Draken – Here Be Draken
Release Date: 17th April 2026
Label: Dark Essence Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Stoner Rock, Hard Rock.
FFO: High on Fire, Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Mastodon, Entombed.
Review By: Magnus Rotås
Flying at you from Oslo comes riff-wizards Draken with their third studio album, Here be Draken. These guys have been building a reputation with each release, just getting better and better. Always delivering memorable heavy stoner riffs and with Here be Draken they now sound more focused, more confident, and frankly, more dangerous than ever.
The most noticeable difference with this album compared to their last two is just how varied it is. Every song comes with a new surprise and its own identity, making it a very fun listen. The songwriting is pretty good making it not just a rifforama. You have some extremely slow and heavy songs like Here be Dragons and Crimson Sun. But also some speed metal induced punky songs like Wrath and It Serves you Right. Heck, Endtyme even comes close to being a doom ballad.
From the outset, the band doubles down on what they do best: down-tuned guitars, colossal riffs, and an almost physical sense of weight. Even Hermansen’s guitar tone is thick and punishing, yet never muddy, cutting through the mix with a sharpness that keeps every riff memorable. Backed by Hallvard Gaardløs’ rumbling bass and André Drage’s relentless drumming, the trio constructs a wall of sound that feels both massive and tightly controlled.
Their two previous albums had a very hazy and muddy production, sometimes to the detriment of the riffs. The production on Here be Draken cleans things up a bit and sounds absolutely amazing. It captures the raw, live feel Draken is clearly aiming for, without sacrificing clarity and still sounding very raw. Every instrument hits hard, but nothing feels overproduced. It’s a careful balance that reinforces the band’s mission to channel the “natural essence” of rock.
Vocally, the shared duties between Hermansen and Gaardløs add texture and grit. The delivery remains rough-edged and unpolished in the best way possible, perfectly matching the band’s no-frills aesthetic. There’s no attempt to soften the edges here—this is uncompromising rock music that proudly wears its influences while still sounding cohesive and self-assured.
If Book of Black established Draken as a serious force in the Scandinavian heavy scene, Here Be Draken solidifies their identity. This is a band that knows exactly who they are—and more importantly, knows how to deliver it with impact.
My only nitpicks are that Endtyme would be a perfect closer, but instead they tack on the song Shit Show which is a short up-beat track that feels anti-climatic and pointless as a whole. And the album artwork is a step-down from the last two albums, for whatever that’s worth.
On my first spin of this album it didn’t really impress me all that much. But on repeated listens I have come to really like this album and I can’t even understand how this didn’t just instantly click with me. You would have to look a long time to find a better sounding rock album than this. These dark and gritty riffs have definitely lodged themselves into my brain.
(4 / 5)
