Ethereal Metal

Joshua Tanner | Contributor

Nearly 6 years after their previous album, Swedish doom/gothic metal legends Draconian are back with their 8th studio album, In Somnolent Ruin, out May 8th, 2026.

This album marks the return of original vocalist Lisa Johansson while also welcoming guitarist Niklas Nord and drummer Daniel Johansson into the fold. The concept of this album is centered around Plato’s theory of the soul, which emerged organically during the writing process.

Beginning with “I Welcome Thy Arrow,” the album immediately establishes a haunting melody that encompasses every facet of the song, a trademark that strengthens the return of Lisa’s precise conveyance of emotions. Over the course of the album, we get an increased tempo of doom and gothic elements, namely on the second track “The Monochrome Blade.” The third track, ‘Anima,’ features returning guest Daniel Änghede, who previously appeared on the sixth studio album Sovran, providing emotional depth with his soothing clean vocals, a contrast to what the band is used to providing with Anders. This song explores the duality of the soul, between inner territories that are avoided or feared.

Anders Jacobsson’s harsh vocals have never wavered in execution and are a perfect match for any Beauty and the Beast pairing of melodies, most notably on tracks “The Face of God” and ‘Cold Heavens’. The song that holds the strongest emotional weight would be ‘Misanthrope River’, which is centered around the emotional burden of everyday existence. The last track, ‘Lethe,’ is named after the Greek river of forgetfulness, and any who drink would forget all memories, conveyed in the lyrics, “Oh, shooting star… Drown in me! Drink. Forget. Repeat.” by Anders’ evil growls.

‘In Somnolent Ruin’ is a haunting reminder that Draconian still reign among doom metal’s elite — transforming grief, darkness, and beauty into something utterly unforgettable. This album is a triumphant return for Draconian, showcasing the haunting trademark sound they have carefully refined over the past 23 years through crushing doom, gothic atmosphere, and deeply emotional songwriting. They helped lead the genre that came out of the Gothenburg scene, and they clearly have no sign of stopping with their latest offering.

VERDICT: This album gets a 5 out of 5 stars, and it leaves no yearning for something more to be offered.