Italian dark power metal band DRACONICON have revealed a new five-piece lineup and announced their third full-length album, Empire, due in early 2027.
The announcement ends a quiet stretch that followed Dark Side Of Magic (2021) and Pestilence (2023), both released via Inner Wound Recordings. The band describe that time not as a hiatus but as a deliberate restructuring aimed at redefining their chemistry, sound and long-term direction.
The new DRACONICON lineup:
- Grym Hünter — lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Alex Moth — lead guitar
- Simon Borgen — violin, backing vocals
- Dave Tomadini — drums
- Philip Skrim — bass, backing vocals
Violinist Simon Borgen frames the change as more than a reshuffle. In his words, it is "the natural evolution of everything DRACONICON has built so far" — the band stepped back, learned from their mistakes and are now moving forward "with clarity, unity and a stronger vision than ever."
Further details on Empire, including the first singles and an exact release date, will follow in the coming months, along with new live announcements. Fans of KAMELOT, POWERWOLF and SABATON are the target audience, according to the band's camp.