Where Lovers Mourn

by Draconian

Overview

Epic goth metal with some heavy '70s progressive elements (Rick Wakeman-style keyboards, occasional interludes of softer, folk-like melodies, some spoken word passages that sound like the Moody Blues played at 16 rpm -- that sort of thing), the debut album by Sweden's Draconian is much better than many similar albums in this style. The seven-person band has a strong sense of both pacing and dynamics, which means that these eight lengthy tracks never bog down in repetitive riffing; the nearly 13-minute opener, "The Cry of Silence," manages to hold the listener's attention throughout, thanks to smartly deployed shifts in arrangement and tempo. Female singer Lisa Johannson is a perfect complement to her male counterpart, Anders Jacobsson, her warm mezzo-soprano tone adding a more interesting tonal shade than the usual faceless semi-operatic squealer who populates these bands. (Check out her glorious, soaring interludes on "Silent Winter" in particular.) Happily, Jacobsson's booming, dramatic voice only rarely delves into the Cookie Monster cliches of Scandinavian metal, making him a better than average singer for the style as well, and the band as a whole does an excellent job of varying its attack. ~ Stewart Mason

Product Details

Release Date:	07/20/2004
Label:	Napalm Records
UPC:	0693723229423
Rank:	87183

Tracks

1. The Cry of Silence
2. Silent Winter
3. A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal
4. The Solitude
5. Reversio Ad Secessum
6. The Amaranth
7. Akherousia
8. It Grieves My Heart

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Draconian   Primary Artist
Anders Jacobsson   Vocals
Goat   Vocals

Technical Credits

Andreas Karlsson   Composer
Draconian   Arranger,Composer,Engineer
Christian Silver   Engineer,Mastering
Anders Jacobsson   Composer,Lyricist
William Wordsworth   Composer,Lyricist
Magnus Bergstroem   Composer
Manne Engstrom   Assistant
Cristophe Szpajdel   Band Logo Design
Bergisch-Brandenburgisches Quartett   Composer
Travis Smith   Cover Art,Layout Design
Andy Hindenaes   Composer
Johan Ericson   Composer
Jerry Torstensson   Composer
Susanne Arvidsson   Lyricist
Thomas Jaeger   Composer