Therion

Does anyone else here listen to their stuff? They started out as a death metal band, and transformed into a symphonic metal band in 1996. Their later stuff is awesome.

i prefer the earlier stuff... from "...Of Darkness" up until "Theli"

their other stuff is ok, but a little too pompous & over blown. haven't heard the new one with Snowy Shaw singing yet.

I only have as far back as Vovin. I never bought the earlier stuff thinking that I'd not like it, because I'm not a big death metal fan. But then I bought the Celebrators of Becoming 2CD/4DVD set (which is awesome, especially for the $19.99 I paid for it), and I was really diggin' on the early stuff. If I'm reading correctly, they started incorporating the symphonic stuff early, but were still pretty much death metal, and then the Theli was the real turn in the road.

Either way, I'm now looking for their early albums, as I think I'll dig them. From Vovin on is awesome!

Yep. The first time I heard them was on a compilation. The song that was on there was Vovin's opener, "The Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah". That song got me hooked on them.

I think it was on one of the "Death is just the beginning" compilations.

Vovin is still my favorite. Great band.

Got their latest, Gothic Kabbalah in the mail yesterday. It sounds great to me!
Surprisingly few opera lovers on this forum.

Olafsto wrote:

Got their latest, Gothic Kabbalah in the mail yesterday. It sounds great to me!
Surprisingly few opera lovers on this forum.

The new album is brilliant. It really is. So dynamic and ambitious. After Sirius B/Lemuria I'm surprised they went for another epic. It worked, though; Gothic Kabbalah is awesome.

And didn't they just sign like a 7-album deal with Nuclear Blast or something? It's at least a 5-album deal.

Therion also plays under the name Demonoid, a Death/Black Metalish band. The last album I got from them was 2004'sRiders Of The Apocalypse out on NBA. If I remember right it's a concept album anti-christian-TJ

Todd Jaymz wrote:

Therion also plays under the name Demonoid, a Death/Black Metalish band. The last album I got from them was 2004'sRiders Of The Apocalypse out on NBA. If I remember right it's a concept album anti-christian-TJ

Anti-Christian? You sure about that, or is that just your opinion?

Just started to get into them and I like what I hear!

Wargod48

I love this band, bit of a goth feel juxtaposed w/prog/power metal.....yea baby!

Therion is easily one of my favorite bands.

"Lemuria/Sirius B" is my favorite - it's a masterpiece.

"Gothic Kabbalah" is a very good follow up though.

I'm surprised more people aren't into this band.

They mix goth, power metal, symphonic elements, and death metal so seemlessly. It's amazing.

blackieboy wrote:

Therion is easily one of my favorite bands.

"Lemuria/Sirius B" is my favorite - it's a masterpiece.

"Gothic Kabbalah" is a very good follow up though.

I'm surprised more people aren't into this band.

They mix goth, power metal, symphonic elements, and death metal so seemlessly. It's amazing.

My assessment as well. I have the Japanese version of Secret of The Runes which includes a kick a** cover of ABBA's Summernight City. The anti-Christian thing has to do with the fact that the lyricist of the band is a leader of a black magic cult. However, the themes have to do with pagan mythology so it is not really anti-Christian per se. Lemuria/Sirius B has some of the best guitar solos I've heard in a while and is IMO the best one so far. Gothic Kabbalah is different (the orchestra was toned way down on this one) but is (so far) on my list of best albums of '07. The title track is my favorite and is worth the admission.

Yeah, I was initially a bit let down by "Gothic Kabbalah", but when I gave it a chance - it really grew on me. It seems to have some decidedly 70s prog elements on it. But I love it now.

"Lemuria/Sirius B" will probably always be their masterpiece. Most Therion fans agree. I'd also recommend "Lemuria/Sirius B" to anyone new to Therion - looking to explore them. It's a great place to start with them.

DallasBlack wrote:

The anti-Christian thing has to do with the fact that the lyricist of the band is a leader of a black magic cult.

where did you hear that ?

mc666 wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

The anti-Christian thing has to do with the fact that the lyricist of the band is a leader of a black magic cult.

where did you hear that ?

The lyricist is an unofficial member of Therion:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Karlsson

ah, i see he has been their lyric writer for them since 96, which is when i stopped liking them. not because of their lyrics though.

i guess that is why i never heard that before.

therion is by far one of my fav bands and also has one of my biggest influences in the band in metal genius christopher johansson man that guy has sick talent..

I'm more into the older less progressive stuff like albums Theli and Vovin but my fav album has to be The Crowning of Atlantis some serious covers on ther including Crazy Nights originally did by Loudness and ft. a guest vocal from the great Primal Fear singer..

Fav Therion songs include

Clavicula Nox
Mark of Cain
The Khlysti Evangelist
Eye of Shiva
TOF - The Trinity

I REALLY WANT TO HEAR THEIR STUFF AFTER THEIR DEATH METAL PHASE..................

Vordul wrote:

I REALLY WANT TO HEAR THEIR STUFF AFTER THEIR DEATH METAL PHASE..................

You should. It's 1,000X better.

I like all their stuff though - but their last two albums (albeit they are quite progressive) are their best IMO. They aren't anywhere near death metal, save for slight elements.

Post death/black metal era, the first album I like of thiers is Theli and the last is the Secret of the Ruins. I think Lemuria there was a significant change and they sounded more power metal to me. This last one Cothic Kabalah was simply terrible. So it looks like to me they have changed the style enough for me not to like them anymore.

They also recently lost thier metal vocalist, whom I think is incredible. Fortunately he is in a nother very cool band called Krux, very worthy of being checked out.

It's funny, since getting "Gothic Kabbalah" a few months ago, I just can't stop cranking it. It's definitely got a lot of hooks.

Anyone else have "Gothic Kabbalah"?

I still need to pick this up, it's on my short list!

I need to give it another spin, while all the music is good, for some reason the only song that sticks in my mind is the title track.

Gothic Kabbalah, in my opinion, is a masterpiece. It's not for everyone, but it's pretty damn killer. I think Lemuria/Sirius B is also a masterpiece!