Xandria - 'Live The Tale' (official music video)

It's been a long time since our glory days
And when the water's rising high up to the sky
Nowhere to run this is the final countdown for us
Now revolution is the only way for us

Whirling, blazing like a torch inside a storm
Find it, find it, all is gone

Deep in the shadows of the world
Of history and life unfurled
We want to see horizon's end
Reach for the shores of Neverland
Come with me, live the tale
Come with me now, to Neverworld
Come with me, live the tale
Come with me now, to Neverworld

It's on the verge, we better stand our ground or fall
It's all or nothing, so we roll the dice once more
Play evolution, for the strongest will win the game
But our idea of "strong" is clearly not the same

Whirling, blazing like a torch inside a storm
Fight it, fight before it's gone

Deep in the shadows of the world
Of history and life unfurled
We want to see horizon's end
Reach for the shores of Neverland
Come with me, live the tale
Come with me now, to Neverworld
Come with me, live the tale
Come with me now, to Neverworld

Live the tale
Live the tale

Come, come with me
Come, come with me
Come, come with me
Come, come with me

Whirling, blazing like a torch inside a storm
Fight it, fight before it's gone

Deep in the shadows of the world
Of history and life unfurled
We want to see horizon's end
Reach for the shores of Neverland

Deep in the shadows of the world
Of history and life unfurled
We want to see horizon's end
Reach for the shores of Neverland
Come with me, live the tale
Come with me now, to Neverworld
Come with me, live the tale
Come with me now, to Neverworld

Live the tale

Come with me and live the tale

Τιτλοφορείται "Universal Tales" και αποτέλεσε την μουσική πρόταση των Xandria για το 2024. Κυκλοφόρησε στα τελειώματα του φθινοπώρου και αποτελείται από τέσσερα νέα τραγούδια, σε δύο εκδοχές το καθένα, την "κανονική" και την ορχηστρική, συν την Acoustic Film Score εκδοχή του μουσικού κομματιού "The Wonders Still Awaiting".

Οι Xandria μας έρχονται από την Γερμανία. Μπάντα συμφωνικού metal, η οποία δημιουργήθηκε το μακρινό 1994 και συνεχίζει μέχρι τις ημέρες μας με ένα μικρό διάλειμμα (1997-1999). Έχουν κυκλοφορήσει οκτώ "ολοκληρωμένους" στουντιακούς δίσκους, δύο EPs, ισάριθμα demos και μπόλικα singles...

Δελτίο τύπου: «Xandria define the essence of modern symphonic metal and return with refreshing intensity on Universal Tales. Xandria surprised absolutely everyone last year!

After a long hiatus, German symphonic metal icons came back with not only a new line up featuring the fantastic Ambre Vourvahis, who impresses audiences with her talent ranging from rock grit, operatic highs and even growls, they also came back with their strongest album ever, The Wonders Still Awaiting (#9 on the Official German Album Charts).

On the fresh sounding masterpiece, Xandria reinvented themselves by taking their trademarks to a whole new level and setting the bar for modern symphonic metal today.

With the epic upcoming nine-track EP, Universal Tales, out on November 22, 2024 via Napalm Records, the unit presents four brand new majestic songs, underlining the band’s new defined versatility and impressive intensity.

Each of the songs highlight a different facet of Xandria’s musical range, alongside a new recording and beautifully re-arranged version of the title track from their recent album, The Wonders Still Awaiting.

From bombastic film score atmospheres, choir-and-orchestra-driven anthems to real Celtic atmospheres and instruments like fiddle and whistles, the songs blend both classic and modern metal influences. Universal Tales offers a wealth of discoveries, while singer Ambre Vourhavis explores new heights and depths in her voice, making her even stronger than on the last album.

The former standalone single “Universal”, alongside an official music video is a statement in support of a free, open, and diverse society, standing against authoritarianism and religious fundamentalism. It is dedicated to Jina Mahsa Amini and all those fighting for freedom.

“No Time to Live Forever” is about the apparent loss of reason in the world, and the rise of tribalism, fired by religious fundamentalism that seems to fight a last battle against enlightenment and the achievements of civilization.

“Live the Tale” follows that theme, showcasing that despite dark clouds, humankind could head in a positive direction as there is so much yet undiscovered and so much potential in mankind to live the tale of its imagination.

On “200 Years”, Xandria fully embraces their Celtic roots like never before and explores the realms of the well-known book and TV series “Outlander”.

Accented by renowned violinist Ally Storch (Subway To Sally), mesmerizing violin merges with resolute drums and with the blockbuster-like atmosphere, immediately transport fans to distant realms, fighting for a free and fair world.

The Universal Tales EP concludes with orchestral versions of the four new tracks and will be released just before the band embarks on worldwide tours with genre peers Sirenia and Delain in the fall of 2024 and spring of 2025. While Marco Heubaum once again oversaw the recordings as the producer, Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Arch Enemy, Evergrey) handled the mixing and mastering.»

Παρακολουθούμε το μουσικό βίντεο του τραγουδιού "Live The Tale", για το οποίο οι Xandria μας λένε:

«Live the Tale is about the story humanity once dreamed for itself - imagined by poets, scientists, humanists and philosophers across the ages.

A world built on reason and compassion. On freedom, tolerance, pluralism, democracy and shared progress. A world where knowledge empowers, and technology serves us all. For everyone.

Not just a chosen few. But that vision is under threat. Fear, division, and false promises are gaining ground - all around us, and potentially within us.

There are those who exploit our darker instincts, speaking to the dark side in us. They rise by fueling hate, simplifying truth, and turning democracy into their tool, eventually into an authoritarian nightmare that only serves the rich and powerful.

Civilization takes effort - the effort to resist the dark side, even in ourselves. The effort to overcome the urge to reject what’s different.

To resist the temptation to give in to fear, selfishness, or hate - the forces that quietly erode what took generations to build.

To resist the longing for strongmen who flatter our egos and validate that dark side in us, but only for their own gain.

We believe the time has come again to stand up for the better story. To live the tale - together. With empathy, with courage, and with hope.»

Band: Xandria
Country of origin: Germany
Location: Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia
Formed in: 1994
Genre: Symphonic Metal
Lyrical themes: Inner struggles, Feelings
Years active: 1994-1997, 1999-present

Video: "Live The Tale"
Video by: Ingo Spörl
Album: "Universal Tales"
Type: EP
Release date: November 22nd, 2024
Label: Napalm Records

Track listing:
1. No Time to Live Forever 04:37
2. Universal 04:42
3. 200 Years 04:41
4. Live the Tale 04:52
5. The Wonders Still Waiting (Acoustic Film Score version) 04:08
6. No Time to Live Forever (Orchestral version) 04:37
7. Universal (Orchestral version) 04:41
8. 200 Years (Orchestral version) 04:39
9. Live the Tale (Orchestral version) 04:52

Band members:
Marco Heubaum - Guitars, Keyboards, Programming, Vocals
Tim Schwarz - Bass
Dimitrios Gatsios - Drums
Rob Klawonn - Guitars
Ambre Vourvahis - Vocals

Guest/Session:
Ally Storch Violino (tracks 3, 8)