From their modest beginning as a Gothic metal band with debut “Kill the Sun” (2003), through their power metal phase with “India” (2005) and “Salome – the Seventh Veil” (2007) with Lisa Middelhauve on vocal duties until finally breaking out of their shell as a fully formed symphonic metal unit with “Neverworld’s End” (2012) and vocalist Manuela Kraller and everything that followed this decade, XANDRIA’s history is a rather storied one. Their sixth studio album, “Sacrificium,” continued their ascent on the metal scene with EX LIBRIS vocalist Dianne van Giersbergen. This opus came out on May 2nd, 2014, via Napalm Records. Let’s see how it holds up ten years after its release and what feelings it might stir up.
With a well-balanced soundscape and twelve solid songs, this album proved that “Neverworld’s End” wasn’t a fluke and that XANDRIA do have what it takes to be a proper symphonic metal band. They further reinforced this idea with “Theater of Dimensions” (2017) as well as their most recent album, “The Wonders Still Awaiting” (with Ambre Vourvahis), by deftly combining symphonic elements with operatic vocals and layered backing orchestrations. Getting back at the issue at hand, “Sacrificium” is as symphonic as it is theatrical and dramatic with Dianne van Giersbergen’s delivery and layered vocals really enhancing the dramatic quality of the music. The lead single, “Nightfall,” fantastically showcased what this new and improved XANDRIA had to offer to the world, and the full album didn’t (and still doesn’t) disappoint.
In this respect, both catchy “Dreamkeeper” and up-tempo “Until the End” are perfectly polished gems of the genre whereas the lengthy yet bombastic title track and heavy cut “Betrayer” are the epitome of theatricality and drama complete with spoken-word passages and brooding ambiances. It should go without saying that the major appeal of this album is Dianne’s classical singing and while she does a lot of operatic vocals (like on gorgeous “Stardust”), there are also plenty of moments that showcase her versatility as a singer. This diversity in singing ranges from angelic and even mournful on the delicate ballad “The Undiscovered Land” to a more aggressive delivery on “Little Red Relish.” It’s this dynamic use of the voice coupled with a balanced instrumental side and just enough symphonic embellishments that makes this album a worthy listen ten years after its release.
A less talked about song that should deserve more recognition is the folky “Temple of Hate” as its blend of power metal-inspired guitars, operatic vocals, and some folky melodies is really well done. “Our Neverworld,” whose title is a throwback to their 2012 album, is another hidden gem of the album with its soft and delicate nature and gentle vocal delivery. Because of the album’s length (which clocks in at 66 minutes) and the many soundscapes it flows through, such a song as the aforementioned one is somehow overlooked. If not for it being the closing track, the piano ballad “Sweet Atonement” would also be overshadowed by the rest of the tracks. “Come with Me” fares a bit better, standing out with its seductive verses, mid-tempo chorus, and driving melodies that make it another perfectly polished gem of the genre.
For all intents and purposes, “Sacrificium” is one of those albums that came to redefine what symphonic metal – when done right – was all about and made XANDRIA a beacon of the genre, alongside heavyweights EPICA. So the main merit of “Sacrificium” is that it not only kept the momentum going for the band but also raised the bar considerably in terms of its sound design by seamlessly blending driving guitar riffs with massive orchestrations and topping it all off with the magnificent voice of Dianne van Giersbergen. It’s as perfect a symphonic metal album as it gets.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
1. Sacrificium
2. Nightfall
3. Dreamkeeper
4. Stardust
5. The Undiscovered Land
6. Betrayer
7. Until The End
8. Come With Me
9. Little Red Relish
10. Our Neverworld
11. Temple Of Hate
12. Sweet Atonement
Lineup
- Dianne van Giersbergen – vocals
- Marco Heubaum – guitar, producer
- Philip Restemeier – guitar
- Steven Wussow – bass
- Gerit Lamm – drums
Label
Napalm Records
