With a Therion release, you never know what to expect until you put the disk in the player. It could be a rock anthem, it could be a classical work complete with full orchestration, choir and professional opera singers, it could be gothic metal, it could be a soothing ballad with soft instrumental backgrounds. Or, it could include all of the above, as is the case here. This title followed the well-received Volvin tour, which promoted the album of the same name. It is a mix of new materials, covers of other artists and live presentations. And the range of material is substantial. . . . something only Therion could deliver. And, it is great music, across the board.

Therion is really only two guys, Christofer Johnsson who plays guitars and is in charge of music and Thomas Karlsson who does most of the lyrics. Those lyrics are generally a pagan based mixture of esoteric religion and fantasy. The music, however, is delivered by a wide range of musicians. This title includes some 25 musicians from across the board of metal land. They include some formidable names including Sarah Jezebel Deva, Eileen Kupper and Ralf Scheepers among others doing vocals. The list of guest instrumental talents is equally impressive.

Let’s take a look at several of the offerings. Crowning of Atlantis is the leadoff number, and it introduces the Therion motif. The song utilizes the range of traditional Therion components, a strong operatic female lead, lovely choirs, a chugging guitar serving up the metal component and lyrics straight from the ancient books:

Clavicula Nox is another Therion title that has been recorded in multiple formats using a variety of singers and musicians. It is a favorite on the Classical Therion series where it was performed by a large orchestra and European opera singers. In this presentation, we still get the opera singers, but with a more metal framework. The choral work is typical Therion, great professional voices tied directly to a metal framework highlighted by those male and female opera voices.

Then we have the heavier numbers. Thor (The Powerhead) is a concert favorite. Thor was originally performed by metal crew Manowar. Lead is Ralf Scheepers, a metal screamer, and the song is a driving anthem to pagen mythology. The guitars scream, Ralf hits notes that are painful and the backup is first rate. Crazy Nights is another of these heavy metal numbers, in the tradition of head banger aficionados everywhere.

Therion can do the traditional ballad as well. Seawinds is one of these. The vocals are covered by none other than Sarah Jezebel Deva. Be clear here, Therion can pretty much get anyone to work with them, the list of significant performers who have showed up for work with Therion is too long to begin to cover here. And Sarah does a typical job here. The instrumental component is understated and we are left with the vocals of one of the great voices of our time.

Then, there are the live covers from the Volvin tour. Therion is a live experience; you have to see it to believe it. The concert background is gothic, the lighting is magical and the musicians are as good as it gets. . . with the understanding that you can get different musicians every night. Black Sun is one of these. The song begins with a keyboard solo, then quickly expands to a fuller orchestration, followed by complete coral work. A soprano takes over at some point, as is usually the case with Therion titles, and that vox is typically outstanding. She sings:

Finally, it would be criminal not to mention one of the great anthems of all time, a Therion staple: To Mega Therion. This song has driven adoring crowds to hysteria on at least 4 continents. And for good reason. It utilizes the entire range of the Therion experience: strong male and female vocals, a choral component and a first class metal structure to present those vocals. I’ve heard this song by at least 5 different combinations of musicians and it never sounds bad. Lyrically, it covers the Therion pagan message:

Powers of Thagerion

Watch the great beast to be

For to Mega Therion

The dragonian melody

The dragon open the eye

And reveal both true and lie

Spiritual supremacy

Ride the beast of ecstasy

Spiritual supremacy

Ride the beast of ecstasy

Therion is an experience, it is not a traditional band. The music takes you to places beyond the realms of the typical musical journey. And this CD is truly representative of that experience. Use it as a barometer to explore the range of offerings available, and be prepared to experience music of unique range and diversity, but with a consistent ability to satisfy.