Tomorrow sees the release of Draconian Darkness, the seventh album by Finnish melodic death metallers Wolfheart. Pretty damned prolific for a band that started as a solo project in 2013 by vocalist/guitarist Tuomas Saukkonen (Before the Dawn, Dawn of Solace, ex-Black Sun Aeon, Bonegrinder, RoutaSielu, The Final Harvest, Jumalhämärä, Rajavyöhyke). Below we’re giving you the opportunity to not only give Draconian Darkness a spin a day ahead of release, but also essentially join us in a modified game of ‘follow the bouncing ball’ and follow Saukkonen’s track-by-track description of each of the album’s nine songs. The floor is yours, Tuomas!
Ancient Cold
“Sometimes during the songwriting process I make clear division which songs will be more tailor-made to live songs and which ones will more designated role in the album tracklist. ‘Ancient Cold’ is definitely made and written to be played live and, at least to my ears, it is a perfect opening song for a show. Also, the song ended up being a video song shot in the most epic scenery we have ever shot videos in the highlands of Iceland.”
Evenfall
“Probably the most ‘old-school’ Wolfheart song on the album. Guitar riff driven song with the least amount of keys and strings and heavily relying on the groove instead of a wide as possible soundscape. The structure and arrangement of the song is fairly simple but still there is a lot happening especially with guitars and drums so it will be challenging (and rewarding) to play live. Also, one of the clear choices for a single and video song.”
Burning Sky
“Another song from the album that would work super-well as a show opener with the atmospheric acoustic intro that explodes into the song with the first open chords. Melodies are like echoes from our debut album Winterborn with their beautiful and wintery theme, but the relentless and fast bass drums are the trademark of the current Wolfheart. Lyrics on this song are the most ‘Nordic night’ themed on the album while rest of the album dives into darker path.”
Death Leads The Way
“The most mid-tempo song on the album fully absent of any extreme metal elements. No blast beats, no fast double bass drums or fast picking. Just heavy ‘head nodding’ down stroke riffs, like soldiers marching into a battle. Funny contrast to the lyrics where soldiers march from the battlefield. Lyrical theme is very close to Wolves of Karelia from 2020 which was a concept album about the winter war between Finland and Russia 1939-1940.”
Scion of the Flame
“This is a one of those songs that was written for the album to tell a story and complete the musical side instead of live shows. Our bass player Lauri [Silvonen] did a massive chorus performance that lifts the entire song to a completely new level. Lyrical concept is the endless need and greed for power and to seek power over others which civilization after civilization has lead only into fire and ash. Something that looks like an endless cycle to me.”
Grave
“‘Grave’ was the first song I wrote for the album and was the spark that started the whole writing process. The darkest and most aggressive song on the album and because it led the way for the whole album it deserved to be the first single. ‘Grave’ has the only Finnish lyrics on the album and the whole second verse is written in my native language. I absolutely love writing lyrics in Finnish and even more to do vocals in my mother tongue. The sharp consonants and structure of words is an ideal platform for growling vocals.”
Throne of Bones
‘Throne of Bones’ is definitely one of the darkest songs on the album both musically and lyrically. War and battle is a source of great inspiration for me but also carries a lot of heaviness and despair and this is also conveyed into the music in addition to the aggression that the concept mainly requires.”
Trial by Fire
“Most straight-forward death metal song in Wolfheart history. After I had the demo version recorded I was very uncertain it would even fit to the album but all other guys voted in favor and I am happy that I did not shoot the song down. Works really well as part of the album and will definitely be huge fun to play live. Very heavy mid-tempo song that pushes forward like a tank. Another very inspirational lyrical concept about what makes a murderer / killer and what brings the savage out from a human being in battle.”
The Gale
“Tailor made song to end the album. Like a brief moment in the eye of the storm after you give another spin for the album and dive into the tornado. Another stunning performance from our bass player Lauri who during these years has grown to be a glorious vocalist and interpreter of emotions. Not one of the single songs but still a video song and we got the most beautiful location ever on our week long video shooting trip in Iceland.”
And if you happen to live in, will be visiting or are reading from Finland and/or Europe, check the band out through the months of September and October and let us know how the live songs work in a live setting.
“Draconian Darkness Over Finland 2024”
06.09.2024 FI Kuopio – Sawohouse Underground
07.09.2024 FI Pori – MonoMassive
13.09.2024 FI Tampere – Olympia-kortteli
14.09.2024 FI Turku – Utopia-klubi
20.09.2024 FI Lahti – Finlandia-klubi
21.09.2024 FI Oulu – Kantakrouvi
27.09.2024 FI Helsinki – Korjaamo
28.09.2024 FI Jyväskylä – Lutakko
11.10.2024 FI Vaasa – Kulttuuritalo Fanny
12.10.2024 FI Mikkeli – Kulttuuritalo Tempo
“Endtime Signals” – European Tour 2024
w/ DARK TRANQUILLITY, MOONSPELL, HIRAES
31.10.2024 DE Berlin – Astra
01.11.2024 CZ Prague – MeetFactory
02.11.2024 DE Leipzig – Hellraiser
03.11.2024 DE Cologne – Live Music Hall
05.11.2024 UK London – O2 Academy Islington
06.11.2024 NL Eindhoven – Effenaar
07.11.2024 DE Munich – Backstage
08.11.2024 CH Solothurn – Kulturfabrik Kofmehl
09.11.2024 BE Kortrijk – Hell’s Balls Belgium
10.11.2024 FR Paris – La Machine du Moulin Rouge
11.11.2024 FR Toulouse – Le Bikini
13.11.2024 ES Barcelona – Salamandra
14.11.2024 ES Pamplona – Sala Totem
15.11.2024 ES Madrid – Shôko
16.11.2024 ES Santander – Escenario
18.11.2024 FR Villeurbanne – La Rayonne
19.11.2024 DE Lindau – Club Vaudeville
20.11.2024 HU Budapest – Barba Negra
21.11.2024 AT Vienna – Arena
22.11.2024 DE Karlsruhe – Substage
23.11.2024 DE Weissenhäusser Strand/Ostsee – Metal Hammer Paradise
24.11.2024 DK Copenhagen – Pumpehuset
26.11.2024 NO Oslo – Vulkan Arena
28.11.2024 SE Stockholm – Fryshuset Klubben
29.11.2024 SE Örebro – Club 700
30.11.2024 SE Gothenburg – Filmstudion
