Therion (band)
Encyclopedia
Therion is a Swedish symphonic metal
band founded by Christofer Johnsson
in 1987. The word "therion" comes from the Greek
therion (θηρίον), meaning "Beast," i.e., that of the Christian
Book of Revelation
. However, the band's name is a homage to the Celtic Frost
album To Mega Therion
.
Beginning as a death metal
band, they later turned to combining orchestra
l elements with their metal music, employing heavy use of choir
s and classical musicians, not only as additions to but also as integral parts of the composition. Therion is the first metal band with fully live orchestra featured. It is also the band which originated, popularised and influenced the symphonic metal
genre, cited as "the most adventurous metal band at present". Because of these extents they take in conducting their music, they have been dubbed as "Opera Metal".
Therion's music takes its themes from different mythologies
and is based on concepts ranging from occult
ism, magic
and ancient traditions and writings. The majority of their lyrics are written by Thomas Karlsson
, head and founder of the magical order Dragon Rouge, of which Johnsson is a member. The band has seen many changes in line-up and style throughout its history.
, Sweden
. The founder, Christofer Johnsson, was originally the bassist and vocalist, despite having only played bass for 3 months prior to the band's formation. Joining him in this new band were guitarist Peter Hansson
and drummer Oskar Forss
. Johnsson and Hansson had met in several musical groups, while Forss was an old school friend of Johnsson. Blitzkrieg's main influences were Metallica
and Slayer
, but their sound was similar to Venom
and Motörhead. The band however never recorded any proper demos
, and only did two concerts together. Blitzkrieg decided to split up in March 1988 due to problems with Forss. Only a few recordings survive to this day.
The band was reformed later in 1988 under the new name Megatherion and began to be influenced by the Swiss heavy metal band Celtic Frost
. The new group name was originated by their album To Mega Therion
. Johnsson switched [from bass] to guitar, P. Hansson was still guitarist, while Johan Hansson became a new bassist and Mika Tovalainen a drummer. The band name was soon shortened to Therion and the rhythm section was replaced by Erik Gustafsson of Dismember
as a bassist and Oskar Forss returned as a drummer.
release, Time Shall Tell. It was still technically a demo, as it was only published by a local record store House of Kicks in a printing of 1,000. The record got the band their first record deal with Deaf Records
. Through this company, they released their first full-length album, Of Darkness...
.
Of Darkness... consisted of songs Johnsson had written in the 1980s; despite having newer songs, the band opted to save them for their next full release. The album can be seen as a progressive death metal album in that it contained mainly influences that were not standard to death metal at the time. The lyrics were very political, in the vein of Napalm Death
and other late-1980s hardcore punk
bands. The deal with Deaf Records was only for one album, and the band had never had a good relationship with the label, so after the release, they moved to Active Records
.
The band began to record a second full-length album, entitled Beyond Sanctorum
, in 1991. Before the recordings started Erik Gustafsson decided to leave the band in order to return home to the U.S.
, but Therion continued as a trio with Hansson, Forss and Johnsson filling in on bass guitar. The record Beyond Sanctorum shows a more experimental edge to the death metal music, with keyboards and clean vocalists used sparingly.
After this recording, the band ran into a few problems. Forss decided to leave the band, Hansson quit the band after health problems. The shows in the Central Europe
were played using a new line-up. Piotr Wawrzeniuk
, from the band Carbonized
in which Johnsson also played, took up drumming duties. The guitar was taken up by Magnus Barthelsson
, another old school friend of Johnsson's, while Andreas Wahl took up the bass.
stylish, but more doom metal
lic Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas
in 1993. As Therion's first, and only, doom metal
record it was very experimental, incorporating elements of jazz
, industrial music
, traditional 1980s heavy metal
and religious chanting. This record sold more than the first two, but it was still only about 10,000 copies. Active Records then decided to scale down their operations and the band was switched to the new owners, Megarock Records
.
The band, despite being popular with its hardcore fans, was still largely unknown. Sales were generally poor and the band members were having a hard time making ends meet. Despite the work they put in, there was no financial success for the band. Because of this, Barthelsson and Wahl were forced to quit the band. Fredrik Isaksson
was brought into the band as the new bassist. After a few months break, in which Johnsson wrote a record as vocalist for Messiah
, the band got an offer from the famous metal label Nuclear Blast
. Despite the record deal, Megarock Records decided to let Therion go without any strings attached. The band signed a deal with Nuclear Blast in 1994 and remain with them to date.
The first record published with the new label was Lepaca Kliffoth
, though a single entitled "The Beauty in Black
" was released just before as a promotion for the new record. To Johnsson's surprise, this single sold 12,000 copies, just in Europe, but the record company suddenly stopped printing it. The album was very experimental, featuring classical soprano
s and bass-baritone
singers, and also Johnsson with a completely new style of singing - more hardcore, as opposed to death metal. These more melodic touches seemed to pay off, as the album sold around 15,000 copies in the weeks following its release. Current European sales figures are around 35,000 copies. Fredrik Isaksson left the band after some personal problems, and Lars Rosenberg
, from the death metal band Entombed
, took his place.
