Draconian
A Rose For The Apocalypse

In a period when there is a tendency to release works with a very commercial flavor and suitable for the masses, Draconian seems to go decidedly against the tide. With the farewell of Theatre of Tragedy and the change of direction by Tristania, the last bastion of Goth/Doom music lies precisely in the Swedish sextet. After the mediocre "Turning Season Within," where Draconian had arrived at a more modern and up-tempo sound putting guitars at the forefront, "Rose for the Apocalypse" slightly nods to that masterpiece that was "Arcane Rain Fall" and presents itself as an album with a majestic and truly incisive sound, giving us moments of very intense music.

Moreover, how can one not be astounded by the opening of the album: "The Drowning Age," powerful and overwhelming for all its 7 minutes. A very similar discussion for the subsequent "The Last Hour Ancient Sunlight", (from which a video was also taken) a track in pure Draconian style where Lisa Johansson's sweet voice chases and mixes with Anders' growl. "End of the Rope" is also fitting, where Jacobsson's vocal performance really sends shivers down your spine when mixed with the sense of unease the track conveys.

"Elysian Night" is perhaps the most prominent piece of the entire album, where a wall of roaring guitars soon gives way to the ever-magnificent Johansson and the keyboards, never so convincing as in this incarnation. But the attention seems never to wane: Draconian places two other excellent tracks: "Deadlight", poignant and compelling until the end, and "Dead World Assembly" where violins make their appearance and very soon blend with the whole; Jacobsson, meanwhile, does not hold back and pours all his fury into the microphone, appearing increasingly aggressive and proving it with the following track: "A Phantom Dissonance" strikes with a very acoustic and melodic intro that awaits nothing more than being overwhelmed by a fierce growl.

The album closes with a trio of tracks that are a pleasure to listen to "The Quiet Storm", "the Death of Hours" and "Wall of Sight", all tracks in the full Goth/Doom style, perfect and majestic as ever characterized by the usual impeccable dualism of voices.

And it's worth spending a few words on the songwriting which, while dealing with classic themes of the genre, is never trite and banal; instead, it is impeccable and allows us to sink even deeper into the dramatic romanticism permeating from the beginning to the end of the album.

Ultimately, we have an excellent record in our hands that, once started, cannot be interrupted. If you think that it's one of the few true Goth/Doom albums left in circulation, then all the more reason to praise the Swedish sextet. Be clear, the formula is always the same of the genre, "beauty and the beast" vocal style, keyboards and classical instruments accompanying everything, and a powerful and vigorous sound, but "Rose for The Apocalypse," even without peaks like "Arcane Rain Fall," flows by and envelops in that mix of feelings Draconian want to implant in the listener's mind; perhaps the breaks and memorable verses that deeply imprint on our minds are not the band's specialty, but if you're in the mood to surrender to melancholic and heart-wrenching melodies, a superb angelic voice, an angry growl and, more generally, a gothic atmosphere from every point of view, know that this release is just right for you.