Draconian, masters of despair, have struck again.
Celebrating the return of their original vocalist, Lisa Johansson, Johan Ericson (guitar/backing vocals, Doom:VS), Anders Jacobsson (vocals) and Daniel Arvidsson (guitar, Mammoth Storm) have also officially announced the arrival of Niklas Nord (guitar, DeathTrap) and Daniel Johansson (drums, Antikvlt, ex-Wormwood) with their eighth album, In Somnolent Ruin.
Simon Bibby (My Silent Wake, Thy Listless Heart) also contributes narration.
The album opens in a very dark and solemn manner with I Welcome Thy Arrow, the first track where we (re)discover Lisa’s voice before the rhythm section ignites, even offering a solo before Anders’ growls emerge from the shadows, recreating that legendary duo that naturally enchants us. The contrast between beauty and violence is perfectly balanced, the various elements welded together by harmonics that lead us to The Monochrome Blade, the second track where the six musicians join forces once again to offer us a soaring sound, even during the more aggressive passages. The vocal duo echoes and dances through melancholy, progressing at its own pace toward Anima, a track where the band once again welcomes Daniel Änghede (Astroqueen, ex-Crippled Black Phoenix) – bassist from 2016 to 2019 – on clean vocals, offering an incredibly tender duet with Lisa, which is shattered by a lead section and the return of harsh vocals. We then move on to The Face of God, which returns to a dark soundscape while allowing both vocalists to express themselves in their own unique ways, inhabiting the slow, haunting riffs that don’t hesitate to break apart, offering a moment of calm before igniting once more to lead us to I Gave You Wings, a track brimming with sadness that weaves its way through in an extremely evocative manner thanks to its haunting doom roots. The softer passages allow us to appreciate the contrast even more fully before moving on to Asteria Beneath the Tranquil Sea, which begins with a soothing yet highly repetitive sound, letting Lisa’s voice take center stage for a radiant interlude. Distortion returns on Cold Heavens, imposing such contagious aggression that even the singer delivers far more intense parts that rival Anders’ roars, giving the rhythm section a more sustained pace before Misanthrope River lulls us in turn, using its slowness to captivate us. Screams fade into nothingness before the guitar ignites, paving the way for the two vocalists who finally take center stage again, leading us to Lethe, the final track that begins very gently with a simple melody and clean vocals, then adopts screams to perfect its harmony before the silence.
Although Draconian remains true to its roots, the return of its vocalist allows the band to expand its musical horizons, delivering some unexpectedly intense moments on In Somnolent Ruin. The album is the perfect addition to the band’s discography.
90/100