. The album heavily featured the vocals of two choirs, along with some vocals from Johnsson and Wawrzeniuk. Dan Swanö
also contributed to the vocals on this album. The band used keyboards heavily, so many in fact that it was humorously called "Barmbek Symphony Orchestra" after the subway station next to the studio. Theli is considered to be the apex of Therion's career to date. The sales reached 75,000 copies in a month, more than doubling the sales of Lepaca Kliffoth
.
After recording was over, the mixing and mastering period became stressful. Mellberg was suffering from severe alcohol problems and literally walked out of the studio, never to return to the band. Rosenberg was also having problems with alcohol, but the band survived these problems long enough to release Theli. Johnsson also had a problem with the band members; Wawrzeniuk was busy with his studies and could not go on tour so Johnsson got Tommy Eriksson of Shadowseeds
to fill in on drums. Tobias Sidegard was hired to play guitar, while Kimberly Goss
was hired as a keyboard player and vocalist. Rosenberg's drinking problems got worse and in result of that, he was fired from the band.
In 1997 Therion released A'arab Zaraq - Lucid Dreaming
album. The record contains a few unused songs from Theli, a few cover songs the band had made, plus a full soundtrack Johnsson had made independently for the short art movie called "The Golden Embrace".
The next album, Vovin, was recorded using professional studio musicians and Johnsson's friend Tommy Eriksson helping out with some additional guitars. It featured, for the first time, a real string orchestra and a hand picked choir of considerable number. The Austria
n singer Martina Hornbacher Astner and Sarah Jezebel Deva
were chosen as the lead sopranos. Total sales were, in just two months, over 150,000 copies in Europe alone.
The band capitalised on this success and went on tour with the band Moonspell
. The hired drummer, Sami Karppinen
was offered a permanent place in the band. With this new line-up, the mini album Crowning of Atlantis
was recorded. It was a short album fleshed out with several covers and live tracks that the record label and management insisted be placed on it to make it a full length album. Through Karppinen, Kristian Niemann
joined the band on guitar, along with his brother Johan Niemann
on bass.
Johnsson had already made material for the next release Deggial
which is far more symphonic, employing far more complex orchestral scores, this time using a full orchestra as opposed to a simple string one. The record went on to sell more than Theli but never reached the high sales of Vovin. Therion then began a big tour to promote their new record. This was the band's first headline tour as before they had always been support acts to other bands.
concept album
. For the recording he built a recording studio, just used by the band, called "Modern Art". The new written songs were based on the nine different worlds of the world tree Yggdrasil
from the ancient Norse mythology
. This album was named Secret of the Runes
and released in 2001. For a bonus, the band recorded cover songs of "Crying Days" originally performed by Scorpions
and "Summer Night City
" of ABBA
. Piotr Wawrzeniuk
returned as a guest vocalist for the bonus tracks of this album. The band's tenth album received very good reviews and scores including Allmusic editors' pick. Therion followed up this release with a tour with Evergrey
and My Insanity as support acts. After the tour, Karppinen decided to leave the band, but he was responsible enough to find a replacement drummer for the band, Richard Evensand
.
In 2001, the official fan club compilation Bells of Doom
was released exclusively to paying fan club members. The album contained rare songs, including some original recordings from 1987, when the band was originally called Blitzkrieg. It also contained a few songs from demos, and rarities not found on other Therion records. The album was later put for sale on Therion's webstore when the fanclub was shut down and replaced.
A selection of the recordings from the 2001 Secret of the Runes tour was released on the band's first live album, a two-disc Live in Midgård
, released in 2002. The album was released celebrating the band's 15th anniversary. and was mostly recorded in Budapest
, Hungary
.
along with many lead vocalists. The results were the albums Lemuria
and Sirius B
, released together in a special twin pack, as well as individually, in 2004. Piotr Wawrzeniuk returned on this album to provide vocals, along with the singer Mats Levén
.
In July 2005, an album entitled Atlantis Lucid Dreaming
was released. As the name suggests, it is a mixture of tracks from 1997 A'arab Zaraq - Lucid Dreaming
and 1999 Crowning of Atlantis
. The tracklist is all the non-soundtrack songs from the first one (except for the Iron Maiden
cover version), followed by the first seven Crowning of Atlantis songs, and additionally the live version of "Black Sun".
The Lemuria/Sirius B Tour would last for 106 live shows stretching over two years. The final concert took part at the ProgPower Festival
in Cheltenham
, UK
on 21 March 2006 and that was the last Christofer Johnsson vocal stage performance.
