asauldm | Music

Eclipse is the ninth studio album by German symphonic metal band Xandria, released on August 7, 2026, via Napalm Records. The album serves as a natural continuation of the band’s resurgence following The Wonders Still Awaiting (2023) and the Universal Tales EP (2024), further solidifying the renewed lineup fronted by vocalist Ambre Vourvahis.

According to founder and principal songwriter Marco Heubaum, the album combines classic ’80s-inspired guitar riffs, modern downtuned guitars, Celtic folk influences, cinematic orchestration, dark electronic textures, and even a Pink Floyd-inspired guitar solo in place of conventional metal shredding.

Lyrically, the album moves away from the fairy tale and mythological themes traditionally associated with the genre. Instead, its songs explore the crises of modern society, environmental concerns, the inner darkness of the human mind (“an eclipse” of consciousness, which inspired the album’s title), mass manipulation, and the search for hope amid social and moral decline.

The title Eclipse symbolizes the fragile boundary between light and darkness. As Marco Heubaum explains, the album captures the moment when darkness completely obscures the light while reminding listeners that every eclipse is ultimately temporary.

For the recording sessions, the band enlisted a professional classical choir whose performances were captured inside an acoustically prepared cathedral, adding a natural sense of depth, grandeur, and atmosphere to the album’s sound.

Several of the guest orchestral arrangements and epic symphonic scores were developed in collaboration with composers known for their work on Hollywood films and video game soundtracks. To achieve the album’s cinematic character, the band worked with Hollywood composers Lukas Geppert and Ishaan Tyagi, drawing inspiration from the orchestral styles of Hans Zimmer and John Williams.

Eclipse marks the second full-length album featuring Greek-French vocalist Ambre Vourvahis. While The Wonders Still Awaiting introduced listeners to her remarkable vocal abilities, Eclipse showcases her full artistic range—from rich contralto and melodic rock vocals to ethereal operatic soprano, as well as aggressive growls and screams, particularly on the title track, “Eclipse.”

The vocal sessions took place at Marco Heubaum’s Neverworld Studio, allowing the band to experiment freely without time constraints or pressure from outside producers.

The album artwork and conceptual artbook were created by renowned German artist and designer Stefan Heilemann / Heilemania, whose portfolio includes collaborations with Nightwish, Epica, Kamelot, and Lindemann. The visual concept features deep, shadowy tones contrasted by brilliant golden light and solar corona effects, evoking the imagery of a total solar eclipse.

Eclipse is a monumental, cinematic, and stylistically diverse work that expands the boundaries of symphonic metal through heavier guitar riffs, Hollywood-inspired orchestration, and Celtic folk influences. Elevated by Ambre Vourvahis’ extraordinary vocal versatility—from ethereal soprano to ferocious growls—the album explores timely social and psychological themes while ultimately leaving listeners with a sense of hope emerging from the darkness. It stands as a compelling release for fans of epic, emotionally rich, and thought-provoking music seeking a fresh and modern vision of the genre.