Music / Dragonland

Lord of the bones

So assured of your throne

Ruler of men among thousand towers

King of your kin

Now your war will begin!

Thousands are gathering as I sound the Century Horn of Mount Farnor

—"The Trials of Mount Farnor"

Not to be confused with these dragons, or these ones.

Dragonland are a Power Metal band from Sweden, established in 1999. Their first two albums, The Battle of the Ivory Plains and Holy War, are based on a fantasy saga named The Dragonland Chronicles, written by lead guitarist Olof Mörck and vocalist Jonas Heidgert. These albums, while applauded for the skill which the band members showed, were criticized for being highly derivative of Rhapsody of Fire’s albums.

In 2004, everything changed with their release of Starfall. It was widely well received, with some Metal Archives reviewers calling it ‘the best Power Metal album of all time.’ It had Vikings, Sci-Fi imagery, and plenty of people going insane. Next, in 2006, Dragonland released Astronomy, whichi continued with the theme of avoiding the traditional Power Metal lyrical themes. By this time, Dragonland had carved out a unique sound for themselves.

In 2011, Dragonland released another album, Under the Grey Banner. This album heralded a return to the Dragonland chronicles, and was universally praised by fans and critics alike.

Influences:

• Rhapsody of Fire

Current members:

• Jonas Heidgert - vocals(1999–present), drums (2000–2002)
• Olof Mörck lead guitar(2000–present)
• Jesse Lindskog – rhythm guitar(2009–present), drums (2003–2009)
• Elias Holmlid -keyboard, synthesizer, piano(2000–present)
• Morten Lowe Sorensen - drums(2009–present)
• Anders Hammer- bass(2007–present)

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The band and their music provide examples of:

• A God Am I: The protagonist of Holy War in the “Dragonland Chronicles”.
• AcCENT upon the Wrong SylLABle: This happens at the start of 'The Shores of our Land.
• Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence: The protagonist of Holy War in the “Dragonland Chronicles” becomes a god after slaying
• Backstory: The booklets that come with each of the “Dragonland Chronicles” CDs are filled with the history of the universe where the story takes place.
• Berserk Button: The second Protagonist (Holy War) gets this at the end of Forever Walking Alone.
• Chosen One: The Dragonborn in each of the “Dragonland Chronicles” albums.
• Conveniently Timed Attack from Behind: Sariel saving Ilmarion from the King of Westmar in the album's title track, Duviel helps as well but Westmar kills Duviel as she kills him.
• Concept Album
• Cover Version: Their cover of Rusty Nail by X Japan, complete with the vocalist singing in near-perfect Japanese, is famous among the X Japan fandom, for good reasons rather than for the reasons a lot of X covers are famous.
• Determinator: Pretty much all of the protagonists in the Dragonland Chronicles, and some more people in Under the Grey Banner.
• Damsel in Distress: Duviel in Fire and Brimstone
• Epic Rocking: The title track from “Under the Grey Banner” lasts for eight minutes and four seconds.
• Evil Sounds Deep: The King of Westmar from Under The Grey Banner.
• Ham-to-Ham Combat: In the title track of 'Under the Grey Banner' has the king of Westmar, (Voiced by a Swedish opera singer)battling against a the protagonist; Illmarion the Islander
• Heavy Mithril : Their first two and fifth albums, along with “The Shores of Our Land” from “Starfall” and much of “Astronomy”.
• Heroic BSoD: The first protagonist gets this in Graveheart when his brother reveals to him that he's the son of a dragon.
  • Also happens to the Protagonist of Holy War in Forever Walking Alone.
• Hidden Elf Village: The elves in "The Black Mare" and "Lady of Goldenwood" as well as the dwarfs, to a greater extent, in "Durnir's Forge".
• Horny Vikings: 'The Shores of Our Land' is about a raiding party of Vikings.
• Ineffectual Sympathetic Villain: Westmar's monologue in Throne of Bones.
• Kill the Gods: After killing all his enemies, the protagonist of Holy War singlehandedly eliminates the gods and takes their place.
• King Incognito: Duviel for Ilmarion during the first songs of Under The Grey Banner.
• Lighter and Softer: “Starfall”, at least musically to the rest of their work.
• Loved I Not Honor More: Given The protagonist of The Battle of the Ivory Plains.
• No Name Given: Practically nearly every character in Part I and Part II of "The Dragonland Chronicles". In fact, it is a miracle any character in those are named. Averted in "Under the Grey Banner (Part III)"
• Power Metal
• Roaring Rampage of Revenge : Blazing Hate.
• Rock Me, Amadeus!: A piece of music by the Trope Namer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is featured In “The Battle of the Ivory Plains.”
• Rock Opera
• Sanity Slippage Song: “As Madness Took me” from “Starfall”.
  • Much more so in the demo compared to the Starfall version:
  Normal version
  I never thought that I would see the truth behind the lie
  So now I've opened my eyes
  Now I must find the reason. find the remedy
  I leave my sanity behind
  Madness took my mind
  Original version
  I have to find the reason, find the remedy
  The future tears my mind apart
  Now, I must deal with all the sorrow
  I must face my fears
  Soon, I will turn into a shadow
  I shall deal with the pain
  I feel lost from all the voices whispering into my ear.
• Subdued Section: In “The Tempest:”
  Spirits of the sea
  Hearken unto me
  The tempest made me see
  What must be
• Symphonic Metal
• This Cannot Be!: King of Westmar in Under The Grey Banner, and a little bit of the first protagonist during The Battle of the Ivory Plains.
• Together in Death: In 'One With All', the protagonist of Holy War chapter, he finally achieves godhood, but gives it up to end his own life to be with his lover he'd lost in Forever Walking Alone.
• Vicious Cycle: The large battle between the forces of the light and the night that takes place every hundred years in the universe described in The Battle of the Ivory Plains and Holy War.

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