Therion released their first DVD entitled Celebrators of Becoming
on May 2006. The set contains four DVDs, featuring live video from Mexico City
recorded in 2004 and other live video materials, bands' documentary from the 2004–2006 World Tour, art movie "The Golden Embrace", all band music videos to date and bootlegs with commentary, and two audio CDs with a live show recorded in Mexico City.
had been finished and the album was subsequently released on January 12, 2007. In early 2007, the band began promoting the album with a World Tour, headlined together with Grave Digger
and with support act Sabaton
. The tour included North and South America, and for the very first time in the band's history, Japan.
Meanwhile the band's first live concert with a symphonic orchestra and choir took place in Bucharest
, Romania
on December 9, 2006, dubbed "Therion goes classic". Six months later another classical show followed in Miskolc
, Hungary
on June 16, 2007 in the framework of the Miskolc Opera Festival
. Both concerts were played by members of local orchestras and choirs, including some soloists, while one of the soprano solos in Miskolc was sung by Lori Lewis
. Each show has contained a full orchestral version of Clavicula Nox, and covers of pieces by Antonín Dvořák
, Giuseppe Verdi
, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
, Camille Saint-Saëns
and Richard Wagner
. The second part of the shows has contained the band's assorted songs, among them Eternal Return, Draconian Trilogy, Sirius B and The Siren Of The Woods. In Bucharest, an orchestra-only version of The Flight Of The Lord Of Flies, and the pure classical fragments of The Khlysti Evangelist and The Wondrous World Of Punt were played - together with Clavicula Nox as the first act of this show.
The Romanian Television has recorded and broadcast the entire Bucharest concert (except some Wagner pieces, The Siren Of The Woods and Draconian Trilogy), and the Miskolc concert was also recorded. The latter was released on May 2009 under the name The Miskolc Experience
as a DVD + 2CD box set. The CD's are divided upon Part 1 (Clavicula Nox and classical covers) and Part 2 (Therion songs with orchestra and choir - except The Siren Of The Woods, which is also missing from the DVD), and the DVD also contains a "Making of" footage, and the first act of the Bucharest show.
In May 2007 the 20 year anniversary tour of the band was announced. It was limited only for 16 gigs, exclusively in Europe. As an integral part of the shows the entire Theli album was played as the second act of the gigs, and ended with the main piece of the Gothic Kabbalah album: Adulruna Rediviva. The rest of the show has included The Wisdom Of The Cage, but the rest of the songs were chosen upon the fans' voting. The only exception was Kali Yuga Pts. 1-2. which was played, with the special occasion of playing Kali Yuga Pt. 3, which is a song of the new album, seen below.
The tour took part in November and December 2007, and included several guest musicians. The keyboard parts were played at every gigs by Ferdy Doernberg
, and the first tour legs also included Piotr Wawrzeniuk
and Messiah Marcolin
. In this part of the tour some songs were accompanied by a belly dancer
on stage. All these guests returned, with Mats Levén, for the final show of the tour, which took part in Paris.
On August 5, 2008, Therion released their third live album —a double CD and one DVD set—entitled Live Gothic
. The album was recorded in Warsaw
, Poland
on February 14, 2007 and featuring 22 songs spread over the two discs, and the DVD is the visual version of the same concert.
As was promised by Christofer, after the busy year of 2007, the band did not plan any tours until 2010, nor were there any concerts scheduled, except a single open-air festival show in Płock, Poland
on 6 September 2008, which included the new rhythm section, and as a guest the band's former guitarist Magnus Barthelsson.
On May 10, 2009, Therion announced that Thomas Vikström had become a full-time member. This makes Thomas the first official vocalist Therion has ever had besides Christofer Johnsson. It happened just days after the releasing of the The Miskolc Experience
DVD.
In November 2009 the making of the new album was announced, which obtained the title of Sitra Ahra in February 2010. Several festivals, Mexican gigs, and a complete European tour have been scheduled.
On June 4, 2010, guitarist Christian Vidal joined Therion, but on July 15, 2010, Snowy Shaw
(Gothic Kabbalah, Sitra Ahra) left the band after problems with his throat, and having joined Dimmu Borgir
. However, he rejoined Therion, and left Dimmu Borgir, on August 25, 2010. Sitra Ahra
was then released on September 17, 2010, although selling a mere 800 copies in its first week of release in America. One day after, a new design for the official home page was released. The tour for the album started in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
, for a 17-day tour around South and Central America, on 1 October 2010. There was also a European tour for the album, from 29 October 2010 to 11 December 2010.
In March 2011, Katarina Lilja, one of the singers from Gothic Kabbalah
, left the band for a second time to "re-join the boring civil world and not be a cool rockstar anymore". Linnea Vikström, daughter of Thomas
was announced as her replacement in June 2011. Linnea will be unable to take part in the band's French festivals in June, but will be in the band for their appearance at Bloodstock Open Air
2011 and onwards.
