Xandria

Xandria is a German symphonic metal band founded in 1994 by Marco Heubaum. Initially started as a project, it was reformed as a full band in 1999 after a brief disbandment. Heubaum remained the main composer throughout its history, while the band underwent numerous lineup changes, particularly in the role of lead vocalist.

The band’s debut album, "Kill the Sun" (2003), featured vocalist Lisa Middelhauve (née Schaphaus), who also contributed to songwriting. The album reached No. 98 on the German charts. Their second album, "Ravenheart" (2004), marked a commercial improvement, reaching No. 36 in Germany. "India" (2005) followed, reaching No. 30, and "Salomé – The Seventh Veil" (2007) peaked at No. 41. Middelhauve left the band in 2008 for personal reasons and discomfort with her role as frontwoman.

After her departure, Kerstin Bischof briefly joined the band in 2009 but left after approximately one year. Middelhauve temporarily returned for live performances in 2010 before leaving again. Later that year, Manuela Kraller became the new vocalist. She recorded the album "Neverworld’s End" (2012), which was her only release with the band before departing in 2013.

Following Kraller’s departure, Dutch singer Dianne van Giersbergen joined Xandria and recorded the albums "Sacrificium" (2014) and "Theater of Dimensions" (2017). After touring in support of the latter album, she left the band in 2017, citing personal reasons and health-related stress. Several former members later publicly commented on similar experiences regarding pressure and internal conditions within the band during different periods.

In 2022, Xandria announced a major lineup change, introducing vocalist Ambre Vourvahis, bassist Tim Schwarz, drummer Dimitrios Gatsios, and guitarist Rob Klawonn. With this lineup, the band released the album "The Wonders Still Awaiting" in February 2023. In 2024, they released the EP "Universal Tales". As of 2024, Xandria has released eight studio albums and two EPs.

The band’s early history began in Bielefeld, where Heubaum recorded an initial demo in the mid-1990s before the project was temporarily dissolved in 1997. It was restarted in 1999 with a new lineup including bassist Roland Krueger and drummer Gerit Lamm. Early demo recordings circulated online, and the group began developing material for their debut album. Vocalist Nicole Tobien (credited as Isis) initially contributed to early recordings before being replaced by Lisa Schaphaus.

In 2002, Xandria signed with Drakkar Records and began performing live shows with bands such as Schandmaul, Subway to Sally, and Tanzwut. After Krueger’s departure and replacement by Nils Middelhauve, the band recorded and released "Ravenheart". Subsequent releases "India" and "Salomé – The Seventh Veil" further established the band in the German symphonic metal scene.

After 2013, the band continued to evolve, introducing bassist Steven Wussow and preparing new material. Their later work, particularly after the introduction of Vourvahis in 2022, marked a new lineup era for the group, accompanied by the release of multiple singles leading up to "The Wonders Still Awaiting".

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xandria

Studio albums
Kill the Sun (2003)
Ravenheart (2004)
India (2005)
Salomé - The Seventh Veil (2007)
Neverworld's End (2012)
Sacrificium (2014)
Theater of Dimensions (2017)
The Wonders Still Awaiting (2023)