1994 - 1997
A predecessor of the band was formed by Marco Heubaum (guitars, keyboards), drawing inspiration from Bands like Tiamat and Paradise Lost. This band was already named Xandria, but due to musical dissension between the members, they parted ways in 1997.
1999 - 2009
In 1999 Marco Heubaum started Xandria again with new musicians. A demo was recorded in 2000, and they presented the five songs on the internet. After great success on different MP3 portals, they released their first album Kill the Sun in 2003, which reached #98 on the German music charts. The sophomore Ravenheart (2004), stayed on the charts for 7 weeks, reaching #36. In 2005 they released their third album India, which is more oriented to the symphonic metal. Their fourth album Salomé - The Seventh Veil, released in 2007, was a step away from the bombastic sound of the two predecessors and at least in Germany not such a big success as "Ravenheart" or "India".
2009
As of April 30th, 2008 the band announced that vocalist Lisa Middelhauve left the band due to personal reasons and that the band is searching for a new singer. On February 8th, 2009 an announcement on their website introduced the new singer, 28-year old Kerstin Bischof, but on February 18th 2010 the band announced that Kerstin will no longer be the bands vocalist because she decided to pursue her career outside the music business.
2010
In December 2010 it was announced on Xandrias web site that Manuela Kraller will be the new singer for the band.
The new album "Neverworld´s End" was released on February 24th 2012 (Europe) / March 6th 2012 (USA).
2013 - present
On the 25th of October 2013 the band announced Manuela's departure, who regrettably decided to continue a different musical path. Dutch singer Dianne van Giersbergen (also known from Ex Libris) was announced to become the new lead singer. In January 2014 the band announced the title for their upcoming album with Dianne called 'Sacrificium', which is set to be released on May the 2nd, 2014.
On 24 May 2022, the band posted a music video of their new song "Reborn", where []Ambre Vourvahis[] was announced as the new vocalist. Furthermore, Tim Schwarz was announced as the new bassist, and drummer Dimitros Gatsios and guitarist Rob Klawonn replacing departing longtime members Gerit Lamm and Philip Restemeier, respectively. On 7 September 2022, the band released another song, "You Will Never Be Our God"
Current members
Marco Heubaum – rhythm guitar (1994–present), keyboards (1997–present), vocals (1994–2001)
Ambre Vourvahis – vocals (2022–present)
Rob Klawonn – lead guitar (2022–present)
Tim Schwarz – bass (2022–present)
Dimitros Gatsios – drums (2022–present)
Return to India
Xandria Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beauty, fame and wealth smell nice on top of the world
Made my day, this day made me the blessed one
My achievements will shine bright when all the smoke is gone
All those years and with all my heart
Reaching out for what would broaden my horizon
Perpetual striving made my life complete
I wonder why, I wonder why
There's still something in my head, I fail to explain
Falling deep into this void, only silence to remain
Sheer enlightenment of the soul, that's what I hoped to find
Reduced to instincts, I've to see, there will be no peace of mind
Left behind the ghosts I knew so well
Stepped into the light, into a new beginning
But can it be, I miss their company
Need their guidance and advice to define the inner me
Where's my dream of India?
Dead-end street to India
Been so close and yet so far
No return to India
Expectations once so high now seem down and low
They once sent shivers down my spine
Now make me tremble in my bones
Where's the dream that made me be, made me carry on?
Gave my longing for an end just to find that nothing's won
Means to an end, we're dedicated to
Might set an end to all those means we have to offer
I can't escape from this lifelong dream, I'm a captive of its shadows
Awaken, end to all sleep
Where's my dream of India?
Dead-end street to India
Been so close and yet so far
No return to India
Means to an end, we're dedicated to
Might set an end to all those means we have to offer
I can't escape from this lifelong dream, I'm a captive of its shadows
Awaken, end to all sleep
Where's my dream of India?
Dead-end street to India
Been so close and yet so far
Give me back my India
Once we have reached our destiny, we understand
That it is different from the dearest wishes at the beginning
It is much deeper, broader, sometimes greater
Either we understand or we sail on and on and on
The song "Return to India" by Xandria is a reflective piece that deals with themes of success, fulfillment, and inner struggle. The first verse talks about material success, with the singer enjoying the benefits of wealth and fame, and feeling blessed for their achievements. However, this is juxtaposed with a sense of emptiness and a yearning for something deeper.
