By Christopher Paul Snyder
November 16, 2024

7 YEARS IN THE MAKING

Kill The Sun is highly unique. At a time when bands like Nightwish and Epica were embarking on worldwide tours, a band named Xandria was releasing their debut. For seven years Marco Heubaum had been pursuing a career in music to no avail. When he started the band in 1997, the group disbanded after recording their first demo, less then a year into the process. In 1999, Heubaum reclaimed his spark and found members to form a new version of his band Xandria. It took 4 years, but in 2003 the band released their debut album, Kill The Sun.

THE GIRL BEHIND THE MYSTERY: LISA MIDDELHAUVE

Lisa Middelhauve is an enigmatic figure.

MIDDELHAUVE’S DEPARTURE

I took this picture in the XANDRIA dressing room in Berlin during my last tour with the band. I had already left the band weeks before, but my departure was announced much later.

This tour was an absolutely horrible experience for me, especially since neither the remaining members nor I managed to talk with each others. I drowned my feeling of total isolation in much more alcohol than I was used to. (And I'm very glad I didn't go on like this after the tour.)

And although it's years ago now, although I've learned to understand and support the new XANDRIA, although I highly respect their current musical work, there's a part of me that still hasn't overcome the sadness and disappointment of that time back then.

Well, I'm still young. Let's be optimistic that I won't spoil my life with this kind of negativity forever. [1]

THE GIRL BEHIND THE MYSTERY: LISA MIDDELHAUVE

Never then nor since have I ever heard another album encompassed by these kinds of themes. The opening track immediatley grabs my hand trsnporting me to another time and place. A world of magic and wonder; of ancient architecture, and history and people. Filled with mermaids, children from the depths beyond and seducteress woman drawing me into a trap. The ancient city of Casablanca, and the movie of the same name. The powerful middle eastern gods of Isis and Osiris, beautiful within the desert sands. Just as soon as they they come on stage, so they too dissapear into the sandstorm beyond.

GALLERY