Sonic Cathedral recently caught up with new Xandria vocalist Dianne van Giersbergen. An excerpt from the interview is available below:

Q: Did you have a hand in writing (new album) Sacrificium, or was it pretty much done before you came on board?

Dianne: "It was mostly done. The lyrics had to be written, and because of that, I had some freedom with still being able to change a little bit of the vocal lines -- not the major part, but just dotting the i’s and setting the lines to my voice so that it would color better to the music. I, of course, have a different voice than Manuela’s, and it works in a different way. It is natural that I work in a different way because I’m a different person, so I had some flexibility there. But the music was all finished."

Q: When Xandria’s co-producer (Joost van den Broek) approached you about becoming Xandria’s new vocalist, after Manuela unexpectedly announced her departure, were you apprehensive at all? I mean, you are the fourth vocalist in 10 years.

Dianne: "Yes, that is true. No, I cannot say that I was afraid or anxious about this. I really took it as a new step. I think that, with a new face, the band changes a little bit, although we really try to blend my voice to the style and find a good balance there, in which we would all be happy. But no, I think every girl has a specialty, has her own talent, has her own-colored voice, and I will not blend my voice that much or try to sound like someone else. I will be true to myself. I didn’t study my voice for seven years to try to sound like someone else (laughs). With that, I wasn’t that much afraid with me losing myself."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Xandria will release their new album, Sacrificium, out via Napalm Records in Europe on May 5th, and in North America on May 6th. Check out the new video for 'Nightfall' below.

Tracklisting:

'Sacrificium'

'Nightfall'

'Dreamkeeper'

'Stardust'

'The Undiscovered Land'

'Betrayer'

'Until The End'

'Come With Me'

'Little Red Relish'

'Our Neverworld'

'Temple Of Hate'

'Sweet Atonement'

'Nightfall' video:

Preview video:

'Dreamkeeper' lyric video:

Xandria, now featuring Dutch talent Dianne Van Giersbergen as their new singer, replacing Manuela Kraller, have scheduled the following dates in support of the new album.

May

3 - Graz, Austria - Explosiv
4 - Wien, Austria - Szene
9 - London, England - Underworld
10 - Bilston, England - Dames of Darkness Festival
17 - Bielefeld, Germany - Movie
22 - München, Germany - Backstage
23 - Heidelberg, Germany - Schwimmbad Club
24 - Schüttorf, Germany - Komplex
25 - Hamburg, Germany - Marx
28 - Köln, Germany - Underground
29 - Geiselwind, Germany - Out & Loud Open Air festival
30 - Pilsen, Czech Republic - Metal Fest Open Air Festival