Johan Ericson

AM : Third album already for Draconian, time to make some point, so how do you look at your career now? What would you change in it if you could?

Johan : Yes, it's our third album but it's not the real follow-up to "Arcane Rain Fell". We call it a "bonus" album because it contains several old re-recorded songs from one of our early demos called "The Closed Eyes of Paradise" originally recorded in 1999. We did this because there was so much pressure from fans wanting us to release some of our earlier stuff, pre Napalm days so to speak. What we didn't want to do was to release a full album of old demo songs so we added 3 new songs plus 2 cover tunes and that's the story behind this new album. When it comes to career choices I'm not big on looking back. Maybe we could have tried harder on getting our performances tighter and better on the previous records.

AM : How about the genesis of this new album: was it an easy process to write it, and how went the recording session?

Johan : The new songs for the album went rather easy to compose but the recording session had its up and downs. The last months of recording were a real struggle and it was hard to find the time and strength to finish it. We recorded the whole album ourselves and left the mixing duties over to a local guy. I should have done it myself if I had find the time to do it but I had several other projects going at that time.

AM : Your sound remains mainly the same as in your debut "where lovers mourn", I'd say your main evolution is that the songs are simply better, do you agree or do you think you have bourght new elements?

Johan : I don't think we sound like we did back then but it's just a matter of how you dissect things. There's a big difference between cheese and CHEESE, if you get my point. I think our new material is a bit darker a got a more heavy approach compared to the material on "Where Lovers Mourn". The songs also have more structure.

AM : Your music is a mix of gothic and doom metal , a style not so developped in Sweden, where most bands seem to be interested in death, thrash, black or heavy, can you tell us an explanation to the lack of gothic/doom acts in Sweden ? Who are the bands you consider as your influences in your style?

Johan : I don't know the reason for this really. Maybe it's because Swedes are in such a hurry all the time. There are some more traditional doom bands from Sweden but not in the style of Draconian. The bands I consider my biggest influences are Anathema, My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost. These three bands really change everything for me. People often compare to other bands but these are my main influences really.

AM : Speaking of style, my favorites songs are the mid tempo ones, like "Serenade of Sorrow" or the epic "The Morningstar". Don't you consider pushing further in this way?

Johan : No, those are the old songs from "The Closed Eyes of Paradise" demo we did. We will not be headed in that direction in future. The first 3 songs on the album is more of a hint in what direction Draconian is going.

AM : The song "Forever my queen" seem a bit out of place on the album, is it a cover, a bonustrack or something like this?

Johan : It's a cover tune of one of the greatest bands ever! Pentagram (US)! I can't tell you how much this band had meant to me over the years, their style and truly unique songs. Bobby Liebling is a legend! The reason for it ending up on "The Burning Halo" is my fault entirely. Blame me…Ha!

AM : With this 3rd album in the stores, how do you see the future of the band?

Johan : Let's see. We're going on a European tour in November and I think after that we'll begin looking at some new material and decide in which direction we'll take it. We're going into a rehearsal mode in a couple of weeks breaking in a new Keyboard player to the ranks. Andreas our past keyboard player has left the band.

AM : Now our last, ritual question: ask yourself a question and give the answer?

Johan : Is that jello? No, it's certainly not.