Draconicon have announced a new five piece line-up and a third studio album, Empire, for early 2027.
The line-up is Grym Hunter on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Alex Moth on lead guitar, Simon Borgen on violin and backing vocals, Dave Tomadini on drums and Philip Skrim on bass and backing vocals. Two things in that list are worth reading twice: the band now have a permanent violinist, and the rhythm guitarist has taken the lead vocal.
Borgen framed it as a decision rather than a disruption. "This is not simply a line-up change. It is the natural evolution of everything DRACONICON has built so far. We stepped back to redefine who we are, learned from our mistakes, and now move forward with clarity, unity and a stronger vision than ever."
The Italian band have an unusual catalogue behind them. Dark Side of Magic came out in 2021 and Pestilence in 2023, both through Inner Wound Recordings, and each was followed by a full symphonic version, Dark Side of Symphony in 2022 and A Symphony of Pestilence in 2024. That is two albums recorded twice, which is why Empire is the third studio record and the fifth release.
Markus Eck and Metal Message will handle the PR. The release date and the first singles are to come in the next few months.