- Country: Germany
- Style: Symphonic metal
- Label: Napalm Records
- Release date: 7 August 2026
Marco Heubaum has been steering Xandria since the Bielefeld days of the 1990s, and after 2023’s The Wonders Still Awaiting relaunched the band with a new lineup, Eclipse is where that new era settles in. It’s the band’s ninth album, written entirely by Heubaum, produced by him at his own Neverworld Studio and mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen, with the Sofia Session Orchestra & Choir once again supplying the widescreen backdrop.
It’s also Xandria’s most outspoken record. Heubaum describes the eclipse of the title as the light of civilisation being darkened, and the lyrics take a clear stand for reason, empathy and democracy. Musically it throws a lot into the cauldron: ’80s-style metal riffs, low-tuned modern chugs, Celtic whistles on “The Shannon’s Home”, electronic touches and a children’s choir on “The Last Generation”. Ambre Vourvahis holds it all together, moving from gentle, soft passages to full rock power and even harsh growls within the title track alone.
Not every idea lands, and the sheer variety occasionally makes the album feel like a showcase rather than a whole. But the best songs rank with anything Xandria have done, and the Deluxe Edition gives fans plenty more to dig into.
Best tracks:
Eclipse
Colours
The Shannon’s Home
The Last Generation
Author’s rating: 7.5/10
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