Melodic hard rock band XDB dropped their long-awaited new single, "When the Love Is Gone", via MTS Records on April 11, 2025. Written by Robert Kane and performed by Rob Kane, Xander Demos, Brendan Callahan, Emily Stroup, and Guy Cole, the track packs a punch with soaring melodies, powerful instrumentals, and heartfelt lyrics.
Leading the charge in XDB is Xander Demos, a renowned metal guitarist from Pittsburgh, PA. With an impressive resume that includes performances alongside legendary acts like Stryper, Adrenaline Mob, Symphony X, and Lizzy Borden, as well as touring with Tim “Ripper” Owens and James Rivera, Xander has firmly established himself as one of the most thrilling guitarists in modern metal.
Regarding the When the Love Is Gone Rob Kane said: "It started with the intro. I had been listening to TNT's “My Religion” album and Tony Harnell’s Starbreaker project, and I wanted to write something that was guitar-driven but also had keys in it, especially in the intro. The opening riff led to the chorus, and when I came up with the line ‘When the Love Is Gone,’ the rest of the song wrote itself around that concept."
Reflecting on its evolution, Xander Demos adds: "It's a catchy tune, and we've since rethought some of the ways we play it, especially with that big chorus. We perform it in Drop-D, which gives it a cool mix between TNT and Savatage."
Regarding lyrics, "When the Love Is Gone" explores lost love, regret, and longing themes. The song brings me back to the 80s in terms of sound and songwriting (Europe is the first band that comes to my mind), and it features very cool vocals (and backing vocals!), energetic and technical guitars (check out the stunning solos!), and a solid rhythm section. A very cool song, catchy and amazingly performed by the band. Give it a go on the lyric video above and follow XDB on Spotify and social media.
https://www.facebook.com/xanderdemosmusic
https://www.youtube.com/user/xanderdemos
https://www.instagram.com/xander_demos_and_xdb/