Therion have been confirmed as acts for other festivals in 2011, including Hellfest Summer Open Air
and ProgPower USA
. In April 2011 they were also confirmed for 70000 Tons of Metal
, to take place in January 2012.
In the future, the release of a DVD about the 20th Anniversary Tour is expected. It will contain the recordings of the Budapest gig of this tour.
In an interview conducted by Onslaught Radio at Bloodstock, Snowy Shaw announced that the band are starting work on new material, but it is unlikely that the band will start work on it before the end of the year. In September 2011, Lori Lewis was announced as only the third ever permanent vocalist of Therion, after 4 years of close collaboration and session work with the band.
Therion will release a board game
called 011.
, occult
, and Dragon Rouge themes.
Hendecagram, the star of Qliphoth
, an eleven-pointed star also called Star of Seth, is the most commonly-used symbol by the band. The star symbolises the night side of the Qabalah. The hendecagram is important to Christofer's
magick and his lyrics, and has been admitted as a band symbol. There is also a connection between the eleven points of the star and the Dragon Rouge's Draconian initiation, since its 1 + 9 + 1 levels together constitute 11 steps. The symbol appears on all the album covers (not only front covers, also in back and/or inlay) since Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas
(1993).
Other symbols used include:
Theli
For the records from Vovin and onwards, the inspiration comes from classical composers like Richard Wagner
and Richard Strauss
, heavy metal acts from the 1980s like Accept
and Iron Maiden
, 1970s hard rock bands like Uriah Heep
, etc.
Other sites
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g...
band founded by Christofer Johnsson
Christofer Johnsson
Christofer Johnsson is a Swedish musician. He is a founding member and the guitar player for Therion and used to be in Carbonized, Liers in Wait, Messiah and Demonoid. He is a member of the magical order Dragon Rouge and founder of the defunct Dark Age Music label...
in 1987. The word "therion" comes from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
therion (θηρίον), meaning "Beast," i.e., that of the Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
Book of Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
. However, the band's name is a homage to the Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost was a metal band from Zürich, Switzerland. They are known for their heavy influence on the extreme metal genres. The group was first active from 1984 to 1993, and re-formed in 2001. Following Tom Gabriel Fischer's departure in 2008, Celtic Frost decided to break up again...
album To Mega Therion
To Mega Therion (album)
To Mega Therion is the second album by the Swiss extreme metal band Celtic Frost, released in October 1985. The cover artwork is a painting by H.R. Giger entitled Satan I...
.
Beginning as a death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band, they later turned to combining orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
l elements with their metal music, employing heavy use of choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
s and classical musicians, not only as additions to but also as integral parts of the composition. Therion is the first metal band with fully live orchestra featured. It is also the band which originated, popularised and influenced the symphonic metal
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g...
genre, cited as "the most adventurous metal band at present". Because of these extents they take in conducting their music, they have been dubbed as "Opera Metal".
Therion's music takes its themes from different mythologies
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
and is based on concepts ranging from occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
ism, magic
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
and ancient traditions and writings. The majority of their lyrics are written by Thomas Karlsson
Thomas Karlsson
Thomas Karlsson is a Swedish occultist and an esoteric author. In the summer of 2007, he has held the first Swedish course ever in Western Esotericism.. He is an occultist with many years of experience. Founder and head of magical order of Dragon Rouge, a Left-Hand Path initiatory organization and...
, head and founder of the magical order Dragon Rouge, of which Johnsson is a member. The band has seen many changes in line-up and style throughout its history.
Blitzkrieg and Megatherion (1987–1988)
Therion was originally formed under the name "Blitzkrieg" in Upplands VäsbyUpplands Väsby
Upplands Väsby is a bimunicipal locality and the seat of Upplands Väsby Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden with 35,977 inhabitants in 2005.-Overview:...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. The founder, Christofer Johnsson, was originally the bassist and vocalist, despite having only played bass for 3 months prior to the band's formation. Joining him in this new band were guitarist Peter Hansson
Peter Hansson
Peter Hansson is a co-founder and guitarist of Swedish metal band Therion.- References :...
and drummer Oskar Forss
Oskar Forss
Oskar Forss was a co-founder and during the years of 1987–1992 drummer of Swedish then-death metal band Therion.-Music career:Oskar Forss was a drummer of a pre-Therion band called Blitzkrieg. Due to personal problems with Forss, band decided to split up in ca. March 1988 but soon reformed having...
. Johnsson and Hansson had met in several musical groups, while Forss was an old school friend of Johnsson. Blitzkrieg's main influences were Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
and Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
, but their sound was similar to Venom
Venom (band)
Venom are an English heavy metal band that formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal —are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general...
and Motörhead. The band however never recorded any proper demos
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
, and only did two concerts together. Blitzkrieg decided to split up in March 1988 due to problems with Forss. Only a few recordings survive to this day.
