Metal Anarchy

Draconian have announced a new album titled “In Somnolent Ruin.” The effort will be released on May 8 and it can be pre-order HERE.

“In Somnolent Ruin” Track Listing:

01. “I Welcome Thy Arrow”
02. “The Monochrome Blade”
03. “Anima” (feat. Daniel Änghede)
04. “The Face Of God”
05. “I Gave You Wings”
06. “Asteria Beneath The Tranquil Sea”
07. “Cold Heavens”
08. “Misanthrope River”
09. “Lethe”

Guitarist Johan Ericson commented:

“The first idea — the embryo, really — of ‘In Somnolent Ruin’ goes back to 2021. It began with the song ‘Misanthrope River’, a title that had already existed since the demo days of ‘Under A Godless Veil’, now finally finding music to accompany it. As small pieces and fragments slowly started to grow into actual songs, it only made me more inspired to keep writing.

I drew a lot of inspiration from art and from other musical acts — everything from dark folk to eerie ambient music — which helped keep the creative spark alive. Early on, I had a clear sense of the overall vibe I wanted for the album: classic doom intertwined with ambient soundscapes. I also wanted a wide variety of songs across the record, but without losing that strong gothic thread that connects everything and gives it a shared atmosphere.”

Vocalist Anders Jacobsson added:

“It took quite some time before the album began to feel whole. We didn’t settle on the final track list until very late in the process, as each piece slowly came together — vocals finding their place, ideas overlapping, and a real sense of collaboration allowing the songs to evolve toward an imagined destination. In the end, the music always seems to transform into something that once felt almost unimaginable.

For me personally, it was a fascinating but challenging experience. I struggled at times to see how everything would ultimately come together, and there were moments of doubt throughout the process. But it did come together in the end, and all the uncertainty and self-reflection somehow proved worthwhile. The creative journey for me is always deeply tied to introspection, and this record demanded a great deal of that.
It was without question the most difficult album for me to fully grasp and work through — but perhaps that’s what makes the final result all the more compelling, and, I believe, quite remarkable. It’s been a long time coming… It was also fantastic to work with Lisa again, and to have Daniel Johansson bring a new dimension to the drums added another layer of depth to the entire process.”