Draconian (band)
Encyclopedia
Draconian is a doom metal
band from Säffle
, Sweden
formed in 1994. The band consists of Anders Jacobsson (vocals, writing), Johan Ericson (guitars, writing), Jerry Torstensson (drums, percussion), Daniel Arvidsson (guitars), Fredrik Johansson (bass), and Andreas Karlsson (keyboards, programming).
Their first demo, Shades of a Lost Moon, was recorded in 1995. The demo counted with flutist and vocalist Jessica Eriksson, keyboardist and vocalist Susanne Arvidsson and with a special participation of Andreas Haag on the introductory section of “My Nemesis”. It was released in February, 1996, however, no recording contract was obtained. In early 1997, the band proceeded to record their second demo, entitled In Glorious Victory. The band, however, became discontent with the quality of the recording and discontinued the release.
In the following months, two members of Draconian had to complete their military service, slowing down the progress of the band. Their rehearsals, however, continued to some degree. Susanne Arvidsson left the band due to personal reasons and was replaced in 2001 by Lisa Johansson.
Both in 1998 and 1999, the band did some gigs. After receiving positive reactions, they decided to enter the studio once more. In August 1999, Draconian recorded The Closed Eyes of Paradise, an album dealing mostly with the theme of Lucifer and his fallen angels. Susanne Arvidsson made guest vocal appearances on this release. Between May and June 2000, Andreas Karlsson, Anders Jacobsson, and Johan Ericson worked on the recorded material, improving the mix of the instruments and correcting effects. The demo was then released in the face of further line-up changes – Andy Hindenäs left the band, replaced by Johan Ericson who switched to guitars; drums were then left to Jerry Torstensson.
The band recorded their debut album, Where Lovers Mourn
in Studio Mega under the supervision of Chris Silver (former member of Sundown and Cemetery) in July 2003.
would also include three new tracks and two covers. Plagued by numerous problems throughout the production phases, the album was delayed and finally completed in June and released in September 2006.
In October 2010, it was announced on the band's official website that Draconian had entered the studio to start recording their new album, stating that a release could be expected in spring 2011. The album was mastered on April the 1st 2011, confirmed by an official forum post by J. Ericson. The album will, according to the band, have a style closer to their older albums, incorporating violins in some of its tracks. In December, the band announced that they would be playing at the Metal Female Voices Fest IX, taking place in October 2011.
On June 24th, 2011, Draconian released their new album A Rose for the Apocalypse
.
On November 15th, 2011, Lisa Johansson left the band due to personal reasons, mainly spending time home with her family.
Singles
Demo albums
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
band from Säffle
Säffle
Säffle is a locality and the seat of Säffle Municipality, Värmland County, Sweden with 9,156 inhabitants in 2005.Säffle is known for being the last place in Sweden formally getting the title of a City in 1951. This status was abolished in 1971...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
formed in 1994. The band consists of Anders Jacobsson (vocals, writing), Johan Ericson (guitars, writing), Jerry Torstensson (drums, percussion), Daniel Arvidsson (guitars), Fredrik Johansson (bass), and Andreas Karlsson (keyboards, programming).
Early history
Draconian was formed in 1994 in Säffle, Sweden. In May 1994, drummer and vocalist Johan Ericson, bassist and vocalist Jesper Stolpe and guitarist Andy Hindenäs assembled the band Kerberos, initially playing melodic death metal with black metal influences. Seven months later, lead vocalist and lyrics composer Anders Jacobsson joined the band, and its name changed to Draconian.Their first demo, Shades of a Lost Moon, was recorded in 1995. The demo counted with flutist and vocalist Jessica Eriksson, keyboardist and vocalist Susanne Arvidsson and with a special participation of Andreas Haag on the introductory section of “My Nemesis”. It was released in February, 1996, however, no recording contract was obtained. In early 1997, the band proceeded to record their second demo, entitled In Glorious Victory. The band, however, became discontent with the quality of the recording and discontinued the release.
In the following months, two members of Draconian had to complete their military service, slowing down the progress of the band. Their rehearsals, however, continued to some degree. Susanne Arvidsson left the band due to personal reasons and was replaced in 2001 by Lisa Johansson.
Both in 1998 and 1999, the band did some gigs. After receiving positive reactions, they decided to enter the studio once more. In August 1999, Draconian recorded The Closed Eyes of Paradise, an album dealing mostly with the theme of Lucifer and his fallen angels. Susanne Arvidsson made guest vocal appearances on this release. Between May and June 2000, Andreas Karlsson, Anders Jacobsson, and Johan Ericson worked on the recorded material, improving the mix of the instruments and correcting effects. The demo was then released in the face of further line-up changes – Andy Hindenäs left the band, replaced by Johan Ericson who switched to guitars; drums were then left to Jerry Torstensson.
