Band: Draconian
Genre: Gothic/Doom Metal
Discography: "Where Lovers Mourn" (2003), "Arcane Rain Fell" (2005), "The Burning Halo" (2006), "Turning Season Within" (2008)
Love at first listen...that's what I experienced when I first listened to Sweden's Draconian. I remember downloading an mp3 file some years ago of the song "Silent Winter", and after hearing it I could not believe my ears. I was so engaged by that beautiful song that I started saving money immediately and after some days I rushed and order their first LP "Where Lovers Mourn". When I finally got it in my hands I listened to it non stop and then all was clear: this would be a life long romance.
Draconian's music has it all: melancholy, sorrowful atmosphere, unbelievable beautiful melodies, outstanding drumming, deep soul-ripping growling, angelic female voice, talked passages, impressive keyboards and orchestrated arrangements, interesting lyrics and so on and so on...
"Arcane Rain Fell" is a concept album rounding the mythology story of Lucifer and his fallen angels, cast out from the heavens by god because of pride and ambition. It is a beautiful and simply marvellous LP where melancholy, sorrow and doom evolve into moving melodies and mindscapes. Sure candidate for best doom/death release of all times, "Arcane Rain Fell" has been one of my favourite journeys for quite some time now.
Sadly, 2008 shows a band that is getting infected by the commercial bug. In my opinion, "Turning Season Within" is a big step back. The music moved towards goth rock, in a similar style to late Rapture. Don't get me wrong, it is a good album but when you compare it to the previous ones, it lacks identity. My fingers are crossed whishing the band won't stay in the road to commercial success and musical damnation, because let's face it: good quality music often doesn't sell because of too much stupid listeners around seeking catchy uninteresting tunes.
All I can do is to write about great bands in my little uninteresting blog hoping that some persons will read my crappy amateur reviews and then download the albums...if at least one person does so...then I'm happy...
Download Draconian´s discography here
Download "Turning Season Within" here
Note: I thank my friend Sagitata for providing me this torrent to share it with you all.
Song: "A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal " from ""Where Lovers Mourn"
[Poem by William
Wordsworth, anno 1799]
A slumber did my spirit seal;
I had no human fears:
She seemed a thing that could not feel
The touch of earthly years.
No motion has she now, no force;
She neither hears nor sees;
Rolled round in earth's diurnal course,
With rocks, and stones, and trees.
