Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

Austrian symphonic power metal heroes DRAGONY are about to release their epic new fulllength, Viribus Unitis, this Friday, January 15 via Napalm Records, and today, unveil their third single, “Legends Never Die”. Prepare for “the most Austrian metal album of all time” (Stormbringer.at), as we return to the days when the country was ruled by emperor Franz Joseph and his wife, empress Sisi. But forget everything you’ve heard and read so far! According to DRAGONY and their upcoming opus Viribus Unitis, history took a completely different turn.

After setting the stage with their first offering, “Gods Of War”, featuring special guest songwriter Tommy Johansson (SABATON) and Tomas Svedin (SYMPHONY OF TRAGEDY), followed by glory metal hymn “Golden Dawn”, DRAGONY now unveil their third single, “Legends Never Die”: History is (re-)written in this contemporary-sounding closer! With its catchy chorus, everything is set for the grand finale. Along with rapid riffing and keys on point, the song serves as an epilogue to the story of Viribus Unitis, looking at the way the legends of the Habsburg rulers were created and have been adapted and re-told throughout the years.

Singer Siegfried Samer on “Legends Never Die”:
“Legends Never Die” can be regarded as the epilogue to the storyline of Viribus Unitis, that culminates in the final, epic battle in the song “Battle Royale”.

In “Legends Never Die”, we take a step back to look at the story we just told from an outside perspective, and remind ourselves and the listener that eventually, most history can be turned into “just a story”, and that even though all empires fall one day, all men must die, and all times – good and bad – must pass, at the end of the day, the memories of those persons and events that influenced us, regardless of whether it was through politics, through philosophy, through music, literature or through other forms of art, will always stay with us and are thus immortalized; and that the stories that may be told about these legendary persons and events, just like these “legends” themselves, never truly die.”

Watch the official video for “Legends Never Die” HERE:

Founded in 2007 and after releasing three studio records, DRAGONY returns to its rock opera roots on their brand new output. On Viribus Unitis the Austrian-based unit unveils what really happened at the time of the last Habsburg ruler of Austria, emperor Franz Joseph, his wife, empress Sisi, and their son, the troubled Archduke Rudolf.
Let’s clear the assumption that Rudolph died after trying to take his life at castle Mayerling in 1889. No way! Instead, after his mother Sisi is assassinated in 1898 in Switzerland, he subsequently gets in contact with dark powers which, driven by his desire to be with her again, make him turn to black magic and demonology. Now history takes its true course. There are not only zombies and cyberpunks lurking – DRAGONY also managed to prove further entanglements of well-known personalities you could never imagine…

For the exciting adventure cemented in their upcoming album, DRAGONY are supported by well-known colleagues like Tommy Johansson (SABATON, MAJESTICA, SYMPHONY OF TRAGEDY), Tomas Svedin (SYMPHONY OF TRAGEDY), Michele Guaitoli (VISIONS OF ATLANTIS) and Georg Neuhauser (SERENITY) – just to name a few. Mixing and mastering on Viribus Unitis was handled by Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann of ORDEN OGAN in his Greenman Studios in Germany.

Siegfried Samer on the new album, Viribus Unitis:
“Viribus Unitis marks both a return to our musical roots as well as a next step into the future for DRAGONY, as we are returning to a “rock opera concept” album similar to our debut Legends, but at the same time, we have evolved musically and are delivering what we consider our heaviest and most diverse album to date. And even though we are taking a bit of a creative approach with the source material, the concept story of the album is deeply intertwined with the history of Austria and in particular with the end of the Habsburg monarchy, which is often romanticized in Austria and ingrained in our collective consciousness. We are therefore thrilled to be able to release this very special album on an Austrian label, Napalm Records, and hope that both old and new fans of DRAGONY will enjoy the brand new songs!”

Could DRAGONY’s rewriting of history mark a new revelation of hidden truths previously shrouded in fantasy? Only Viribus Unitis tells all!

Grab Your Copy of Viribus Unitis HERE

VAN CANTO’s Inga Scharf about the new album, Viribus Unitis:
“With Viribus Unitis, DRAGONY have delivered an album with expressive and melodically rousing songs. Power, melodies and catchy riffs – a history lesson of a very special kind that catches your ears incredibly quickly and stays there. And best of all: every time you listen to it again, you discover your next favorite song.”

SABATON’s Tommy Johansson on his appearance as guest songwriter on
“Gods Of War”:
“What DRAGONY did to ‘Gods of War’ is far beyond what I could have expected it to turn out when this song was written. How they play and sing this song is just glorious! It’s so powerful and you can sing along to the chorus right away. I’m happy and honored I got to be a part of DRAGONY, and the song suits well to the rest of this epic album!

Viribus Unitis tracklist:
1. On the Blue Danube
2. Gods of War
3. Love You to Death
4. Magic
5. Darkness Within
6. A.E.I.O.U.
7. Viribus Unitis
8. Golden Dawn
9. Made of Metal (Cyberpunk Joseph)
10. Battle Royale
11. Legends Never Die
12. Haben Sie Wien schon bei Nacht geseh’n