The second verse delves deeper into this inner struggle. The singer talks about their lifelong pursuit of something that would broaden their horizon, but despite all their achievements and newfound success, they feel like something is missing. They describe falling into a void and feeling reduced to instincts, unable to find peace of mind. The chorus repeats the line "Where's my dream of India?", which can be interpreted as an allusion to the idea of spiritual enlightenment, something that the singer has been pursuing but ultimately failed to attain.
The third verse explores the idea that sometimes, our greatest dreams and aspirations might not be what we expected them to be. The singer talks about their expectations being shattered, and how the things that used to excite them now scare them. Despite this, they still feel like they're captive to the shadows of their lifelong dream, unable to escape from it. The chorus is repeated one final time, with an added line "Give me back my India", further emphasizing the idea of a lost dream that they want to reclaim.
Overall, the song speaks to the idea that sometimes, success and material wealth are not enough to fulfill us. It's a poignant reflection on the human condition and our constant need for purpose and meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Sun rays touching my skin like a stream of gold
The singer is experiencing a moment of pleasure and joy as she feels the sun's rays on her skin.
Beauty, fame and wealth smell nice on top of the world
The singer has achieved success and feels great about it.
Made my day, this day made me the blessed one
The singer is grateful for her achievements and feels blessed to have made it this far.
My achievements will shine bright when all the smoke is gone
The artist believes that her success will be evident once the challenges and obstacles have been overcome.
All those years and with all my heart
The artist has been dedicated to her work for many years.
Reaching out for what would broaden my horizon
The singer has always sought new experiences that would challenge her and help her grow.
Perpetual striving made my life complete
The singer feels that striving for success has given her life meaning and purpose.
And now that I reached new dimensions
The artist has reached a new level of success.
I wonder why, I wonder why
Despite being successful, the artist is still questioning things and feeling unfulfilled.
There's still something in my head, I fail to explain
The artist feels that something is missing, even though she can't quite put her finger on it.
Falling deep into this void, only silence to remain
The singer feels lost and alone, with no one to turn to for guidance.
Sheer enlightenment of the soul, that's what I hoped to find
The artist was hoping that her success would bring her inner peace and enlightenment.
Reduced to instincts, I've to see, there will be no peace of mind
The singer has realized that material success cannot bring inner peace and she feels frustrated and unfulfilled.
Left behind the ghosts I knew so well
The singer has moved on from her old life.
Stepped into the light, into a new beginning
The singer has started over and is embracing a new chapter in her life.
But can it be, I miss their company
The artist is questioning whether or not she made the right decision in leaving her old life behind.
Need their guidance and advice to define the inner me
The artist feels lost and is seeking guidance to help her better understand herself.
Expectations once so high now seem down and low
The singer's expectations have changed and what was once important to her is no longer.
They once sent shivers down my spine
The singer's old expectations used to excite her and motivate her.
Now make me tremble in my bones
Now, the artist feels anxious and unsure of herself.
Where's the dream that made me be, made me carry on?
The artist is questioning what happened to her dreams and what kept her motivated to succeed.
Gave my longing for an end just to find that nothing's won
The artist feels that despite all of her hard work, she has nothing to show for it and feels unfulfilled.
Means to an end, we're dedicated to
The singer believes that success is a means to an end and is only valuable if it brings inner peace and fulfillment.
Might set an end to all those means we have to offer
The artist is considering giving up her current way of life in search of something more meaningful.
I can't escape from this lifelong dream, I'm a captive of its shadows
The singer feels trapped by her lifelong dream and is struggling to find a way to be free.
Awaken, end to all sleep
The singer is calling for an awakening or a change that will help her find inner peace and fulfillment.
Been so close and yet so far
The singer feels like she is close to what she wants, but still feels like something is missing.
Give me back my India
The artist is expressing a desire to return to a place or time that held more meaning for her.
Once we have reached our destiny, we understand
The artist realizes that success or destiny is different from what she thought it would be and has a deeper meaning.
That it is different from the dearest wishes at the beginning
The singer has come to understand that her initial wishes and desires do not necessarily lead to inner peace and fulfillment.
It is much deeper, broader, sometimes greater
The singer has realized that there is something deeper and greater that she needs to strive for in order to find inner peace and fulfillment.
Either we understand or we sail on and on and on
The artist has a choice to either give up her old way of life and find something more meaningful, or continue to search for her true purpose.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Elisabeth Middelhauve, Gerit Lamm, Marco Heubaum, Nils Middelhauve, Philip Restemeier
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind