Xandria
Sacrificium
Napalm Records
2014
It seems that some bands cannot avoid line-up changes from album to album. Xandria is one of those bands. Just when we thought that on “Neverworld’s End” they finally found the right lady to front them, she just “vanished” leaving them wondering what’s wrong with the band! Anyhow, one lady goes another comes, so Xandria’s new vocalist is the talented & hot Dianne van Giersbergen (ex-Libris).
Only time will tell if this cooperation will prove to be the band’s milestone cuz’ Dianne seems to have fitted the band greatly. It gives you the impression that she has been with the band for quite some years. Another positive issue is that Xandria also seem to have been “inspired” by Dianne’s presence and they did come up with a wonderful symphonic metal album… probably their best to date – till the next one of course!
“Sacrificium” has a top-notch production! It was produced by the bands guitarist, Marco Heubaum & Joost van den Broek (Epica, Stream of Passion, Nemesea, ReVamp, After Forever etc.) and mixed by Sascha Paeth (Epica, Edguy, Kamelot, Rhapsody of Fire, Avantasia etc.). Drums, choir and strings were recorded and engineered by Joost himself; he also did the orchestral and choir arrangements & even played the keys. Joost is not a stranger to all those symphonic metal bands as he’s an expertise on this music and he’s ways behind the albums of all the big symphonic metal bands of our time. Moreover, the narration has been done by Amanda Somerville & Mark Burnash.
I know that you cannot expect anything else rather than well-played symphonic metal with several gothic, power & folk metal elements here & there. This is what the band is all about. If you’re into this music kind then there’s no doubt that “Sacrificium” will please you. After all, a look at the band’s official video will give you a first impression of what you’re gonna hear… and there comes a “hot” description for Dianne; if you read the comments under the video for “Nightfall” you will giggle because the majority of them have to do with Dianne’s sexy legs! Com’ on guys! Let’s focus on the music for a sec… right?!!
Only time will tell if this cooperation will prove to be the band’s milestone cuz’ Dianne seems to have fitted the band greatly. It gives you the impression that she has been with the band for quite some years. Another positive issue is that Xandria also seem to have been “inspired” by Dianne’s presence and they did come up with a wonderful symphonic metal album… probably their best to date – till the next one of course!
“Sacrificium” has a top-notch production! It was produced by the bands guitarist, Marco Heubaum & Joost van den Broek (Epica, Stream of Passion, Nemesea, ReVamp, After Forever etc.) and mixed by Sascha Paeth (Epica, Edguy, Kamelot, Rhapsody of Fire, Avantasia etc.). Drums, choir and strings were recorded and engineered by Joost himself; he also did the orchestral and choir arrangements & even played the keys. Joost is not a stranger to all those symphonic metal bands as he’s an expertise on this music and he’s ways behind the albums of all the big symphonic metal bands of our time. Moreover, the narration has been done by Amanda Somerville & Mark Burnash.
I know that you cannot expect anything else rather than well-played symphonic metal with several gothic, power & folk metal elements here & there. This is what the band is all about. If you’re into this music kind then there’s no doubt that “Sacrificium” will please you. After all, a look at the band’s official video will give you a first impression of what you’re gonna hear… and there comes a “hot” description for Dianne; if you read the comments under the video for “Nightfall” you will giggle because the majority of them have to do with Dianne’s sexy legs! Com’ on guys! Let’s focus on the music for a sec… right?!!