Swedish gothic doom outfit Draconian will release their new studio album In Somnolent Ruin on May 8 through Napalm Records. The record arrives as one of the band’s most personal works so far, unfolding across nine tracks that move through a dreamlike atmosphere while leaning on the poetic writing of vocalist Anders Jacobsson.
The album also marks the return of longtime singer Lisa Johansson, who handled vocals on the band’s first five albums. The first taste of the record is the single “Cold Heavens,” a track that deals with the idea of finding no comfort in heaven, where the line between life and death offers no relief.
Draconian guitarist, vocalist and keyboardist Johan Ericson explained how the song came together: “In need of a more up-tempo song, ‘Cold Heavens’ was the final piece written for In Somnolent Ruin. The intention was to create a simple, straightforward track to balance the album’s longer compositions and add versatility. Lisa’s laid-back vocals take center stage, guiding us through a bleak, cold landscape before giving way to Anders’ more spiteful and desperate delivery. The song ends with a sense of resignation, leading into the album’s next track.”
Six years have passed since Draconian released its previous album, Under A Godless Veil, which became the band’s most successful release to date. A lot has shifted since then while the band’s identity remains intact. Guitarist Niklas Nord (Myteri, Deathtrap, The Random Victims) joined in spring 2022, and the group later confirmed the return of Lisa Johansson, who once again shares vocal duties with Anders Jacobsson. Her comeback follows several festival appearances with the band in recent years. Johansson originally stepped away from Draconian in 2011 for personal reasons.
The current lineup also includes drummer Daniel Johansson (Antikult, ex-Wormwood), who became a full member in 2025 after Jerry Torstennson departed. Before that, Johansson had worked with the band as a session drummer starting in 2019. Another notable shift finds longtime member Daniel Arvidsson now handling bass after moving over from guitar in 2022. In Somnolent Ruin is the first Draconian album where he appears in that role.
With a career stretching back to the mid-1990s and a debut album, Where Lovers Mourn, released in 2003, Draconian have built a reputation for slow-burning doom arrangements, layered melodies and lyrics that read like bleak poetry. Their music often leans into themes of inner conflict and isolation, guiding listeners through dark emotional territory before offering a sense of release.
The journey on In Somnolent Ruin opens with “I Welcome Thy Arrow,” which sets the tone through haunting melodies and the interplay between Johansson’s and Jacobsson’s voices. Songs like “The Monochrome Blade” and “The Face Of God” raise the tempo while pushing the vocal dynamics further.
“Anima” brings in Swedish musician Daniel Änghede, adding extra emotional weight as the track explores darker impulses and the feeling of losing direction. “Asteria Beneath The Tranquil Sea” works as a short bridge between “I Gave You Wings” and “Cold Heavens,” the latter focusing on the uneasy space between life and death while delivering one of the album’s most intense vocal performances.
Later in the record, “Misanthrope River” begins with a long instrumental section and narration from Simon Bibby, slowing the pace while reflecting the grind of everyday struggles. The album closes with “Lethe,” named after the river of forgetfulness in Greek mythology. Those who drank from it would lose their memories. As Jacobsson delivers the final lines — “Oh, shooting star… Drown in me! Drink. Forget. Repeat.” — the album ends on a bleak but fitting note.
Even with that theme of forgetting, In Somnolent Ruin stands as the kind of record that lingers long after it ends. For Draconian, it continues a long-running exploration of darkness, emotion and atmosphere that has defined their sound for decades.
In Somnolent Ruin is available to pre-order here in the following formats:
- 2 CD 36-page Earbook incl. In Somnolent Ruin & Bonus CD with 2 Tracks only available with this format (exclusively available via Napalm Records Mailorder)
- 2 LP Gatefold Picture Vinyl incl 24 pages 12’’ booklet (exclusively available via Napalm Records Europe Mailorder)
- 2 LP Gatefold Splattered Black Smoke/White Orange Black Vinyl incl 24 pages 12’’ booklet (exclusively available via Napalm Records Mailorder)
- 2 LP Gatefold Gold Vinyl incl lyric sheet (exclusively available via Napalm Records Mailorder)
- 1 CD Digipak
- Digital Album
