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TEMPLE OF DREAD unleash a stylish video noire of the title track ‘Dreadspawn Dominion‘ taken from their forthcoming new full-length as the first advance single. The East Frisians‘ sixth album has been slated for release on August 7, 2026. Pre-sale: https://spkr.store/collections/temple-of-dread TEMPLE OF DREAD comment: “The Underworld is still in turmoil – the God of the Godless strikes back!”, guitarist Markus Bünnemeyer writes. “The title track of our upcoming album, ‘Dreadspawn Dominion’, revisits the story of […]

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Draconian is an institution. Since Where Lovers Mourn dropped 23 years ago, the Swedish death doom sextet upheld an unflappable standard of quality across seven records, marking a legendary discography matched by precious few. Everyone has their favorite out of those seven tomes, but it’s fairly uncommon to find a shared preference. This not only speaks to the diversity of Draconian’s sound despite their tried and true template, but also to the reliable nature of their compositions, capable of striking at the heart of anyone who might encounter them. I, just as susceptible to Draconian’s hooded charm, miraculously came into possession of their eighth outing, In Somnolent Ruin, albeit quite late. However, it took no time whatsoever to recognize that it was special.

As if in celebration of their reunion with original siren Lisa Johansson, Draconian amplified both the beautiful and the beastly sides of their trademark sound for In Somnolent Ruin. Heavy as Arcane Rain Fell and A Rose for the Apocalypse (“The Monochrome Blade”) and delicate as Sovran and Under a Godless Veil (“Lethe”), In Somnolent Ruin trudges inexorably through an unknowable pall with desperate fury and earnest sorrow. A dichotomy of intensity and grace embodies this hour-long funereal march, gloom and mist gently grazing the skin as the earth churns underfoot and a clouded sky thunders above. The emotions conjured through Draconian’s gothic spell, deep ripples that oscillate between tension and release in overwhelming concentrations, black out my vision and light up my synapses. This is what Draconian is known for, and what they do so well they’ve rarely done better than on In Somnolent Ruin.

Whereas Draconian routinely succeeds in songwriting across all of their records, In Somnolent Ruin blossoms primarily because of the striking performances it houses. Lisa and Anders Jacobsson shine here, each pouring every fiber of their being into their vocals (“The Monochrome Blade,” “The Face of God,” “Cold Heavens”). Anders sounds particularly venomous, his serrated growls and screaming rasps curdling my blood and melting my bones with every utterance (“I Gave You Wings”). Lisa belts like never before, showcasing a range and power I didn’t realize she possessed (“Cold Heavens”). Not to be outclassed, guitarists Johan Ericson and Niklas Nord shove thunderous riffs against each other and in concert with only the most bleeding-heart lead melodies (“I Welcome Thy Arrow,” “Misanthrope River”), creating a wonderful miasma of textures and tones that swirl with the deadly grace of smoke. Drummer Daniel Johansson and Bassist Daniel Arvidsson form a formidable rhythm section to bolster In Somnolent Ruin with great heft and shrewd patterns. Daniel Johansson in particular impresses with beats and fills that almost refuse to mimic Niklas’ riffs, instead forging his own path weaving in and out of the spaces between guitars and vocals with powerful muscularity. Working as a finely tuned machine, Draconian’s performance on In Somnolent Ruin is a rare coalescence that elevates every crest and crescendo beyond greatness.

That greatness nonetheless extends to songwriting, as In Somnolent Ruin showcases some of Draconian’s coolest pieces in their discography. With no fewer than four contenders for my Songs o’ the Year playlist (“The Monochrome Blade,” “The Face of God,” “I Gave You Wings,” “Cold Heavens”), the impact of these nine songs, both isolated from and integrated with the whole, leaves nothing but dust and rubble at my feet. Emotionally devastating, richly detailed, and imposing in stature, only one word approaches adequacy when intimating my impressions: majestic. Towering arcs that connect poignant storytelling to heartfelt expressiveness personify In Somnolent Ruin’s transition from the riff-laden challenge “I Welcome Thy Arrow” to the bitter death of “Lethe.” As I traverse that arc, marvelous transitions guide my way through twists and gnarls as beautiful in form as they are lethal to the touch. Draconian created something familiar enough to caress and comfort but surprising in its vitality and charisma, such that each fresh spin feels as compelling and impactful as the first.

I’m left astounded, alone in a clearing of brush and fog. So few discographies boast such reliable and recognizable greatness, but even fewer offer late-stage monoliths of this scale. To critique small nitpicks like the relative innocuousness of interlude “Asteria Beneath the Tranquil Sea” or the slightly less impressive “Anima” feels disingenuous—as if to do so is merely to make up for a perceived neglect of my responsibility to evaluation. Yet even accounting for this internal debate, In Somnolent Ruin is a rare triumph. A love letter to Draconian’s storied past and a celebration of their modern era, refined to staggering excellence.

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Rating: Excellent!
DR: Buried Under 6 Feet of Bandwidth | Format Reviewed: Misanthrope Stream
Label: Napalm Records
Websites: Bandcamp | Official | Facebook
Releases Worldwide: May 8th, 2026

The post Draconian – In Somnolent Ruin Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.

You may know Sari Lightman from a pair of bands with her twin sister Romy, the psychedelic rock, pop, and folk projects Tasseomancy and Lightman & Lightman. Today she’s announcing her solo debut. Out next month, The Way I Saw You is produced by Hand Habits’ Meg Duffy, who previously contributed to the 2024 Lightman…

The post Sari Lightman Announces New Album <em>The Way I Saw You</em> Produced By Meg Duffy: Hear “The Way I Saw You” appeared first on Stereogum.

Hovvdy have been at it for a while now, but the indie rock duo hit new heights with their sprawling, ambitious self-titled double album, one of our favorites of 2024. Since then, they’ve collaborated with runo plum, and Charlie Martin played on Teethe’s acclaimed LP Magic Of The Sale. Hovvdy started out in Austin, but…

The post Hovvdy Announce New Album <em>Big World</em>: Hear “Try Try Try” appeared first on Stereogum.

Hard rockers Lillian Axe are working on new tunes for their next long player. The band will enter the studio soon, where they will finish recording vocals.
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Funeral doom powerhouse Abysmal Growls Of Despair (AGoD) has released the official lyric video for “Prologue to Agony,” the first glimpse into the crushing weight of their upcoming studio album, Torn, scheduled for release on June 5, 2026. Prologue to Agony” captures grief in its purest form. It is a nihilistic track that pulls all light into a black hole of despair. Slow […]

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In wake of their upcoming third full-length offering Not Midnight Yet, due out on June 26th, Mexicans Phantom now stream another new track in preview called “The Pale Remains Of Time”.
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Last Friday, “Live To The Slaughter“, the live album by German thrashers Deimos’ Dawn, was released. Anyone who still thinks live albums are outdated in 2026 will be proven wrong here, because mix and mastering producer Marc Wüstenhagen managed to capture the sound and atmosphere of the sold-out, sweat-soaked Subkultur in Hannover in an authentic, […]

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To celebrate 20 years of their sophomore record The Price Of Existence, US deathcore ensemble All Shall Perish will embark on ‘The Price Of Existence 20 Year Anniversary tour’ in late summer. The trek which will kick off on September 4th in Fresno, California and conclude on October 3rd in San Jose, California.
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