XANDRIA Signs With NAPALM RECORDS

German female-fronted symphonic metallers XANDRIA have inked a deal with Napalm Records. The band is currently in the studio recording its as-yet-untitled fifth album for an early 2012 release.

Commented XANDRIA mastermind Marco Heubaum: "We wanted to make sure that we'd have the best conditions to record the new album the way we want it, and Napalm and us shared the same ideas, objectives and visions from the very beginning on. We are very confident XANDRIA and Napalm Records with its roster and expertise will make a great team!"

XANDRIA will take part in the "Out Of The Dark" European tour with VAN CANTO, TRISTANIA, SERENITY and AMBERIAN DAWN in the fall.

XANDRIA in December announced the addition of singer Manuela Kraller to the group's ranks.

Kraller made her live debut with XANDRIA at the "Classic Meets Pop" event on January 7 at the Seidensticker Halle in Bielefeld, Germany.

Commented Manuela: "My musical life started very late, at the age of 23. In a choir in Finland I discovered singing for me and since then it became my passion. I began to take classical singing lessons, sang in church and gospel choirs and soon I was asked to be a solo singer in choirs, at churchly and also at private occasions. But as I have grown up with metal and rock music I soon wanted to combine it with my classical background. So I started singing rock and metal songs with a friend and also wrote own songs for the first time. Soon after that I joined a metal band called NAGOR MAR (Switzerland) and I also became a singer in the German band HAGGARD, where I had great experiences on stage and on tour. And now a 'new age' has begun for me and I am very pleased to be the new singer of XANDRIA!"

XANDRIA performed several concerts last year with the band's former frontwoman, Lisa Middelhauve, filling in.

XANDRIA in February 2011 parted ways with its singer of one year, Kerstin Bischof. The group stated at the time, "Due to occupational and private reasons, [Kerstin] wants to concentrate on her non-musical career in the future and cannot support XANDRIA the way it would be necessary."

Bischof joined XANDRIA in February 2009 as the replacement for Middelhauve, who left the band in May 2008 for "personal reasons." Lisa stated at the time, "My exit has nothing to do with dispute or controversy within the band. It was just time to split."

XANDRIA's "Now & Forever - The Best Of" collection was released in June 2008. The CD contains 20 tracks, including a few rarities like the ballad "Lullaby" from the "India" era and the songs "One Word" and "Drown In Me" (previously unavailable on a XANDRIA album). "Now & Forever - The Best Of Xandria" was also released as a double digipack containing a DVD of the complete XANDRIA show from 2007's Summer Breeze festival, all of the band's promotional video clips and a brand new interview.

XANDRIA's fourth album, "Salom - The Seventh Veil", was released on May 25, 2007.