The Wonders Still Awaiting marks a fresh start for Xandria, following the highly publicised (and messy) break-up with previous singer Dianne van Giersbergen. In some respects, it is a wonder this album has seen the light of day. But after six long years since releasing “A Theater of Dimensions“, Xandria are finally back. And you could perhaps reason, seemingly undeterred by the behind-the-scenes drama, if the quality of this new venture is any measure to go by.
The album starts with the opening salvo of “Two Worlds“, which will be immediately welcoming to any fan of symphonic metal. Clocking in at over seven minutes, it is clearly a bold statement, and while there are some perceptible nods to other bands within its composition, there is still plenty of the band’s unique DNA in the song. It is also a powerful introduction for new vocalist Ambre Vourvahis, who proves she can more than capably fill the void that was left by the previous singer. And even brings something new to the table, with her impressive growls (as evidenced in the second half of this track).
Second track “Reborn” is likely one that most fans will already be familiar with, since it was the first single from the album, and was used as an effective vehicle for announcing the new lineup. It is quickly backed up by another hit single, “You Will Never Be Our God“, which guest stars male vocalist Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear). Both songs have already been doing the rounds on radio and streaming platforms in the lead up to the album’s release, and with good reason. The title track for the album “The Wonders Still Awaiting” is suitably upbeat, and appears destined to be a crowd favourite at live concerts due to its lively pace and ‘sing-along’ nature. While next track “Ghosts“, accelerates the tempo even more, and is blessed with angelic choirs along with some juicy guitar shredding (the riffs are practically turgid on this one).
Afterwards, the band mercifully take their foot off the pedal with the first of the album’s three ballads, and possibly the strongest: “Your Stories I’ll Remember“. As the song’s title implies, the theme of this one is about coping with loss, and Vourvahis delivers the much-needed emotional weight that is a prerequisite for the lyrics:
All these moments I remember
Xandria – Your Stories I’ll Remember
All these stories that you shared with me
I will never get to hear your voice again
but they’ll stay with me
“My Curse is Your Redemption” has an interesting intro which starts off softly and continues to pick up momentum, eventually morphing into a mid-tempo power metal tune. “Illusion is their Name” has some equally intriguing moments at the beginning, building anticipation for the strong double-kick drum beat which powers the song, and the re-emergence of Vourvahis‘ demonic sounding harsh vocals. “Paradise” brings us back to power ballad territory, with some empowering hooks and a euphoric guitar solo to close out the final moments. Whereas “Mirror of Time” has plenty of contrast and duality, with the almost schizophrenic switching back and forth between the softer and harsher dynamics of the band’s sound until eventually reaching a dramatic crescendo – punctuated by high notes in both Ambre Vourvahis’ vocal range and the stellar lead guitar work.
At this point we have passed the one hour mark as an ominous symphonic melody leads us into the light orchestral “Scars“, which is somewhat reminiscent of Within Temptation’s goth classic “The Other Half of Me” – although the heavy backing of the band and the harsh vocals do not appear until around the mid-way section. It is still a beautiful track overall. In “The Maiden and the Child“, epic choirs and chunky guitars take the front seat again. This one is mostly all about the blast beats and driving guitars, but Vourvahis‘ impeccable vocals keeps it accessible. “Astèria” is the final track on the album, and is yet another lengthy epic to bookend the album. The band have plenty of time to indulge in the more than nine minutes of this song, and as you would no doubt expect there are plenty of shifts and changes throughout. The longer format very much works in the band’s favour, and showcases their refined songwriting and arrangement skills. It may be a test for some listeners, however, given the already long lead-up.
If the album suffers at all, it is only because of its length. Perhaps a result of the long gestation, or maybe the band feeling the need to prove itself, but it does feel a little overbaked. A shorter running time may have alleviated this. There are no significant weak points in the album so it really just comes down to your endurance levels if you intend to enjoy in one sitting.
Verdict: As their eighth album, you might be asking yourself what wonders could there possibly be left to discover at this point in the band’s career? Surprisingly the answer is – quite a lot. Particularly with the newly discovered talent of Vourvahis. Against all the odds, Xandria are a band that continue to deliver fresh & exciting symphonic metal, and “The Wonders Still Awaiting” is definitive proof.
