Well, it’s been a bit of a year for it really. Whether it’s the misery of last year having a delayed effect I’m not sure, but earlier this year we had a new Bloodbound album, then just last month there was Apostolica’s debut and now, hot on their heels is the debut from Draconicon! But a year for what? I hear you mildly disinterestedly enquire. Well, mysterious fantasy-driven Power Metal bands with pseudonym laden members and costumes aplenty, that’s what! And dragons too! Anyone who has had the misfortune to stumble across some of my previous reviews will know that I’m absolutely fine with all of the above – the more capes, hoods, face paint, dragons and daft names the better as far as I’m concerned – bring it on!
Draconicon really hit the ground galloping too, building on the fine tradition of Italian Symphonic Power Metal that has gone before, delivering an album chock-full of dazzling guitar, pounding drums, thundering bass, flamboyant orchestration, soaring vocals, and dancing violin (more of that later…). It’s of course a fantasy-based concept album, but not as you might expect. According to the band, this is a cautionary tale “…about a Dark Force awakening to rule the world over contaminated by humanity, the beginning of Draconicon. The hunger for power led the mortals to the dark side, summoning the Order Draconis. This meant the rise of the chosen ones, bringers of chaos, wild beasts preying on human despair. Dark Side of Magic is a call to arms for every lost hopeless soul, longing to embrace its true nature and unleash its instinct of harming anything and anyone, of taking satisfaction from violence and glory from death. The Dragon is to be interpreted as metaphorical representation of power and pure evil incarnated, it has taken control over everything and we are its very own prophets, once mere humans striving for the good, now walking nightmares, cursed and cast away forever from any light”. Deep stuff eh? I don’t usually quote direct, but much better that the band get to explain for themselves rather than me make a half-arsed job of it, as I think getting the right message across is important to them. So basically, let me get this right, this time the dragon is metaphorical rather than the usual fire-breathing, scaly, winged bastard he’s usually depicted as, yes?
Right, so with that suitably explained, it all comes down to the music really – and this is certainly a weighty statement that would give many a Power Metal Protagonist a run for their money, as it has just about everything a fan of the genre could want – from catchy melodies to dramatic atmosphere, lightning lead-word to bombastic, intricate arrangements. That aforementioned violin however (yes, I know it was a while ago…) really gives Draconicon an interesting edge which sets them aside. OK, there is the expected orchestration, but here, replacing the role of neo-classical style keyboards is some rather fabulous violin instead. It gives the songs a touch more authenticity in a way, grounds them and is used to carry a riff as well as lend gravitas to more melancholic moments. I’ve heard a hell of a lot of Symphonic Power Metal over the years, but Draconicon are something just that bit different and refreshing. And this is one very impressive debut!
(8.5/10 Andy Barker)
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