The band was reformed later in 1988 under the new name Megatherion and began to be influenced by the Swiss heavy metal band Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost was a metal band from Zürich, Switzerland. They are known for their heavy influence on the extreme metal genres. The group was first active from 1984 to 1993, and re-formed in 2001. Following Tom Gabriel Fischer's departure in 2008, Celtic Frost decided to break up again...
. The new group name was originated by their album To Mega Therion
To Mega Therion (album)
To Mega Therion is the second album by the Swiss extreme metal band Celtic Frost, released in October 1985. The cover artwork is a painting by H.R. Giger entitled Satan I...
. Johnsson switched [from bass] to guitar, P. Hansson was still guitarist, while Johan Hansson became a new bassist and Mika Tovalainen a drummer. The band name was soon shortened to Therion and the rhythm section was replaced by Erik Gustafsson of Dismember
Dismember (band)
Dismember was a Swedish death metal band that formed in 1988. They are well known in the death metal underground. They split up in October 2011.-History:...
as a bassist and Oskar Forss returned as a drummer.
Debut releases and the first contract (1989–1993)
Therion recorded and released in 1989 the first two demos, Paroxysmal Holocaust (limited to 600 copies) and then Beyond the Darkest Veils of Inner Wickedness (500 copies). In 1990, the band released EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
release, Time Shall Tell. It was still technically a demo, as it was only published by a local record store House of Kicks in a printing of 1,000. The record got the band their first record deal with Deaf Records
Deaf Records
Deaf Records is a record sublabel of Peaceville Records. The label focuses mainly in heavy metal music.-Bands:* Accidental Suicide* Agathocles* At the Gates* Banished* Drudge* Impaler* Isengard* Morta Skuld* Pitchshifter* Prophecy of Doom* Therion...
. Through this company, they released their first full-length album, Of Darkness...
Of Darkness...
Of Darkness... is a debut studio album released on February 1991 by the Swedish band Therion and it contains songs written in the early years of the band, during the 1980s. The album is indicated by the band itself as an end of its first era....
.
Of Darkness... consisted of songs Johnsson had written in the 1980s; despite having newer songs, the band opted to save them for their next full release. The album can be seen as a progressive death metal album in that it contained mainly influences that were not standard to death metal at the time. The lyrics were very political, in the vein of Napalm Death
Napalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
and other late-1980s hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
bands. The deal with Deaf Records was only for one album, and the band had never had a good relationship with the label, so after the release, they moved to Active Records
Active Records
Active Records is a record sublabel of RCA. Label focuses mainly in heavy metal music.-Bands:* Atheist* Budgie* Candlemass* Therion* Destiny...
.
The band began to record a second full-length album, entitled Beyond Sanctorum
Beyond Sanctorum
Beyond Sanctorum is the second studio album released on January 1992 by Swedish band Therion. The album was re-released on November 27, 2000 under Nuclear Blast label as a part of The Early Chapters of Revelation box-set...
, in 1991. Before the recordings started Erik Gustafsson decided to leave the band in order to return home to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but Therion continued as a trio with Hansson, Forss and Johnsson filling in on bass guitar. The record Beyond Sanctorum shows a more experimental edge to the death metal music, with keyboards and clean vocalists used sparingly.
After this recording, the band ran into a few problems. Forss decided to leave the band, Hansson quit the band after health problems. The shows in the Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
were played using a new line-up. Piotr Wawrzeniuk
Piotr Wawrzeniuk
Piotr Wawrzeniuk is a Polish vocalist and drummer. Best known for membership in symphonic metal Therion, but also member of Serpent, Carbonized and The Robots.-Music career:...
, from the band Carbonized
Carbonized
Carbonized were a Swedish death metal band formed 1988 in Saltsjöbaden. The band was formed by Lars Rosenberg in 1988, with Dismember vocalist Matti Kärki...
in which Johnsson also played, took up drumming duties. The guitar was taken up by Magnus Barthelsson
Magnus Barthelsson
Magnus Barthelsson is a guitarist and former member of Therion , Grain, Feeble Lies, Conspiracy, Formicide.- References :...
, another old school friend of Johnsson's, while Andreas Wahl took up the bass.
Musical metamorphosis (1993–1996)
With the new line-up, the band recorded the experimental less death metalDeath metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
stylish, but more doom metal
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
lic Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas
Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas
Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas is the third studio album released on April 1993 by Swedish band Therion. The album was remastered and re-released by Nuclear Blast in 2000 as part of The Early Chapters of Revelation box-set.- Etymology :...
in 1993. As Therion's first, and only, doom metal
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
record it was very experimental, incorporating elements of jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, industrial music
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
, traditional 1980s heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
and religious chanting. This record sold more than the first two, but it was still only about 10,000 copies. Active Records then decided to scale down their operations and the band was switched to the new owners, Megarock Records
Megarock Records
Megarock Records is a Swedish record label, which focus mainly on heavy metal music.-Bands:* Abstrakt Algebra* Ace's High* Alien* Backyard Babies* Bad Habit* Candlemass* Criss* Crossroad Jam* It's Alive* Jester* Landberk* Machine Gun Kelly...
