The undisputed leaders of the second wave of gothic doom metal, DRACONIAN, are finally back with new material—and stronger than ever! Their new studio album, In Somnolent Ruin, will be released on May 8, 2026, via Napalm Records. In Somnolent Ruin is one of the most personal albums in the band’s discography, as revealed in the dreamlike journey through nine tracks and the poetic lyrics of singer Anders Jacobsson. The new album marks the return of longtime singer Lisa Johansson, who was featured on the band’s first five albums and now joins Anders Jacobsson on vocals once again. The lineup on the new album has been touring together since 2022, which gives the album a special live feel.
The first single, „Cold Heavens,“ describes a futile longing for heaven—it offers no comfort, as there is no difference between life and death. The intense vocals of Anders and Lisa are at the center of the song.
Johan Ericson on „Cold Heavens“:
„Since we were still missing an up-tempo song, „Cold Heavens“ was the last piece written for In Somnolent Ruin. We wanted to create a simple, straightforward track to balance out the longer compositions on the album and give the album more versatility. Lisa’s almost relaxed vocals take center stage and guide us through a dark, cold landscape before giving way to Anders‘ more spiteful and desperate vocals. The song ends with a feeling of resignation and leads directly into the next song on the album.“
Watch the official music video for „Cold Heavens“:
Johan Ericson on the new album:
The initial concept for In Somnolent Ruin, essentially the embryo, dates back to 2021. It began with the song „Misanthrope River,“ a title that had existed since the demo days of Under a Godless Veil and had finally found its appropriate musical accompaniment. As the small fragments slowly grew into real songs, my inspiration to write continued to grow.
I was heavily inspired by art and other musicians – from dark folk to eerie ambient music – which helped me maintain my creative energy. Early on, I had a clear idea of the overall mood I wanted to achieve for the album: classic doom intertwined with ambient soundscapes. I also wanted to have a wide variety of songs on the album without losing the overarching gothic feel that ties everything together and gives the album a consistent atmosphere.“
Anders Jacobsson adds:
„It took quite a long time for the album to feel like a whole. We didn’t agree on the final track list until very late in the process, as each piece slowly came together—the vocals found their place, ideas overlapped, and a real sense of collaboration allowed the songs to evolve. In the end, the music transforms into something that seemed almost unimaginable at the beginning of the process.
For me personally, it was a fascinating but also challenging experience. At times, I had difficulty imagining how everything would ultimately fit together, and there were moments of doubt throughout the process. But in the end, everything fell into place, and all the uncertainty and self-reflection were more than worth it. For me, the creative process is always closely linked to self-reflection, and this album demanded a lot of that from me.
It was without question the album that I found most difficult to fully comprehend and work through – but perhaps that’s what makes the end result all the more exciting and, in my opinion, quite remarkable. It took a long time…
It was fantastic to work with Lisa again, and Daniel Johansson opening up new levels on the drums added an extra depth to the whole process.“
In Somnolent Ruin Tracklist:
- I Welcome Thy Arrow
- The Monochrome Blade
- Anima (feat. Daniel Änghede)
- The Face of God
- I Gave You Wings
- Asteria Beneath the Tranquil Sea
- Cold Heavens
- Misanthrope River
- Lethe
DRACONIAN Live 2026:
Latin America
May 16, 2026 BR – Sao Paulo / Carioca Club
May 17, 2026 AR – Buenos Aires / Teatro Flores
May 19, 2026 CL – Santiago / Sala Metronomo
May 21, 2026 CO – Bogota / Teatro Astor Plaza
May 23, 2026 MX – Mexico City / Circo Volador
Aug. 6, 2026 CZ – Jaromer / Brutal Assault
Sept. 25, 2026 ES – Madrid / Revi Live
Sept. 26, 2026 PT – Lisbon / Under the Doom
Japan Tour
10/12/26 JP – Tokyo / Shibuya Stream Hall
10/13/26 JP – Osaka / Shinsaibashi Sunhall
EU tour 2027
02/18/27 DE – Hamburg/ Knust
02/19/27 DE – Berlin / Lido
02/20/27 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser
02/21/27 PL – Krakow / Hype Park
02/23/27 PL – Warsaw / Hydrozagadka
02/24/27 AT – Vienna / Szene
02/25/27 CZ – Prague / Futurum Club
02/26/27 DE – Munich / Backstage Halle
02/27/27 DE – Aschaffenburg / Colos-Saal
28.02.27 IT – Milan / Legend Club
02.03.27 LU – Esch-sur-Alzette / Rockhal
03.03.27 DE – Oberhausen / Kulttempel
04.03.27 NL – Utrecht / Tivoli Vredenburg
05.03.27 BE – Kortrijk / DVG
03/06/27 FR – Paris / La Machine Du Moulin Rouge
03/07/27 UK – London / The Dome
DRACONIAN are:
Johan Ericson – Guitar, Vocals, Keys
Anders Jacobsson – Vocals
Lisa Johansson – Vocals
Daniel Arvidsson – Bass
Niklas Nord – Guitar
Daniel Johansson – Drums