Perseverance is an admirable trait in anyone, but when it comes to being a band, it's essential. Take Draconian, the Swedish purveyors of Goth death/doom metal band. They formed in 1994 but it would be another nine years before they were able to release their debut album, "Where Lovers Mourn." It was instantly beloved by fans of the Gothic and death/doom genres, impressed by the duality of the music and from then on, Draconian became essential for the library of metal lovers the world over. It's been six years since their previous album, "Under A Godless Veil," and "In Somnolent Ruin" is an important one, as it marks the return of vocalist Lisa Johansson, who was last heard on the 2011 album, "A Rose For The Apocalypse."

Johansson makes her mark right away, heralding the beginning of the record following the sound of a distant bell on the first song, "I Welcome Thy Arrow." Starting the album with the longest track of the bunch is an interesting choice and while it's not bad, it does feel like it drags after a while. Of course, harsh vocalist and ever present Anders Jacobsson is there to counter Johansson's singing and his growls are as fierce as ever. The track itself features all the hallmarks of death/doom and Gothic metal,. making for a decent sample of the style, being both sombre and crushingly heavy.

"The Monochrome Blade" is definitely a heavier song than the opener and features some really beautiful guitar work, which at the end crafts a perfect lead-in to "Anima," a definite highlight of the album that features a guest appearance by Astroqueen's Daniel Änghede. There are death growls of course, but they're used well here and dare I say about such a heavy band, it's quite pretty. Speaking of which, the shortest offering, "Asteria Beneath The Tranquil Sea," lives up to its name and provides a much needed break from the roars and sonic assault, while also providing the perfect showcase for Johansson, who has far and away been the star of the show on this outing.

In fact, the biggest detriment of the album is the very thing that's helped make Draconian so well known. Namely, the "beauty and the beast" vocal dynamic, and without the switch between the music, feels far too even, to the point of becoming formulaic. There are times when the death growls either come in too early, or aren't needed at all, but it's as if a parent has told them, "if you can't share equally, neither of you will have anything!" In the case of, "The Face Of God," the harsh vocals seem to be there just because they're expected in every song and kind of tread on what had to that point been a great, celestial atmosphere.

Draconian concludes the album well with "Lethe," a melancholy track which retains its metal sensibilities. It does follow the overall pattern of "In Somnolent Ruin," which seems to be, "I'll have a section, then you have a section," and frankly, it got to the point where I had to take a break from the album. That's not to say it's bad. In fact, it's a good album overall, but it really does depend on your taste, patience, and fondness for death/doom metal, which can be trying for non-devotees even at its best. The album will best be remembered for the return of Lisa Johansson and there's plenty for fans to enjoy, but it won't go down as their finest hour.