Draksen started life in mid 1986 as "drakkar". Gregg Argenziano on Drums, Ernesto Catalan on Guitar/vocals and Andres Rodriguez on Guitar managed to record a couple of rehearsals before Gregg decided to drop out. In Early 1987 Martin Lugo becomes the band's drummer and Oscar del Rio settles on bass and the first "true" line up is born.
Draksen was one of Mexico's first thrash bands, along with TRANSMETAL, DEVASTER and NEXT. By 1988 the band releases its first demo, "Thrashcore". Sporting a terrible production, the demo was well received nontheless and copies were sent via regular mail all over the world. Soon, places as far from Mexico such as ISRAEL, SPAIN, The NEATHERLANDS, CANADA, PERU and POLAND knew about Draksen.
Late in 1988, Andres drops out and his place is taken by ex-CRUCIFIED guitar hero Luiz Ahumada. A year later, and sporting a new name (up to this point, the band was known as Drakkar)the band records their second demo, "From Beyond". Featuring a heavier and clearer production, "From Beyond" became the band's best known work to date. The sound became an aggressive thrash more in common with European bands like SODOM and KREATOR as well as retaining some of their original influences (METALLICA, SLAYER, MOTORHEAD, D.R.I., EXODUS, SACRIFICE, ANTHRAX, etc.).
Draksen toured extensively all over central Mexico, sharing the stage with bands such as TRANSMETAL, NEXT, TWITCH, PENTAGRAM, CENOTAPH, RIPPING FLESH, SEDICION, ATTOXXICO, MORTUARY and MELISSA. The demo received rave reviews in mainstream magazines such as "METAL MANIACS" (Draksen being the 1st mexican metal band ever reviewed in their pages) and CREEM's THRASH METAL, as well as high profile 'zines from PERU, ENGLAND, FRANCE, JAPAN and ITALY. At this point, Martin Lugo leaves the band and Mike Moon (ex-TWITCH) takes the drum stool. Oscar del Rio also leaves (and forms GARIGOLES, a punk/metal band) and Frank Uribe takes his place. With this Line up, Draksen land an opening spot for SACRED REICH in Mexico City, on their "American Way" tour in 1991.
By mid 1991 Draksen almost disbands, leaving Ernesto Catalan as its sole member. Luiz Ahumada leaves and forms HARDWARE, a cyber-death metal band, along with ex-Draksen manager Juan Carlos Guerrero. Frank also leaves. Ernesto and Mike Moon find a new guitar player in Alejandro Isaac and ex-guitarist Fabian Medina joins in as a bass player in mid 1991. Later that year, Mike leaves and his place is taken by Ignacio "Tacho" Torres.
This became Draksen's final line up. In 1992 the band records 2 brand new songs: "Bigger Than Life", a techno thrash metal piece close to early EXODUS and METALLICA with lots of technical solos and time changes, and "Swedish Gods", a dirgy death metal tunes done as a parody to death metal bands who denied their thrash roots.
Eventually, in early 1993, the demo wins them their long awaited record deal with local inde MIX Records.
After 2 months in the studio recording and mixing, the self titled "Draksen" is released. Unfortunately, the label releases it as "cassette-only" and in limited amounts. Nevertheless, the band does a series of successful gigs and hope that this albums helps them get a better record deal.
By 1994, the musical climate was changing fast: Alterno-grunge was the way to go as far as commercial hard rock and the underground became flooded with extrem black and death metal bands. Draksen was caught in the middle: too intense for the alterno crowd, yet, too soft for the hardcore underground. Ernesto wanted to explore more melodic ideas while Alejandro was more interested in bands like PANTERA and BELIEVER.
It was then decided that a new vocalist should be included, to ease Ernesto of that duty and concentrate more on the guitar.
Draksen's final gig featured Carlos (vocalist) Munoz first and last performance with the band, opening for doom legends THE OBSSESSED. Ernesto had to take over the vocals of half the songs since Carlos barely remembered the lyrics.
In december 1994, the band amicably parted ways. Many songs were left hanging, unfinished, and MIX records never released the album on CD. Ernesto and Tacho went on to form STAMINA, a grunge/metal/punk band that lasted 11 years (it disbanded in 2005) and Alejandro Isaac formed a power metal band, FAHRENHEIT, and he's currently playing there. Fabian dropped from the music scene altogether.

As of 2007, there are plans to re-release Draksen's sole album on CD, with old demo tracks as bonus material and possibly some multi-media goodies. Stay tune for more info!


DRAKSEN has reformed for a series of (as of now) limited presentations, among them is their participation in the HELL & HEAVEN FEST 2012 in Guadalajara, Mexico, as one of the opening bands for ANTHRAX, EXODUS, OVERKILL, HEATHEN and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. There are also plans to records a 3 or 4 song EP with new and old songs.