Xandria

Xandria was started as a project band in 1994 in Bielefeld, Germany by Marco Heubaum, the band's main composer and at the time vocalist, and a friend to play drums, but disbanded in 1997 after recording one demo.

The band was restarted with a different line-up in 1999. Marco stepped down from the role of vocalist and was joined by local musician Roland Krueger on bass. In 2000, they recorded one demo that was released on the internet and after its release, current drummer Gerit Lamm joined the band. The female vocalist that recorded the demo left the band to follow other plans and was replaced by Lisa Schaphaus. At the same time, writing of the debut album started.

In 2002, the band signed to Drakkar Records and was joined by current lead guitarist Philip Restemeier. As work on the debut album progressed, the band started playing shows in and around Bielefeld. In the winter of 2002, the band entered the studio to record their debut album Kill the Sun. They released Kill the Sun in May 2003, and it reached No. 98 on the German music charts.[1] To promote the album, the band played a few shows with Schandmaul and Subway to Sally. Then they went on a three-week tour of Germany with Tanzwut.[2]

After playing some festivals in support of Kill the Sun, the band started writing their second album. Recording of the album began in December 2003 at Pleasure Park Studios, with producer José Alvarez-Brill. Production on the album was finished in February 2004. Shortly after the recordings were completed, bassist Roland Krueger left the band and was replaced by Nils Middelhauve. Ravenheart was released on May 24, 2004, and it stayed on the charts for seven weeks, reaching No. 36.[1]

In 2005 they released their third album, India, which reached No. 30 on the German charts.[1] Xandria began recording their fourth album, Salomé – The Seventh Veil, on December 14, 2006. It was released on May 25, 2007 and reached No. 41 on the German charts.[1]

Lisa Middelhauve (née Schaphaus) resigned on April 30, 2008 citing personal reasons and discomfort in being the band's frontwoman. The band found a new singer in February 2009, Kerstin Bischof a.k.a. Lakonia, best known for her collaborations with the band Axxis. However, after just one year Kerstin Bischof decided to leave the band to concentrate on a different career, and Middelhauve replaced her for a series of concerts in Summer 2010.[3] On December 19, 2010, Xandria announced the addition of 29-year-old female singer Manuela Kraller to the group's ranks. Manuela Kraller made her live debut at the "Classic Meets Pop" event on January 7, 2011 at the Seidensticker Halle in Bielefeld, Germany.[4]

On February 24, 2012, Neverworld's End was released. It was the only album Manuela Kraller had made with the band.

On February 5, 2013, the band announced on their website and Facebook page their new bass player Steven Wussow, along with the message that they would have entered the studio again for their next studio album the same year.

As of October 25, 2013, the band announced on their website that Kraller had left the band to pursue a different career and announced Dutch Ex Libris singer Dianne van Giersbergen as their new vocalist. Sacrificium was released in the following year. The year after, the band released their first EP titled Fire & Ashes on July 31, 2015.

Their seventh album, Theater of Dimensions was released on January 27, 2017.[5] Following the release of the album, Xandria embarked on a few shows in Europe including their first headlining tour in North America with Kobra and the Lotus and Once Human in May 2017.[6] Due to personal reasons, Xandria had cancelled their upcoming second half of the US tour as well as the Russian tour. Aeva Maurelle from the band Aeverium was the temporary vocalist for the European dates in the fall.[7]

On September 13, 2017, Dianne posted on her Facebook page that she had left Xandria. This due to having received pressure to perform from Xandria's management and the band while being physically unable to, giving her stress confirmed by doctors.[8] Two days later on September 15, 2017, ex-vocalist Manuela Kraller shared a message to the public on her Facebook page, revealing that her reason to leave four years earlier was exactly the same one. She praised Dianne for having the courage to be open about the situation to the public, which she didn't dare to at the time, but now finally did.[9] Ex-vocalist Lisa Middelhauve also released a statement about Dianne's departure on the same day. She herein did not only speak about herself but also about ex-bassplayer Nils Middelhauve, whom she was married to at the time he was in the band but is now divorced from. It can be concluded that he too left Xandria under negative circumstances.[10] Guitarist Phillip Restemeier spoke about the reason behind Dianne's departure in an interview during the European tour.[11]

As of 2019, the band had only performed one show, with Steven Wussow later confirmed to have become the new bass player for the German power metal band Orden Ogan on October 16, 2019, thus signalling his departure from Xandria.[12] There is speculation that the band has become inactive, are looking for a new vocalist or have disbanded with no confirmation from the remaining members as of yet.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Xandria.

• Official website
• Xandria at Encyclopaedia Metallum
• Now And Forever - Russian Fan Site