Record deal and debut album
Dark Oceans We Cry was recorded in 2002, featuring the vocal talents of Lisa Johansson for the first time. The EP was made available on the internet, as well as in CD format. In spite of the recent line-up changes, the demo received outstanding reviews and the band signed a long-awaited record deal with Napalm Records.The band recorded their debut album, Where Lovers Mourn
Where Lovers Mourn
Where Lovers Mourn is the first full-length album released by the band Draconian through Napalm Records on the 20 October 2003. It was recorded and produced at Studio Mega by Chris Silver and Draconian in June 2003....
in Studio Mega under the supervision of Chris Silver (former member of Sundown and Cemetery) in July 2003.
Later releases
In 2006 they began working on their third release. However, due to myriad fan requests, the band decided to first deliver a bonus album to include remakes of old tracks from The Closed Eyes of Paradise demo. The Burning HaloThe Burning Halo
The Burning Halo is a compilation album released by the band Draconian through Napalm Records on the 29th of September 2006...
would also include three new tracks and two covers. Plagued by numerous problems throughout the production phases, the album was delayed and finally completed in June and released in September 2006.
In October 2010, it was announced on the band's official website that Draconian had entered the studio to start recording their new album, stating that a release could be expected in spring 2011. The album was mastered on April the 1st 2011, confirmed by an official forum post by J. Ericson. The album will, according to the band, have a style closer to their older albums, incorporating violins in some of its tracks. In December, the band announced that they would be playing at the Metal Female Voices Fest IX, taking place in October 2011.
On June 24th, 2011, Draconian released their new album A Rose for the Apocalypse
A Rose for the Apocalypse
A Rose for the Apocalypse is Draconian's fifth studio album released June 23, 2011, through Napalm Records.- Track listing :-Personnel:*Lisa Johansson: Female vocals*Anders Jacobsson: Male vocals*Johan Ericson: Lead guitar, Backing vocals...
.
On November 15th, 2011, Lisa Johansson left the band due to personal reasons, mainly spending time home with her family.
Current members
- Johan Ericson – backing vocals, lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
(1994–present) - Anders Jacobsson – vocals (1995–present)
- Jerry Torstensson – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion (2000–present) - Daniel Arvidsson – rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
(2005–present) - Fredrik Johansson – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2006–present)
Former members
- Lisa Johansson – vocals (2001–2011)
- Andy Hindenäs – guitar (1994–2000)
- Jesper Stolpe – bass (1994–2002, 2004–2006)
- Susanne Arvidsson – vocals, keyboards (1995–1997)
- Magnus Bergström – guitar (1995–2005)
- Thomas Jäger – bass (2002–2004)
- Andreas Karlsson – keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, programming (1997–2008)
Session members
- Jessica Eriksson – fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, vocals on Shades of a Lost Moon - Andreas Haag – keyboards on Shades of a Lost Moon
- Olof Götlin – violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
on Where Lovers Mourn - Paul KuhrPaul KuhrPaul August Kuhr, III, , is an American musician, vocalist, lyricist, author, and graphic designer...
– vocals on Turning Season Within
Discography
Studio albums- Where Lovers MournWhere Lovers MournWhere Lovers Mourn is the first full-length album released by the band Draconian through Napalm Records on the 20 October 2003. It was recorded and produced at Studio Mega by Chris Silver and Draconian in June 2003....
(2003) - Arcane Rain FellArcane Rain FellArcane Rain Fell is the second full-length album released by the band Draconian through Napalm Records on 24 January 2005. It was recorded and produced at Studio Underground....
(2005) - The Burning HaloThe Burning HaloThe Burning Halo is a compilation album released by the band Draconian through Napalm Records on the 29th of September 2006...
(2006) - Turning Season WithinTurning Season WithinTurning Season Within is Draconian's fourth studio album. It was released on February 29, 2008 , through Napalm Records. This album also features Paul Kuhr from Novembers Doom on the track September Ashes....
(2008) - A Rose for the ApocalypseA Rose for the ApocalypseA Rose for the Apocalypse is Draconian's fifth studio album released June 23, 2011, through Napalm Records.- Track listing :-Personnel:*Lisa Johansson: Female vocals*Anders Jacobsson: Male vocals*Johan Ericson: Lead guitar, Backing vocals...
(2011)
Singles
- No Greater Sorrow (Digital download, 2008)
Demo albums
- Shades of a Lost Moon (1995)
- In Glorious Victory (1997)
- The Closed Eyes of Paradise (1999)
- Frozen Features (2000)
- Dark Oceans We Cry (2002)
External links
- Draconian at Napalm RecordsNapalm RecordsNapalm Records is an Austrian independent record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock.Originally, Napalm Records focused mainly on black metal acts such as Abigor and Summoning and folk metal bands such as Falkenbach and Vintersorg....