ABOUT

YLISIA is a Dutch female fronted symphonic metal band based in The Netherlands. Influences are bands such as The (old) Gathering, Evanescence, Within Temptation, Stream of Passion and Kate Bush.
“Sometimes you just find an instant connection. That is when magic happens”.
That, my friends, was the beginning of this new adventure ahead of us:
YLISIA
Founder, keyboard player and composer George van Olffen (ex Secret Sounds, Moonflower, Kingfisher Sky), asked longtime friend and guitar player Martijn de Zeeuw to join him in the quest for an additional line-up.
In the summer of 2021, Liesbeth Cordia (ex Annatar, Eve’s Fall) joined as vocalist, along with Eva Levina as drummer and Tim Hoogervorst (ex theName) as bassist, who completed the band with a solid rhythm section.
George and Liesbeth discovered a deep musical connection. Liesbeth found her writing mojo and completed the songs with much needed melodies and lyrics in hyperspeed. Only three days after they first met, some vocals were recorded in George’s homestudio, instantly bringing the songs to life. So the story began.
YLISIA released their first homestudio demos soon after, and started storming the stage in 2022! For their very first gig they attended the W.O.A. Metal Battle in the preliminary round Zuid-Holland, where they ended up in 2nd place! Another highlight was their performance at Rotown, Rotterdam during the Eendrachtfestival. They also had the opportunity to support Imperial Age at Baroeg, during their ‘New World Tour’. YLISIA ended up in 3rd place in the final of Grote Prijs van Dordt. Furthermore, on January 2023 they won the audience award of the European final of Female Metal Event FemME, which allowed them to play at the FemME festival 2023!
November 18th, 2023, YLISIA released their debut album “Underneath”! They played an unforgettable album release show at Nobel, Leiden! A videoclip was released on YouTube for the title-song. The album is out now on all platforms and CD hard copies are available at shows & online!
YLISIA won the jury award of the 2024 Kabaal Regionaal Band Battle and got to play a memorable show at the Kabaal am Gemaal stage during Bevrijdingfestival Wageningen (5 May festival)! They also played very well-received shows at sold-out festival Nieuwveen Live!, Women in Rock and Paardcafé.
The band signed a deal with Wormholedeath for the re-release of their debut album, “Underneath”, on December 6th, 2024. On June 30th, 2025 “Underneath” will be released in Japan.
It is safe to say that you will hear and see much more from YLISIA! So stay tuned!
QUOTES
“A Must Have.”
The Metal Mag (Franck Michaud):
https://www.themetalmag.com/…
“I would like to recommend you all to really listen to this band.”
Ever Metal (David Barreto):
https://www.ever-metal.com/…
“An album that should appeal to those with an affection for the more accessible and melody-oriented aspects of the symphonic metal tradition.”
The Viking in the Wilderness Post (Olav Martin Bjornsen):
https://www.facebook.com/wildernessviking/…
“YLISIA has created an album that often brings tears of enthusiasm to one’s eyes due to its gripping beauty, its emotional depth, its captivating dynamics and a certain cordiality. Everything is right here. The production, the rich instrumentation, the songs. Above all, it is also the charismatic voice of Liesbeth Cordia that goes deep under the skin.”
Metal Division Magazine (Thomas Müller):
https://www.metal-division-magazine.com/…
“This album will make you want to sing out loud, chest-first.”
The Viking in the Wilderness Post (Olav Martin Bjornsen):
https://theprogmind.com/…
“Great prog/sympho material from the cradle of some genre legends.”
Powermetal.de (Björn Backes):
https://powermetal.de/…
“YLISIA is a band with potential and they have a crown jewel as vocalist.”
Metal Temple (Thomas Kumke):
https://metal-temple.com/…
“Released on December 6th, 2024 via Wormholedeath Records, “Underneath” proves why the Netherlands continues to dominate the symphonic metal scene. Liesbeth Cordia and the band have created something truly extraordinary.”
The Brutally Delicious Podcast:
https://poddtoppen.se/podcast/…