Four years after their rebirth, German symphonic metal outfit XANDRIA are back with a solid follow-up to “The Wonders Still Awaiting” (2023). In the meantime, they have released the EP “Universal Tales” in 2024 and have toured quite substantially, but finally the time has come for them to present the second full-length with Ambre Vourvahis on vocal duties. As such, their ninth studio album overall, “Eclipse,” was released on August 7th, 2026, via Napalm Records.
Usually, a band’s second outing with a new vocalist is far more impressive than the introductory album, as everybody in the band feels more at ease with the lineup change and trusts more in the newcomer’s skills and input. Yet, I feel this doesn’t really apply to XANDRIA, as they released such a spectacular album with “The Wonders Still Awaiting,” showcasing Ambre Vourvahis‘s range and versatility so incredibly well that any subsequent album would feel like standard fare. And while “Eclipse” does feel a bit linear and somewhat familiar, it also has some really bombastic moments, epic melodies, and heavier parts as any good symphonic (power) metal album should.
In this respect, the atmospheric opening track “Syzygy” acts like such a wonderful introduction to the album with just a faint whisper of a vocal melody. It bleeds straight into the fast-paced title track, “Eclipse,” which happens to be one of the album’s best moments, a symphonic metal delight adorned with a great guitar riff, gorgeous vocals, a super melodic chorus, and well-used choirs. Follow-up “Colours” also steals the show by mixing growls and operatic parts alongside Ambre Vourvahis’s cleans, while the fist-in-the-air energy of the chorus and the amazing guitar solo elevate it further still. With the folky mid-tempo “The Shannon’s Home,” XANDRIA flip the script and try their hand at a more melody-driven, almost NIGHTWISH-esque song that works pretty well, though it feels like a departure from the established sound of the previous two tracks.
With the following couple of tracks, we are presented with some metal Disney moments as “The Grand Delusion” is a fun and whimsical affair complete with choirs and backing arrangements that add a touch of drama to the fold. On the other hand, the irresistibly catchy “Wave of Tanis” has such a great power metal energy coursing through its riffage, with a hooky chorus fit for the likes of LEAVES’ EYES, both when it comes to the soaring melodies and its lyrics. This is definitely one of the bombastic yet surprising moments that make this album engaging and showcase that band’s penchant for strong melodies that have an even stronger instant gratification effect on the listeners.
The Celtic-infused “Northstar” hits hard with some more Disney vibes and a beautiful chorus, but it’s the incisive social commentary that makes this one – alongside “Colours” and The Grand Delusion” – stand out from the bunch. There are only a handful of bands (that I know of) that are not afraid to go political, take a stance, and speak out against the injustices that plague our world, and I am glad to see XANDRIA taking a cue from WITHIN TEMPTATION and LORD OF THE LOST and confidently writing songs that carry such social and political messages. With the heavy hitter “Masquerade,” the band gets back on track as this is a song that blends symphonic grandeur with powerful metal riffs and thundering drums, all contrasted by the album’s most beautiful and buoyant chorus. There’s actually a neat balance between grand orchestrations and downright heaviness across this album that puts XANDRIA squarely in line with EPICA’s robust sound.
Subdued ballad “The Last Generation” aims at being an emotional gut-punch of a song as it uses a children’s choir to highlight the idea that the future belongs to them and therefore we have to do right by them. However, KAMELOT did this whole concept better in “Burns to Embrace,” and maybe if XANDRIA let the children’s choir take the lead in the final reprise of the chorus instead of some dramatic highs, the song could have hit harder. Luckily, the uplifting yet lighthearted “The Poetry of the Real World” picks up the slack with a very fun melody at its core and a sing-along chorus section that is bound to get stuck in your head. This is such a great track to experience live. The 8-minute closing epic, “Lore,” rides high on the strength of its chorus and the folky instrumental courtesy of Ally Storch’s violin melodies, though it could have easily been a 6-minute song.
All things considered, “Eclipse” is an easygoing yet highly entertaining symphonic (power) metal offering that sees XANDRIA at the top of their game. It’s not an album that reinvents or innovates the genre by any means, but instead XANDRIA have fun with it. They use its trademark elements (especially choirs and backing orchestrations) cleverly and sensibly to enhance the ambiance, not clutter the sound design, while letting the main melody take the lead on most songs. It may be a bit of a downplay when thinking about what other bands in this genre put out, but XANDRIA were never really a bombastic band to begin with, and while “Eclipse” has some big moments, it is a rather accessible and enjoyable slab of symphonic (power) metal from a band that feels more confident and driven these days.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
Syzygy
Eclipse
Colours
The Shannon’s Home
The Grand Delusion
Wave of Tanis
Northstar
Masquerade
The Last Generation
The Poetry of the Real World
Lore
Lineup
- Ambre Vourvahis – lead vocals
- Rob Klawonn – lead guitar
- Marco Heubaum – rhythm guitar, bass guitar, keyboards
- Dimitrios Gatsios – drums
Label
Napalm Records
