Draconian – Sovran (2015)

Perfectly in time for a very gloomy October, Draconian is set to unleash “Sovran”. Four years in the making and after the departure of Lisa Johansson, the band returns with a superbly strong and very melancholic release that will become another Draconian classic. The band’s melancholic sound is greatly complemented by their new singer Heike Langhans, making this release a perfect step in the band’s musical trajectory.

Opening with bleak first minutes of “Heavy Lies the Crown” we have some crushing Doom riffs and a very oppressive atmosphere that is beautifully craved out of piano sections and solemn female vocals. As the band settles more into their classic sound, “The Wretched Tide” is filled with great vocal duels between Andres superb harsh vocals and Heike’s emotionally charged voice that nicely contrast the harshness of the music.

As the album progresses, we start noticing that the band’s sound in this release reminds us of their “Turning Season Within” album. Heike’s vocal talents perfectly fit the band’s sound and on tracks like “Pale Tortured Blue” and “Dishearten” they send chills down our spine. The perfect balance of aggressive parts and truly melancholic passages is one of the stronger points of this release, as tracks like “Stella Tombs” alternate between styles.

With all tracks being equally good, we have to say that “No Lonelier Star” and “Rivers Between Us” are two of the most impressive songs. This last track in particular oozes melancholy unlike anything else we’ve heard in 2015. If you like weeping riffs and intoxicating clean vocals, this song will mesmerize you. For the uninitiated, the band’s style perfectly mixes the best elements of outfits like My Dying Bride, Swallow the Sun, Lacrimas Profundere (old) with lush female vocals, and on “Sovran” they continue to perfect their musical blend.

Closing the release with the melodic “The Marriage of Attaris”, Draconian has managed to produce their best album so far. The change of vocalists did not affect the band’s style and they returned more Doomy and more melancholic than ever. Each song in “Sovran” oozes emotion and contrast, making listening to the album a truly majestic experience. If you like any of the band’s older albums, you will love this one. If you don’t know the band, be sure to check them out if you like Theater of Tragedy, My Dying Bride, Shape of Despair, etc.

Label: Napalm Records

Release: October 30th, 2015

Genre: Gothic/Doom Metal

Country: Sweden