Therion pushes their boundaries.
Created in Sweden in 1987, the band led by Christofer Johnsson (guitar/keyboards, vocals until 2006, Luciferian Light Orchestra, ex-Carbonized, ex-Messiah) under the name of Blitzkrieg, then Megatherion, and finally Therion in 1988, and completed by Sami Karppinen (drums, Curse), Nalle Påhlsson (bass, The Experiment No. Q, Vindictiv), Thomas Vikström (tenor vocals, ex-Candlemass), Christian Vidal (guitar and soprano vocals) and Lori Lewis (soprano vocals) announced the release of Leviathan II, their eighteenth album, one and a half year after the first opus.
The album immediately starts with Aeon of Maat, a very catchy track which highlights the vocal diversity between soft female presences and aggressive male interventions. The mix does not forget the wild lead parts, but it quickly drives us to Litany of the Fallen, a more majestic and theatrical track which lets the orchestrations play an important role to accompany the rhythmic. We have some rather jerky passages which will be very effective on stage, then Alchemy of the Soul comes to offer us darker sounds. The melancholic quietness marvelously accompanies the vocal parts just like on Lunar Coloured Fields and its softness which leaves an important place to voices and epic sonorities. Classical influences give this track a whole new dimension before Lucifuge Rofocale goes back to heavier sounds with screamed vocals, dark sounds as well as vicious and disturbing Power Metal roots. Marijin Min Nar is also mysterious with catchy sounds and highly developed vocal parts, as well as piercing leads before Hades and Elysium comes to bring us some sweetness. Choirs coupled with this slow and soothing rhythmic make the ballad a moment of respite before Midnight Star comes back to the band’s more lively sounds. We will again notice an interesting diversity on vocals, then the short Cavern Cold as Ice offers us catchy and accessible tones accompanied by Folk influences to get back to the catchy, while Codex Gigas shows itself immediately colder. The composition reminds us of the band’s first releases, mixing virtuosity and heady sounds, then Pazuzu comes to close the album with dark sonorities the band skillfullycombines with intense vocal interventions.
You think the album is over? Actually, it’s not. The band decided to give Aeon of Maat, the first track, and Pazuzu, the last composition, an alternative version which will surprise and amaze you without any doubt.
Therion confirms with Leviathan II that the band needs a stage. Why? If the songs are perfect, the live interpretation magnifies them, and even if it took me a while to see them in action, I can assure you that the experience is incredible.
90/100