.
The band, despite being popular with its hardcore fans, was still largely unknown. Sales were generally poor and the band members were having a hard time making ends meet. Despite the work they put in, there was no financial success for the band. Because of this, Barthelsson and Wahl were forced to quit the band. Fredrik Isaksson
Fredrik Isaksson
Fredrik Isaksson , also known as "Fredda" or "Flap", is a Swedish bass guitarist, member of heavy metal bands: Therion , Grave and Excruciate.- References :...
was brought into the band as the new bassist. After a few months break, in which Johnsson wrote a record as vocalist for Messiah
Messiah
A messiah is a redeemer figure expected or foretold in one form or another by a religion. Slightly more widely, a messiah is any redeemer figure. Messianic beliefs or theories generally relate to eschatological improvement of the state of humanity or the world, in other words the World to...
, the band got an offer from the famous metal label Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast is an independent record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The record label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on to releasing albums by melodic...
. Despite the record deal, Megarock Records decided to let Therion go without any strings attached. The band signed a deal with Nuclear Blast in 1994 and remain with them to date.
The first record published with the new label was Lepaca Kliffoth
Lepaca Kliffoth
Lepaca Kliffoth is the fourth full-length studio release by Swedish heavy metal band Therion. The title refers to the Qliphoth.-Track listing:# "The Wings of the Hydra" – 3:33# "Melez" – 4:07# "Arrival of the Darkest Queen" – 0:54...
, though a single entitled "The Beauty in Black
The Beauty in Black
"The Beauty in Black" is the first single released by Swedish heavy metal band Therion-Track listing:# "Arrival of the Darkest Queen"# "The Beauty in Black"# "Evocation of Vovin"# "The Veil of Golden Spheres"-Personnel:...
" was released just before as a promotion for the new record. To Johnsson's surprise, this single sold 12,000 copies, just in Europe, but the record company suddenly stopped printing it. The album was very experimental, featuring classical soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
s and bass-baritone
Bass-baritone
A bass-baritone is a high-lying bass or low-lying "classical" baritone voice type which shares certain qualities with the true baritone voice. The term arose in the late 19th century to describe the particular type of voice required to sing three Wagnerian roles: the Dutchman in Der fliegende...
singers, and also Johnsson with a completely new style of singing - more hardcore, as opposed to death metal. These more melodic touches seemed to pay off, as the album sold around 15,000 copies in the weeks following its release. Current European sales figures are around 35,000 copies. Fredrik Isaksson left the band after some personal problems, and Lars Rosenberg
Lars Rosenberg
Lars Rosenberg is a bass guitarist in several musical bands: Therion , Entombed , Taura Serpent, Roachpowder, Carbonized, Mental Distortion, Monastery and Furcas. He is also a vocalist in Carbonized and Monastery....
, from the death metal band Entombed
Entombed (band)
Entombed is a Swedish death metal band which formed in 1987 under the name of Nihilist. Though Entombed began their career as an early pioneer of Scandinavian death metal which initially differed itself from its American counterpart with its distinct guitar tone, by the early 1990s their sound had...
, took his place.
Metal and symphony era beginning (1996–2001)
In 1996 Jonas Mellberg was added to the line-up and Therion began recording their new experimental album, entitled TheliTheli (album)
Theli is an album released by the symphonic metal band Therion. While Theli stays true to the band's roots in that it has a very dark sound, it is a major turning point in their history. Set, Egyptian god, is shown on the front cover...
. The album heavily featured the vocals of two choirs, along with some vocals from Johnsson and Wawrzeniuk. Dan Swanö
Dan Swanö
Dan-Erland Swanö is a Swedish musician who is currently the vocalist, guitarist, ex-bassist and ex-drummer for the band Nightingale as well as the Owner of Unisound but he achieved fame as the vocalist and songwriter of progressive death metal band Edge of Sanity.As a multi-instrumentalist he is...
also contributed to the vocals on this album. The band used keyboards heavily, so many in fact that it was humorously called "Barmbek Symphony Orchestra" after the subway station next to the studio. Theli is considered to be the apex of Therion's career to date. The sales reached 75,000 copies in a month, more than doubling the sales of Lepaca Kliffoth
Lepaca Kliffoth
Lepaca Kliffoth is the fourth full-length studio release by Swedish heavy metal band Therion. The title refers to the Qliphoth.-Track listing:# "The Wings of the Hydra" – 3:33# "Melez" – 4:07# "Arrival of the Darkest Queen" – 0:54...
.
