DRACONIAN: dritte Single zum neuen Album „In Somnolent Ruin“ & Tour 2027 – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pixabay)
Swedish gothic doom metal band DRACONIAN will release its eighth studio album, In Somnolent Ruin, on May 8 through Napalm Records. The record marks the return of vocalist Lisa Johansson, who sang on the group’s first five albums before stepping away in 2011. Her comeback, announced in 2022, pairs with the addition of drummer Daniel Johansson, who joined full-time in 2025 after earlier session work.
A Third Single Emerges
The band has now shared “Anima” as the third advance track. The song features guest vocals from Daniel Änghede of Venus Principle and Astroqueen. Anders Jacobsson, who handles lead vocals, described the track as originating from a 2019 poem that examines the soul’s dual nature and the parts of the self people often avoid. The title nods to the Jungian archetype, and the music moves through shifting paradoxes before settling into quiet acceptance of inner darkness.
Earlier singles “Cold Heaven” and “Misanthrope River” already introduced listeners to the album’s atmosphere. “Misanthrope River” itself dates back to demo sessions for the previous record, Under a Godless Veil, and finally received its finished arrangement during the new sessions.
How the Album Took Shape
Guitarist and vocalist Johan Ericson traced the project’s beginnings to 2021. He drew inspiration from dark folk, unsettling ambient music, and visual art while aiming for a blend of classic doom and atmospheric soundscapes. The goal was variety across the nine tracks without losing the overarching gothic mood that ties everything together.
Jacobsson noted that the songs came together gradually, with vocals and ideas layering over time. The final tracklist only locked in late in the process. He called the experience both fascinating and demanding, marked by moments of doubt that ultimately gave way to a cohesive result. The collaboration with Johansson and the expanded role of the new drummer added depth that the band had not anticipated at the start.
Live Plans for 2026 and 2027
DRACONIAN will play several festival and headline shows this year, including dates in South America and an appearance at Brutal Assault in the Czech Republic. A full European headline tour is scheduled for February and March 2027, with support from Saturnus and Ann My Guard. The itinerary covers Germany, Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom.
The current lineup features Johan Ericson on guitar, vocals, and keys; Anders Jacobsson on vocals; Lisa Johansson on vocals; Daniel Arvidsson on bass; Niklas Nord on guitar; and Daniel Johansson on drums.
Full Tracklist
- I Welcome Thy Arrow
- The Monochrome Blade
- Anima (feat. Daniel Änghede)
- The Face of God
- I Gave You Wings
- Asteria Beneath the Tranquil Sea
- Cold Heaven
- Misanthrope River
- Lethe
With the album arriving in just one day and a major tour already booked, DRACONIAN enters a new chapter that reconnects past and present while pushing the band’s sound forward.
