You know that old saying, “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” I feel like this saying echoes thru whenever a band that I truly love that few knew of decides to pack it in and call it a day. Bands come and go everyday that we never even hear about but when one of those bands is a band that meant a lot to you, it cuts just a bit on the deep side. The metal world just got a good bit quieter as Indianapolis based metal band Draekon decided to put it to rest after 7 years.
Being a band is a hard fucking thing to do. It’s a lot of hard work, it’s a lot of sacrifices, it’s a lot of living in cramped vans, it’s a lot of playing to 10 people in the corner of a brew pub, it’s a lot of pain. At the same time, it’s a very gratifying thing when you eventually see your work start to pay off and people start to know you, know your songs, and want to hear them and see you.
Draekon was a band that struck a chord with me the first time I heard them. Like most bands, I literally stumbled upon them when they were part of a package show where I was there to see someone else. The first song I heard from them, “The Value of All” absolutely mesmerized me and immediately made me a fan. The passion, the intensity, and depth of singer Chad Barnes gave me chills as his epic, arena worth vocals fell onto a musical foundation that was part symphonic, part prog, and pure classic metal. I had such high hopes for this band but like so many other bands, life had other plans and eventually became enough of a deterrent that it made them hard to be a band at the level that they wanted to be.
Some may say that maybe Draekon didn’t sacrifice enough. Some may say that they didn’t work hard enough. Well, it’s for nobody to say just why things didn’t happen but the band themselves. Admittedly, I was told that life just got in the way. Some members are married, maybe eventually wanting families, and they just realized that these things don’t always (if ever) mesh in a good way. The members of Draekon chose to concentrate on their personal and family lives and for that, I both salute them and curse them. One part of me is happy and proud that they chose the path of being responsible adults but another part of me is disappointed and even a bit sad that I will never get to see Draekon grow to be this epic band that I feel is every bit as good, if not better, than many of the greats that inspired them.
I literally feel like in a few years time I watched Draekon grow from this fledgling band playing at 120 Tavern in Marietta, GA to being one of the main stage bands at Center Stage Theater for the ProgPower Kick-off show in 2014. That night was the last time I ever saw them perform and that night I saw a band that had grown up, graduated through the ranks and deservedly so showed just what they were capable of in front of a nearly sold out house.
I am so glad I did get to see these guys live. I’m also glad that was able to call these guys friends of mine. They were amazingly humble, funny, and gracious guys who took nothing for granted and I always loved being in their company. Our friendship will last forever but I will always miss the magically captivating live shows and music of Draekon. A five song EP is all we have of this amazing band and sadly, while it isn’t enough, it’s a short but very sweet legacy. Maybe one day we’ll hear that unfinished follow up album but for now, this is what we have.
Rest In Peace, Draekon and thank you for the timeless, unforgettable music that you left us with. I feel for all of who never got to see or hear this band but maybe now, you will give them a listen and see just what it is that you had been missing all this time. Draekon, when you fell in the forest, you did make a sound and I felt it deep and heard it loud and clear.
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