After recording was over, the mixing and mastering period became stressful. Mellberg was suffering from severe alcohol problems and literally walked out of the studio, never to return to the band. Rosenberg was also having problems with alcohol, but the band survived these problems long enough to release Theli. Johnsson also had a problem with the band members; Wawrzeniuk was busy with his studies and could not go on tour so Johnsson got Tommy Eriksson of Shadowseeds
Shadowseeds
Shadowseeds II is a dark wave/esoterical musical project consisting of Thomas Karlsson and Tommie Eriksson, who before 1999 spelled his name Tommy Eriksson.Shadowseeds released their first album The Dream of Lilith in 1995 on Dark Age/Megarock Records...
to fill in on drums. Tobias Sidegard was hired to play guitar, while Kimberly Goss
Kimberly Goss
Kimberly Goss is the vocalist and founding member of the Finnish band Sinergy.-Early life:She was born in Los Angeles to a Korean father and a German-American mother, who was a jazz singer...
was hired as a keyboard player and vocalist. Rosenberg's drinking problems got worse and in result of that, he was fired from the band.
In 1997 Therion released A'arab Zaraq - Lucid Dreaming
A'arab Zaraq - Lucid Dreaming
A'arab Zaraq – Lucid Dreaming is the sixth full-length musical album by Swedish heavy metal band Therion released in the year that the band celebrated their tenth anniversary...
album. The record contains a few unused songs from Theli, a few cover songs the band had made, plus a full soundtrack Johnsson had made independently for the short art movie called "The Golden Embrace".
The next album, Vovin, was recorded using professional studio musicians and Johnsson's friend Tommy Eriksson helping out with some additional guitars. It featured, for the first time, a real string orchestra and a hand picked choir of considerable number. The Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n singer Martina Hornbacher Astner and Sarah Jezebel Deva
Sarah Jezebel Deva
Sarah Jane , better known by her stage name Sarah Jezebel Deva, is a British vocalist. She was the female vocalist in Cradle of Filth for 14 years and also fronts her own band, Angtoria. In 2009, Deva started her self-titled solo project. The debut album A Sign of Sublime was released in February...
were chosen as the lead sopranos. Total sales were, in just two months, over 150,000 copies in Europe alone.
The band capitalised on this success and went on tour with the band Moonspell
Moonspell
Moonspell is a Portuguese gothic metal band from Brandoa, Lisbon. Formed in 1992, the group released their first EP Under the Moonspell in 1994, a year before the release of their first album Wolfheart...
. The hired drummer, Sami Karppinen
Sami Karppinen
Sami Kristian Karppinen is a former drummer of Swedish heavy metal band Therion , sound engineer and producer in Modern Art Studio, and session drummer.- References :...
was offered a permanent place in the band. With this new line-up, the mini album Crowning of Atlantis
Crowning of Atlantis
Crowning of Atlantis is the eighth album released by the symphonic metal band Therion. In the beginning it was an EP fleshed out with several covers and live tracks from Vovin Tour '98 that the record label and management insisted be placed on it to make it a full length album.-Track listing:# "The...
was recorded. It was a short album fleshed out with several covers and live tracks that the record label and management insisted be placed on it to make it a full length album. Through Karppinen, Kristian Niemann
Kristian Niemann
Kristian Niemann is a guitarist, ex-member of Therion, Lithium and Demonoid bands. He studied jazz at Musicians Institute. In 1996 his song "Industrial Type Thang" was featured in JSR Records' compilation Hottest Unknown Guitarists. His style of playing mostly centers around legato, sweep picking,...
joined the band on guitar, along with his brother Johan Niemann
Johan Niemann
Johan Niemann is best known for being the actual bass player for Evergrey and co-founding the band Mind's Eye, for membership of Swedish heavy metal band Therion and as a member of the Scandinavian theatrical metal band Evil Masquerade.He is also currently live guitarist for Tiamat...
on bass.
Johnsson had already made material for the next release Deggial
Deggial
Deggial is the ninth full-length musical album by Swedish Symphonic metal band Therion in 2000. As with many of Therion's other albums, Deggial features a choir and orchestra...
which is far more symphonic, employing far more complex orchestral scores, this time using a full orchestra as opposed to a simple string one. The record went on to sell more than Theli but never reached the high sales of Vovin. Therion then began a big tour to promote their new record. This was the band's first headline tour as before they had always been support acts to other bands.
Secret of the Runes (2001–2002)
After Deggial, Johnsson began to compose again; he had idea to make a NordicNordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
. For the recording he built a recording studio, just used by the band, called "Modern Art". The new written songs were based on the nine different worlds of the world tree Yggdrasil
Yggdrasil
In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil is an immense tree that is central in Norse cosmology. It was said to be the world tree around which the nine worlds existed...
from the ancient Norse mythology
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
. This album was named Secret of the Runes
Secret of the Runes (album)
Secret of the Runes is the tenth full-length musical album by symphonic metal band Therion. Cover artwork was made by Thomas Ewerhard. A music video was filmed for the Summer Night City cover.-Track listing:# "Ginnungagap " - 6:10...
and released in 2001. For a bonus, the band recorded cover songs of "Crying Days" originally performed by Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
and "Summer Night City
Summer Night City
"Summer Night City", written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, is ABBA's 2nd non-album single, released on September 6, 1978. It was originally intended as the lead single from the group's upcoming Voulez-Vous album, but was eventually not included...
