In May of 1994, drummer and vocalist Johan Ericson, bassist and vocalist Jesper Stolpe and guitarist Andy Hindenäs assembled the band Kerberos, initially playing melodic death metal with black metal influences. Seven months later, lead vocalist and lyrics composer Anders Jacobsson joined the band, and its name changed to Draconian.
Their first demo — Shades of a Lost Moon — was recorded in October 1995, a week subsequent to their first live concert. The demo counted with flutist and vocalist Jessica Eriksson, keyboardist and vocalist Susanne Arvidsson and with a special participation of Andreas Haag on the introductory section of "My Nemesis". The album was released in February, 1996. The band was then joined by guitatist Magnus Bergström.
No recording contract was obtained with Shades of a Lost Moon, so in early 1997 the band proceeded to record their second demo, entitled In Glorious Victory. The band, however, became discontent with the quality of the recording and discontinued the release.
In the following months, two members of Draconian had to complete their military service, slowing down the progress of the band. Their rehearsals, however, continued to some degree. Susanne Arvidsson left the band due to personal reasons and was replaced by Andreas Karlsson.
Both in 1998 and 1999, the band made concerts. After receiving positive reactions, they decided to enter the studio once more. In August of 1999, Draconian recorded The Closed Eyes of Paradise, an album dealing mostly with the theme of Lucifer and his fallen angels. Susanne Arvidsson made guest vocal appearances on this release. The album was, however, badly produced, and the band decided to spend time polishing it before a release was attempted. Between May and June of 2000, Andreas Karlsson, Anders Jacobsson, and Johan Ericson worked on the recorded material, improving the mix of the instruments and correcting effects. The demo was then released in the face of further lineup changes - Andy Hindenäs left the band, replaced by Johan Ericson who switched to guitars; drums were then left to Jerry Torstensson, who joined the band.
Dark Oceans We Cry was recorded in the summer of 2002 featuring the vocal talents of Lisa Johansson for the first time. The EP was made available on the internet, as well as in CD format. In spite of the recent line-up changes, the demo received outstanding reviews and the band signed a long-awaited record deal with Napalm Records.
The band recorded their debut album, Where Lovers Mourn in Studio Mega under the supervision of Chris Silver (former member of Sundown and Cemetary) in July 2003.
Just two years later, under the direction of Pelle Saether, Draconian entered Studio Underground in Västerås to record Arcane Rain Fell in 2005.
In 2006 they began working on their third release. But due to myriad fan requests, the band decided to first deliver a bonus album to include remakes of old tracks from The Closed Eyes of Paradise demo. The Burning Halo would also include three new tracks and two covers. Plagued by numerous problems throughout the production phases, the album was delayed and finally completed in June and released in September 2006.
Produced by Andreas Karlsson and Johan Ericson, and mixed in „Anders Ljudbild” by Anders Bergström, The Burning Halo is a majestic blend of Draconian's previous two releases, which shows the Swedish doom metal masters in perfect form, having developed into one of the scene's top acts.
In September 2007, Draconian started to record their 4th album Turning Season Within at the Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, with producers Jens Bogren and David Castillo (Opeth, Katatonia), who completed Draconian's vision of a extensive, weighty and dark sound. The album was released in February, 2008.
Their fifth studio album A Rose for the Apocalypse was released in June 2011 through Napalm Records.
Clean female vocalist Lisa Johansson left the band in late 2011. Heike Langhans was confirmed as her replacement.
Official site: www.draconian.se
2) Draconian is a German power metal band.
Official site: www.draconian.de
3) Draconian is a Spanish band.
4) Draconian was a Colombian gothic metal band formed in Medellin, Colombia.
Memento Mori
Draconian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But still we must not forget that night must fall!
The opening lyrics of Draconian's "Memento Mori" speak to the fleeting nature of time and the necessity of acknowledging the inevitability of death. "Another day has passed by" suggests the passage of time and the transience of our mortal existence. However, the following line "But still we must not forget that night must fall" instills a sense of urgency in the listener, as if to say that there is no time to waste in living our lives to the fullest.
The phrase "Memento Mori" itself is a Latin phrase that translates to "remember (that you have) to die". The theme of mortality is woven throughout the song, urging the listener to embrace life fully, as it is finite. The lyrics hint at the idea that death is not something to fear, but rather something to be mindful of, as it shapes our existence and gives meaning to it. The somber tone of the song underscores this message, as the music is hauntingly beautiful while the vocals ring with a sense of sorrow and contemplation.
In "Memento Mori," Draconian uses poetry and introspective lyrics to evoke a sense of existential questioning within the listener. Ultimately, the message is one of reflection and acceptance, urging us to remember that we must all inevitably face our own mortality, and to live life in a way that honors that.
Line by Line Meaning
Another day has passed by
Time moves incessantly and one day ends and another begins
But still we must not forget that night must fall!
We should remember that every good time, moment or day comes to an end and we must prepare for the worst in order to be stronger.
Contributed by Luke O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aurantiaca
This is so beautiful