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Dragonland

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Dragonland
OriginGothenburg, Sweden
GenresPower metal, symphonic metal
Years active1999–present
LabelsBlack Lotus (1999–2004)
Century Media (Europe, North America)
King Records (Japan)
AFM Records (Europe)
MembersJonas Heidgert
Olof Mörck
Elias Holmlid
Jesse Lindskog
Anders Hammer
Johan Nunez
Past membersDaniel Kvist
Magnus Olin
Robert Willstedt
Christer Pederson
Nicklas Magnusson
Morten Löwe Sörensen

Dragonland is a Swedish power metal band renowned for their self-produced The Dragonland Chronicles fantasy saga, which spans their first, second, and fifth albums. The band is also recognized for the original symphonic/electronic elements crafted by Elias Holmlid.

History

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The band was founded in 1999 by guitarist Nicklas Magnusson and Jonas Heidgert. Soon after, Daniel Kvist, Magnus Olin, and Christer Pederson joined the band. Their first demo was recorded in January 2000. Just three months before starting to record their debut album started, The Battle of the Ivory Plains, Kvist left the band and was replaced by Olof Mörck.[1] The album was released on 30 April 2001, followed by their second album, Holy War, was released on 8 February 2002, with Heidgert still on drums.

Their third album, Starfall, was released on 27 October 2004, featuring Jesse Lindskog on drums. Tom S. Englund and Henrik Danhage (of Evergrey) and Johanna Andersson provided guest performances on the album, including vocals and guitar solos.

Their fourth album, Astronomy, was released on 11 November 2006. Nightrage's Marios Iliopoulos, Amaranthe's Elize Ryd, Cyhra's Jake E and Dead by April's Jimmie Strimell provided guest appearances on this album.

Work on a fifth Dragonland album was announced via Blabbermouth on 27 April 2008. In September 2009, Dragonland launched their re-designed Myspace site, together with a high-quality preproduction of "The Shadow of The Mithril Mountains", a song from the fifth album. It took some time before the album was completely ready. Five years after Astronomy, the band finally released the fifth album, Under the Grey Banner, on 11 November 2011. Where Starfall and Astronomy are two separate albums, Under the Grey Banner continues the story of their first two albums.

On 25 October 2014, it was announced that they would release a reissue of the first album, The Battle of the Ivory Plains, and a remastered version of the second album, Holy War. Both albums have brand new cover artwork, and they were released on 5 December 2014. In the first album, there is also a newly recorded song, "A New Dawn", as its bonus track.

They have worked on their upcoming sixth album The Power of the Nightstar, their first album in over a decade and, similarly to Starfall and Astronomy, separate from the Dragonland Chronicles saga, though following a different sci-fi storyline. The band has released the title track for the album as its first single and the band's first ever music video on 3 June 2022.[2] The album's second single "Flight from Destruction" was released on 29 July 2022, and the album was released on 14 October 2022.[3]

Discography

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Studio albums

  • The Battle of the Ivory Plains (2001, 2014 (Deluxe Edition))
  • Holy War (2002, 2014 (Deluxe Edition))
  • Starfall (2004)
  • Astronomy (2006)
  • Under the Grey Banner (2011)
  • The Power of the Nightstar (2022)

Demos

  • Storming Across Heaven (2000)

Band members

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Current line-up
  • Jonas Heidgert – vocals (1999–present), drums (1999–2002)
  • Olof Mörck – lead guitar (2000–present), keyboard, synthesizer, piano (1999–2000)
  • Elias Holmlid – keyboard, synthesizer, piano (2000–present)
  • Jesse Lindskog – lead guitar (2009–present), drums, acoustic guitar, additional keyboard (2002–2009)
  • Anders Hammer – bass (2007–present)
  • Johan Nunez – drums (2014–present)
Former members
  • Daniel Kvist – lead guitar (1999–2000)
  • Magnus Olin – drums (1999)
  • Robert Willstedt – drums (2002–2003)
  • Morten Löwe Sörensen – drums (2011–2014)
  • Christer Pederson – bass (1999–2007)
  • Nicklas Magnusson – rhythm guitar (1999–2011)
Timeline

References

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  1. ^ "Dragonland Biography". Sing365.com. 14 March 2003. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  2. ^ "DRAGONLAND Release New Single "The Power Of The Nightstar"; Music Video - BraveWords". Metal Storm. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  3. ^ "Dragonland - Reveal New Song & Lyric Video". Metal Storm. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
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