1. Drakkar (also known… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least five bands named Drakkar.
1. Drakkar (also known as Drakka Band or Thra Kha Band in some Romanized sources) was a Cambodian hard rock band active in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their music has been noted as an important late-stage development in Cambodian rock of the 1960s and 70s, a thriving music scene that was abruptly crushed by the Khmer Rouge communists in 1975. Some members of the band did not survive the ensuing Cambodian genocide. The band has gone through multiple lineups, with singer/guitarist Touch Seang Tana the only consistent member.
Drakkar formed in 1967, amid the flourishing Phnom Penh music scene, to perform rock music inspired by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones as well as early Cambodian guitar bands like Baksey Cham Krong and Apsara. As with many of their contemporaries like Sinn Sisamouth, Ros Serey Sothea, and Pen Ran, Drakkar was influenced by pop records imported from France and Latin America that had become popular among musicians in the capital.
The band initially comprised singer/rhythm guitarist Touch Seang Tana, singer/lead guitarist Touch Chhatha, singer/bassist Mam Molivan, and singer Tan Phanareth, and changing temporary drummers. This first line-up did not record any original music, and the members, all in their teens or early twenties, disbanded and took military or government jobs.
In 1971, Tana assembled a new lineup with lead guitarist Som Sareth, drummer Ouk Sam Art, and bassist Oer Sam Ol. By this time, the Cambodian music scene was further influenced by Western rock and roll and soul music via U.S. armed forces radio that had been broadcast to troops stationed nearby during the Vietnam War. Drakkar toured U.S. military bases in South Vietnam that year, after which original lead guitarist Touch Chhatha rejoined. This version of the band was heavily influenced by the hard rock sounds of bands like Deep Purple and Grand Funk Railroad, and regularly performed covers of songs by those and other bands. Their sound at the time has been compared to Led Zeppelin, Santana and Jimi Hendrix.
The band's hippie attire and long hair were noted as symbolic of changing times and American influences in early-1970s Cambodia. Guitarists Touch Chhatha and Touch Seang Tana attracted attention, not all of it good, for their unusually aggressive guitar playing, while drummer Ouk Sam Art caused minor scandals by playing shirtless. Tana noted in the documentary film Don't Think I've Forgotten that Cambodia was not yet ready for western-style hard rock at the time.
Drakkar became popular in Phnom Penh during the later stages of the Cambodian Civil War, when the city was under threat from both American bombing campaigns and attacks by Khmer Rouge insurgents. Due to wartime curfews, the band had to play in clubs during the day and often heard nearby gunfire and explosions during their performances. The band recorded a self-titled album with primitive technology in 1972-1973, and released it in early 1974. The album, which was rereleased decades later as Drakkar '74, sold over 20,000 copies, making it the highest-selling full-length album in Cambodian history up to that point.
Plans to further promote the album were halted in April 1975, when the Khmer Rouge defeated the Khmer Republic army and gained control of the country. The members of Drakkar are assumed to be among the two million residents of Phnom Penh who were forced to leave the city and become farm workers to fulfill the Khmer Rouge's visions of agrarian socialism and the eradication of all foreign influences (including music) from Cambodian society. Group members Oer Sam Ol and Som Sareth disappeared during the ensuing Cambodian genocide and their exact fates are unknown. Singer/guitarist Touch Seang Tana was imprisoned in a work camp, and claims that he survived the genocide by singing Santana songs to Khmer Rouge soldiers on demand while passing himself off as a common peasant.
After the fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979, drummer Ouk Sam Art and guitarist Touch Chhatha returned to music work for Cambodia's National Radio station, while Tana became an accomplished manager of fisheries and environmental conservation for the post-Khmer Rouge Cambodian government. Conservation work continued to be a theme in Tana's life. As of 2013 he was the Chairman of the Cambodian Government’s Commission for Dolphin Conservation and Development of the Mekong Dolphin Ecotourism Zone (the "Dolphin Commission").
Information about many Cambodian musicians of the 1960s and 1970s, and many of their recordings, were lost during the Khmer Rouge regime. Interest in that scene's musicians was revived, especially among western rock fans, in the late 1990s with the release of compilation albums like Cambodian Rocks (1996). Filmmaker John Pirozzi was introduced to the music while making City of Ghosts, and subsequently featured Drakkar and several of their contemporaries in the 2015 documentary Don't Think I've Forgotten (2015). The Drakkar song "Crazy Loving You" has appeared on several compilations, including the Don't Think I've Forgotten soundtrack in 2015, and the song "Do You No Wrong Again" (credited to Thra Kha Band) has appeared on compilations like the 2011 CD Cambodia Rock Spectacular! from Lion Productions.
