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Draconian is a dark and powerful Gothic Doom/Death Metal band from Sweden. The band have existed since 1994, but did not until October 2003 release their debutalbum "Where Lovers Mourn", under the banner of Napalm Records. Why this name? We took the name Draconian in the end of 1994, and the name have different meanings, but for us Draconian reprensent the dark side; the nightside of Eden. The term Draconian Magic (Dragon Magic) is one kind of Dark ancient Magic. So you can say it has an occult/spiritual meaning for the band. For us it has nothing to to with the greek dictator Dracon or aspects like Dracula. Let this be known! Do you play live? Draconian is a live-act, and we love it!!! How, do you think, does the internet (or mp3) change the music industry? For us it has been only great so far. But there are two sides of everything. Would you sign a record contract with a major label? We have a 4-album contract with Napalm records www.napalmrecords.com Band History: The beginning of Sweden’s DRACONIAN can be traced back to May 1994, when Johan Ericson (drums, vocals), Andy Hindenäs (guitars) and Jesper Stolpe (bass, vocals) joined forces as KERBEROS, a melodic heavy/death metal ensemble with black metal influences. Seven months later, lead vocalist and poet Anders Jacobsson joined the band, which then changed its name to what it is today.Over the next months, DRACONIAN worked diligently on new material that eventually found its way to their first demo recorded in Studio Källgren on 27 Oct 1995, exactly one week of their live debut. With the help of Jessica Eriksson (flute, vocals), Susanne Arvidsson (vocals, keyboard) and Andreas Haag (responsible for the intro “My Nemesis”) Shades of a Lost Moon was created. However, it was not made public until February 1996, as Magnus ”Bergis” Bergström (guitars), a longtime friend of the band, joined DRACONIAN.Shades of a Lost Moon received excellent reviews worldwide, prompting the interest of several labels. However, no contract materialized. At the end of January 1997, DRACONIAN recorded their second demo, In Glorious Victory. Unfortunately, the band quickly grew discontent with the sound quality of the recording and decided not to release it.The months that followed were less productive for DRACONIAN, as two of its members completed their military service. Nevertheless, rehearsals and new composition were still a part of the band’s agenda. The new material called for yet another addition to the band. Keyboardist Andreas Karlsson joined them, taking Susanne Arvidsson’s place, who was forced to leave the band for personal reasons. It soon became clear that the members of DRACONIAN had conquered their niche, producing an atmospheric, melodic, and emotive type of gothic metal with a flair all its own.In 1998 and 1999 DRACONIAN headed for the stage. The positive feedback convinced the band that it was again time to tackle the studio. In early August 1999, DRACONIAN entered Studio Kuling to record The Closed Eye of Paradise, an album that dealt with the mystical dark theme of Lucifer and his fallen angels, the true face of God, and the forthcoming battle. On it, Susanne Arvidsson made guest vocal appearances.Unfortunately, the recording, suffering from a bad production, was again not up to DRACONIAN’s high standards. The band thus opted to attempt some polishing before its official release. During the months of May and June 2000, Andreas Karlsson, Anders Jacobsson, and Johan Ericson were dedicated to improve the quality of the demo. New melodies were applied, as well as effects, which had erroneously been left out in the studio. The effort paid off, and the demo was finally released.DRACONIAN now concentrated on creating something new. Their sound became slower, darker, and doomier. The material that ensued guided DRACONIAN in a different direction. Their 2-track promo Frozen Features was made available on the Internet, as well as in CD format.Shortly after recording Frozen Features, Andy Hindenäs took a sabbatical from the band. He was replaced by Johan, who left the drumming responsibilities to Jerry Torstensson. While the band was experiencing line up changes, their self-produced demo was causing quite a stir among critics and fans of the gothic metal genre. A final demo was recorded in the summer of 2002. Dark Oceans We Cry paved the final way for DRACONIAN out of the unknown and into the limelight. The demo received outstanding reviews and the band signed a long-awaited record deal with NAPALM RECORDS. Lisa Johansson, a friend of Jerrys, became a member to handle the female vocals; which she did perfectly. Jesper left the band shortly before signing the contract, for practical reasons and studies. He was replaced by Thomas Jäger; a longtime friend of the band who had supported them with back-up before.In June 2003 DRACONIAN entered Studio Mega to record their debut album under the Napalm banner; “Where Lovers Mourn”. The cover and layout artist, Travis Smith, made an excellent job for the album, and delivered a really dark and mournful cover, which captured the essence of the DRACONIAN sound perfectly. The album was released in October and received great response from both critics and fans. The band now promotes themselves with gigs and interviews… and also are in progress of creating new songs for the upcoming album, planned to be recorded in Dug-Out Studio in July 2004. Your influences? Bands with are simular to ours, or/and inspires us musically and artistically are everything from metal, to gothic top progressive to 60-70's rock. Some bands are: My Dying Bride, Anathema, Candlemass, Saturnus, Novembre, Opeth, Shape of Despair, Lacrimas Profundere, Mourning Beloveth, Arena, Porcupine Tree, Pain of Salvation, King Crimson, Uriah Heep.... and so on. Favorite spot? Draconian is a state mind.