New Year, New Music

[Mendalla]

My body is in Canada, but my heart is in Gdansk, Poland today. Huge concert with a stellar lineup. Headliner is Swedish power metal act Sabaton, the guys who give a history lesson in every song. Supporting are three acts with connections to Sabaton.

This recent Sabaton piece is about renowned Chinese general Lu Bu, a major figure at the end of the Han Dynasty and into the Three Kingdoms period.

And then there's Dutch rocker Floor Jansen who should need no introduction here. Connection to Sabaton? She's married to their drummer and has provided additional vocals for them on occasion. This will be her first show of 2026 as she's been focussed on getting a new album out so far this year (which is still "coming" but we fans are patient).

Majestica is lead by Swedish guitarist and singer Tommy Johansson, who also played guitar in Sabaton for several years.

And finally Israeli prog metal act Scardust, whose vocalist Noa Grumman conducted (yes, really, she's a trained choral conductor with her own choir that she uses with Scardust and also hires out to other artists) the orchestra and choir on Sabaton's fall tour of Europe. Noa is also a former student of Floor from a period in Floor's career when she did voice lessons and coaching.

 

[Mendalla]

Xandria are one of the originals of symphonic metal, first appearing in an earlier form in 1994 and then as the current band in 1999. Like many bands, they've had a revolving door lineup, with the only constant being founder Marco Heubaum (who has played rhythm guitar, keys, and bass at various times and even sang for a period). The highlight of the current lineup is vocalist Ambre Vourvahis, a powerful soprano who is only two years older than the band itself. New album is coming August 7 and this is one of the tracks.

If you're wondering about Ambre's name, she's mixed French and Greek.

 

[Mendalla]

Oo, look what I found on YouTube last night. New Sara Bareilles single with an album due in August. It's her first new studio album in 7 years, though I think she's written music for some soundtracks during that time.