Surviving members of Drakkar first regrouped for a reunion concert in Singapore in 2011. They also performed in 2014 and 2015 to commemorate the release of Don't Think I've Forgotten and announced plans to record a new album. The 2014 performance featured a guest appearance by Chhom Nimol of the Cambodian/American band Dengue Fever. Nimol, whose band was inspired by and frequently covers late-60s and early-70s Khmer pop music, proclaimed "I never dreamed I would play with those musicians. They are like my teachers, my masters." A new version of the band led by Touch Seang Tana began performing regularly under the name Drakka Band in 2015.
Master tapes for Drakkar's 1974 album were unearthed during this period, and in 2014 it was released as Drakkar '74 by Metal Postcard Records. Personnel at the label had been inspired by Cambodian Rocks and Don't Think I've Forgotten to track down the master tapes and remaster them for the digital market. Upon its release, one music historian noted the album's historical importance and hailed it as "The Holy Grail of Cambodian Psych."
2. Drakkar is a Belgian Speed/Power metal band that released 1 album: "X-Rated".
3. Drakkar is a Portuguese heavy/power metal band with three demos released so far.
4. Drakkar is an Italian Power Metal band from Milan, Italy, with 5 full-length albums, 1 EP and 2 Demos
5. Drakkar is a German R.A.C. cult band
The Secret
Drakkar Lyrics
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Blade on blade, they are crossing the swords
Sparkles fly and the duel begins
Artan knows that he has to prevail
Leaving fear in the back of the heart
[Bridge 1:]
Slayn is decided not to let him pass
[Chorus:]
On through the path of glory they are marching on
There is a secret and tonight it will be knownÿ
Call of the destiny will bind them like a chain
Nothing will ever be the same
Not again
By his sword Slayn is stronger than all
Artan is falling to the ground
Helmet breaks, and reveals his face
Battle ends, by the hand of fate
[Bridge 2:]
Looking at Artan Slayn is turning pale
Standing in silence he awaits
[Chorus]
[Bridge 3:]
Slayn has decided now to let him pass
Nobody's winning in the end
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Drakkar's song "The Secret" narrate a sword fight between two warriors, Artan and Slayn, who cross their blades with determination and strength. Artan is aware that victory is essential, but fear lurks behind his heart as he engages in battle. On the other hand, Slayn is determined to stop Artan from passing and wears a dark smile on his lips, preparing to attack.
As the fight progresses, it becomes clear that Slayn is more powerful with his sword than Artan, and Artan falls to the ground as his helmet breaks, revealing his face. The battle ends, and fate ultimately decides the winner. Slayn looks at Artan and turning pale, awaits silently. Eventually, Slayn decides to let Artan pass, realizing that no one truly triumphs in the end.
The song delivers a poetic and captivating illustration of the powerful and dangerous act of sword fighting while conveying the message of the futility of war and the ultimate unity between everyone. The lyrics suggest that even though people are bound by destiny, the choices they make concerning life and death matter. And that despite their differences, everyone is united in mortality.
Line by Line Meaning
Blade on blade, they are crossing the swords
Two warriors engaged in a swordfight, clashing their blades in combat.
Sparkles fly and the duel begins
As their swords clash, sparks fly from the impact, signifying the start of their battle.
Artan knows that he has to prevail
One of the warriors, Artan, understands that he must emerge victorious in the fight.
Leaving fear in the back of the heart
Despite being fearful, Artan pushes aside his worries to focus on the battle at hand.
Slayn is decided not to let him pass
The other warrior, Slayn, is determined to stop Artan from reaching his destination.
He has a dark smile on his lips
Slayn takes pleasure in thwarting Artan and wears a sinister smile on his face.
On through the path of glory they are marching on
Both warriors continue their journey, pursuing their own idea of glory and success.
There is a secret and tonight it will be known
An undisclosed secret exists between the two warriors, one that will be revealed by the end of the night.
Call of the destiny will bind them like a chain
Their fate draws them together like an unbreakable chain, leading them to face each other in battle.
Nothing will ever be the same
Their confrontation will mark a significant turning point in their lives, forever changing their paths and futures.
By his sword Slayn is stronger than all
Slayn proves to be the more skilled warrior, overpowering Artan with his swordsmanship.
Artan is falling to the ground
Artan is defeated, falling to the ground and surrendering to Slayn's victory.
Helmet breaks, and reveals his face
As Artan falls, his helmet is shattered, exposing his face to Slayn.
Battle ends, by the hand of fate
Their fight reaches its inevitable conclusion, as fate decides the outcome of the battle.
Looking at Artan Slayn is turning pale
Upon seeing Artan's face, Slayn's expression changes to one of shock or horror.
Standing in silence he awaits
Slayn waits silently as the gravity of the situation dawns on him.
Slayn has decided now to let him pass
After realizing the truth of the situation, Slayn decides to allow Artan to proceed on his journey.
Nobody's winning in the end
Ultimately, neither warrior truly wins or loses, as both will face the consequences of their actions.
Contributed by Gabriel G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.