German symphonic metal outfit XANDRIA have unveiled "Colours," the second single from their forthcoming album "Eclipse," accompanied by a full music video. The album is set for release on August 7, 2026 via Napalm Records, and if "Colours" is any indication, it promises to be one of the most adventurous records in the band's twenty-plus-year history.
The track is a showcase for vocalist Ambre Vourvahis, who joined XANDRIA in 2022 and has quickly established herself as one of the most versatile singers in contemporary symphonic metal. "Colours" moves between operatic soprano passages and aggressive harsh vocals with unsettling ease, backed by a full classical choir, sweeping orchestral arrangements, and modern metal riffing that keeps things grounded in the genre.
Band mastermind Marco Heubaum described the record as "a journey full of discoveries, unexpected turns, and quite a few surprises," noting that "Eclipse" explores emotional and musical territory that the band has never fully mapped before. The album blends 1980s-inspired metal riffs with low-tuned modern guitars, Celtic folk influences, electronic elements, and intimate acoustic moments — all arranged around the orchestral core that has always been XANDRIA's signature.
The first single, "The Shannon's Home," preceded "Colours" and featured dreamlike melodies leaning into Vourvahis's soaring upper register. "Colours" shifts the dynamic considerably, bringing more tension and dramatic contrast to the forefront.
The guest list on "Eclipse" reinforces the album's ambitions: SUBWAY TO SALLY violinist Ally Storch, Celtic musician McAlbi, the Sofia Session Orchestra and Choir, and Hollywood pianist Richard Z. Wang all contribute. The result is an album that sounds genuinely cinematic in scope.
XANDRIA's current lineup is Heubaum (guitar, keys), Vourvahis (vocals), Robert Klawonn (guitar), and Dimitrios Gatsios (drums). The band has navigated multiple vocalist changes over the years, but the Vourvahis era looks set to produce the band's most expansive and ambitious work yet.
"Eclipse" arrives August 7, 2026 via Napalm Records.