Sometimes, a fresh start is the best way to move forward. Living proof of such an idea, Marco Heubaum reconstructed Xandria from top to bottom in 2022. A band with a history that dates all the way back to 1994, but did not officially take-off until 5 years later in 1999, everything led to their 2003 album Kill the Sun making it onto German charts. From this time forward, many changes have transpired within Xandria. To summarize them, the band has been through 5 vocalists between 1997 and 2017. The most recent departure, Dianne van Giersbergen in 2017, left Xandria and fans reeling.
A bit of turmoil, Heubaum (the founder of Xandria), took some time to evaluate the future of the band and thanks to perseverance, in 2022, announced a new lineup featuring Ambre Vourvahis on vocals, Tim Schwarz on bass, Dimitrios Gatsios on drums, with Rob Klawonn on guitars. A bold step to rebuild the lineup, new music started to emerge also in 2022, marking their first of any since 2017’s Theater of Dimensions. Debuting the new Xandria with “You Will Never Be Our God” (featuring Ralf Scheepers of Primal Fear), to follow were 4 other songs into January of 2023 – “Two Worlds,” “The Wonders Still Awaiting,” “Ghosts,” and “Reborn.” Featured on 2 separate EPs, at last on February 3rd of 2023 the full-length album The Wonders Still Awaiting arrived.
The band’s fourth with Napalm Records, and eighth overall, The Wonders Still Awaiting comes with a total of 13 songs. Five of which were already available prior to its release, what you get is some lively Symphonic Metal following a similar trajectory as Theater of Dimensions. A style they fully adopted around 2012’s Neverworld’s End, if you have followed this band through the years, then you are aware of their more Gothic Rock/Metal with Pop leanings on early releases. That in mind, the power behind their music has intensified over time and The Wonders Still Awaiting has that and more.
What this means is you get the theatrical, symphonic stylings Xandria has excelled with, but also while marrying darker, subtle textures as well. An approach that works well for those who enjoy that type of diversity, some standouts here include songs like “Two Worlds,” the energized “Reborn” and “Ghosts,” but also “Paradise,” as well as “Mirror of Time” which is a perfect mixing of all aforementioned elements.
In all, those who enjoyed what Xandria has done over the last decade, will be pleased with the direction of The Wonders Still Awaiting. It is an album filled with great guitars, ample choir usage, and solid production. Which leads us to a key ingredient here, new Vocalist Ambre Vourvahis. Different from Dianne van Giersbergen, who is more operatic, Vourvahis voice gives Xandria a different feel that is really quite enjoyable.
Everything considered, The Wonders Still Awaiting is an accessible album for those who have grown tired of just straight-ahead Power or Symphonic Metal music. With this Xandria have proven that they did not need to entirely reinvent themselves in the wake of adversity, but instead tweak a few elements to make a strong return. Worth checking out and hopefully the start of a bold new chapter for the band, Cryptic Rock gives The Wonders Still Awaiting 4 out of 5 stars.
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