Dragonlord (band)

Dragonlord
Origin	Bay Area
Genres	Symphonic black metal Thrash metal
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Spitfire, Escapi Music
Associated acts	Testament, Nevermore, Sadus, Cradle of Filth
Website	Official Dragonlord website
Members
Eric Peterson Gian Pyres Lyle Livingston Jon Allen Steve Schmidt
Past members
Steve DiGiorgio Steve Smyth

Dragonlord is an American symphonic black metal band that was formed in 2001 as a side project by Eric Peterson & Steve DiGiorgio of Testament, and Steve Smyth of Nevermore. The band is a result of Eric Peterson's interest in darker music, and not being able to do that with Testament he formed Dragonlord. The band combines elements of black metal (screeching vocals, keyboards) with some thrash guitar influences. Lyrical themes vary, either about the rage of a dragon (hence the name), death, war, lost love, Satanic or otherwise anti-religious themes (common in black metal), or combinations.

DiGiorgio later left the group and was replaced by former Testament bassist Derrick Ramirez. Former Psypheria member Lyle Livingston plays keyboards for the band, and Jon Allen is their drummer.^[1]

They have released two CDs, Rapture in 2001 and Black Wings of Destiny in 2005.

Eric Peterson, recently announced that DragonLord will be recording a new album as soon as he returns from the UK Download Festival with Testament in August.

In 2009, Eric Peterson released the following statement via Kerrang magazine:

“

After months of hard work in the studio, the new albums' finally shaping up. I've been working real hard alongside Sean Malone who has recorded a lot of the album with me and we both believe it has strong potential. Unfortunately, because of my hectic schedule, I've not been able to make my finishing touches to the album. And because of my commitments to Testament, I'm not gonna have time to finish it any time soon. Therefore, there's not gonna be any new material hitting the streets this year or early next [year]. But we're hoping to be able to resume work in mid-2010 in preparation for an early 2011 release. - Eric Peterson

”

^[2]

In 2010, Eric Peterson issued another statement via Terrorizer magazine:

“

Our record label has recently expressed doubt over the [upcoming] album's potential. At first we were fucking but then we were all sadly brought to reality. Reception to Black metal is possibly the most limited of all in the entire music world; especially the U.S. where the genre's epically failed to find its feet as established movement. So given the circumstances we need to let fans know that making adjustments to the current recordings would put us back another good few thousand. That'd mean possibly creeping into the Testament budget. As I mentioned before, I am not prepared to make any financial risks with Dragon[Lord] until we become as followed as bands like Slipknot or Dimmu Borgir. So I would say there's around an 83% chance the album won't be developed and on the streets at all, 13% chance of me making adjustments and around a 10% of finishing the band. Anyone who knows me will respect my honesty and I can tell you DragonLord doesn't have a future, we would like to make another album; but the metal scene is difficult to flourish in. Dragon definitely withstands no chance. - Eric Peterson

”

Members

Current members

• Eric Peterson - vocals, lead & rhythm guitar
• Claude Creamer - rhythm & lead guitar
• Gian Pyres - rhythm & lead guitar (touring)
• Lyle Livingston - keyboards
• Steve Schmidt - bass
• Jon Allen - drums, percussion

Former members

• Steve DiGiorgio - bass (2000–2001)
• Steve Smyth - lead and rhythm guitar (2000–2005)
• Derrick Ramirez - bass

Discography

• Rapture (2001)
• Black Wings of Destiny (2005)
• TBA (2011)^[3]

References

1. ^ Dragonlord at Allmusic
2. ^ KERRANG:Peterson says no Dragonlord album until 2011.
3. ^ KERRANG:Peterson says no Dragonlord album until 2011.

External links

• Official Dragonlord website
• Dragonlord (band) on Myspace
• Dragonlord at Encyclopaedia Metallum