ALBUM REVIEW: The Wonders Still Awaiting – Xandria
The path to the eighth album from XANDRIA seems to have been a tumultuous one. In the six long years since Theater Of Dimensions, the line-up has all but dissolved and guitarist Marco Heubaum is the only remaining original member. Their reputation took a major blow due to several disturbing allegations and for a while, things got very ugly. In some respects, it’s a miracle this album exists at all.
While this version of XANDRIA is almost totally different to the pre-pandemic one, The Wonders Still Awaiting is a familiar record. They’ve decided to play to their strengths and delivered 13 songs of grandiose symphonic metal which aren’t a million miles from their established formula. Like their earlier work, Wonders is big, catchy, and too bloody long. They could have been more ruthless in the editing and making it to the end in one go is a slog, but for the most part, it’s pretty decent.
Long-time fans will feel right at home with the opener Two Worlds; it’s a classic example of an arena singalong. Tracks like Reborn and Ghosts will be reassuring too. They’re accessible and engaging, with a few folk influences mixed in with heavy power chord pounding. Most of this material will slot into the live shows without any trouble, and on the closing Astèria they really push the boat out. It’s a nine-minute epic, with vocals in Greek and an entire orchestra backing them up
The biggest selling point is the performance of the new singer Ambre Vourvahis. XANDRIA have been blessed with some remarkable vocalists in their time, and she continues this tradition admirably. Her voice is charismatic and powerful, and she’s a dab hand at the death growls too. She more than holds her own when sharing the microphone with PRIMAL FEAR’s Ralf Scheepers on the recent single You Will Never Be Our God, and absolutely nails it from start to finish.
As we mentioned though, The Wonders Still Awaiting is too big for its own good. Symphonic metal is rarely a subtle genre, but XANDRIA have something of a “more is more” mentality. A few songs could have done with a minute or two being shaved off, while Your Stories I’ll Remember should have been left off altogether. It’s a plodding, momentum-killing ballad and it carries more than a hint of self-indulgence.
This record is strong enough for XANDRIA to make a comeback and regain some of the faith they lost before the pandemic. However, it feels like an attempt to reassure their existing fanbase rather than win over new listeners. The Wonders Still Awaiting has a lot to recommend, but it’s also bloated and overlong. XANDRIA can still write a tune like the best of them though and this will go some way towards restoring their standing, even if it doesn’t completely fix it.
Rating: 6/10
The Wonders Still Awaiting is set for release on February 3rd via Napalm Records.
Like XANDRIA on Facebook.