Xandria - Hot on the heels of Nightwish!!!

Xandria **** are a German Symphonic Rock / Metal band that have recently upped their game with the addition of vocalist Dianne Van Giersbergen two years ago and an amazing album 'Sacrificium' last year. Xandria are a band that has it all, they have the songs the look and the presence. But I think the fact they have changed their vocalist a massive five times has really harmed them. Can you think of any band that has changed their vocalist more than once, and has been the same. But I think they have really found a keeper with Dianne, she is simply jaw dropping and talented.

They open with the single 'Nightfall' off their last album, and you instantly realise how strong Dianne's vocals are. Her Operatic style and her beautiful appearence is an instant hit with the crowd, and you start to realise that a lot of the audience are actually here to see them... because the venue is so packed and you can spot quite a few of their t-shirts in the crowd. It's a shame that they have so little room on stage, so they can't move around that much... but they do their best and Dianne still seems to have space to sign the words she is singing.

It's really interesting to see Dianne sing the songs of previous vocalist Manuela Kraller, so when they break into second song 'Blood on my Hands', your really interested to see how she portrays it. She does it with grace and to perfection, and it actually sounds better than it ever has done before. Founding member Marco Heubaum also shows how talented he is with some killer riffs, that work well with the keyboards that come off the backing track. You wouldn't believe that Marco and drummer Gerit Lamm are the only members from the 90's left in the band with all other members coming in later on.

Dianne's vocals go higher even still and she launches into life with 'Unembraced', off their 'Fire and Ashes' EP. You wonder how she can be so perfection in every way vocally. You really wonder what they could do, if it was their show and they were headlining this venue. And I think think it would be a spectacular Classical Metal show with loads of delights at every turn. 'Stardust' another song off the new album keeps up the momentum, while 'Voyage of the Fallen' also of the 'Fire and Ashes' EP show that this was one of the bands finest releases.

The set ends with another Pre-Dianne song 'Cursed' and one of the bands biggest songs 'Valentine' that has got over four million views on YouTube. This is a really big song, so makes a triumphant ending to their set. I am not really into this genre myself, but I can see that this is one of the best bands in this genre. Their equally as good if not better than Nightwish, Within Temptation or Epica and should really be up their with them. Great things are still to come from Xandria, so watch out you will be hearing more from them in the future.