" of ABBA
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
. Piotr Wawrzeniuk
Piotr Wawrzeniuk
Piotr Wawrzeniuk is a Polish vocalist and drummer. Best known for membership in symphonic metal Therion, but also member of Serpent, Carbonized and The Robots.-Music career:...
returned as a guest vocalist for the bonus tracks of this album. The band's tenth album received very good reviews and scores including Allmusic editors' pick. Therion followed up this release with a tour with Evergrey
Evergrey
Evergrey is a progressive metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. The band was founded in 1995 and released its debut album The Dark Discovery in 1998. Their most recent album Glorious Collision was released in 2011.-Lyrical themes:...
and My Insanity as support acts. After the tour, Karppinen decided to leave the band, but he was responsible enough to find a replacement drummer for the band, Richard Evensand
Richard Evensand
Richard "Ricky" Evensand is a Swedish drummer and contributed for several music bands: Therion , Chimaira , Ebony Tears, Sorcerer, Dog Faced Gods, Soilwork, Demonoid, Southpaw, Stardown....
.
In 2001, the official fan club compilation Bells of Doom
Bells of Doom (album)
Bells of Doom is a compilation album of Swedish Symphonic metal band Therion, released by the official fan club in 2001. The album was originally available for Therion Society members only but is now available to anyone in Therion's Official online store. It contains rare tracks from early...
was released exclusively to paying fan club members. The album contained rare songs, including some original recordings from 1987, when the band was originally called Blitzkrieg. It also contained a few songs from demos, and rarities not found on other Therion records. The album was later put for sale on Therion's webstore when the fanclub was shut down and replaced.
A selection of the recordings from the 2001 Secret of the Runes tour was released on the band's first live album, a two-disc Live in Midgård
Live in Midgård
Live in Midgård is the first official live album released by Swedish heavy metal band Therion. This double-disc album was recorded in Colombia, Germany and Hungary during the Secret of the Runes world tour in autumn and winter 2001...
, released in 2002. The album was released celebrating the band's 15th anniversary. and was mostly recorded in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
Lemuria and Sirius B (2004–2006)
After the tour, the band decided to take stock and sort out what they had in terms of music. The seven songs that Johnsson had made had grown to a considerable number, and along with the Niemann brothers' contributions the band discovered they had 55 new songs. The band decided to record and release two albums simultaneously. 171 musicians were used in the recording of the new albums, a 32-member choir was recorded in PraguePrague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
along with many lead vocalists. The results were the albums Lemuria
Lemuria (album)
Lemuria is the eleventh full-length musical album by symphonic metal band Therion. The album title refers to the name of a hypothetical "Lost Land" called Lemuria. It was released simultaneously with Sirius B. Cover artwork was made by Thomas Ewerhard.-Track listing:#"Typhon" – 4:36#"Uthark Runa" ...
and Sirius B
Sirius B (album)
Sirius B is the twelfth full-length musical album by symphonic metal band Therion. The album title refers to the star Sirius B. It was released simultaneously with Lemuria. Cover artwork was made by Thomas Ewerhard.-Track listing:...
, released together in a special twin pack, as well as individually, in 2004. Piotr Wawrzeniuk returned on this album to provide vocals, along with the singer Mats Levén
Mats Levén
Mats Levén is a singer. His most notable recent collaborations have been with symphonic metallers Therion and doom metallers Krux.-Biography:...
.
In July 2005, an album entitled Atlantis Lucid Dreaming
Atlantis Lucid Dreaming
Atlantis Lucid Dreaming is a compilation album released by the symphonic metal band Therion. Compilation contains tracks from A'arab Zaraq - Lucid Dreaming and Crowning of Atlantis .-Track listing:# "In Remembrance"# "Black Fairy"...
was released. As the name suggests, it is a mixture of tracks from 1997 A'arab Zaraq - Lucid Dreaming
A'arab Zaraq - Lucid Dreaming
A'arab Zaraq – Lucid Dreaming is the sixth full-length musical album by Swedish heavy metal band Therion released in the year that the band celebrated their tenth anniversary...
and 1999 Crowning of Atlantis
Crowning of Atlantis
Crowning of Atlantis is the eighth album released by the symphonic metal band Therion. In the beginning it was an EP fleshed out with several covers and live tracks from Vovin Tour '98 that the record label and management insisted be placed on it to make it a full length album.-Track listing:# "The...
. The tracklist is all the non-soundtrack songs from the first one (except for the Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
cover version), followed by the first seven Crowning of Atlantis songs, and additionally the live version of "Black Sun".
The Lemuria/Sirius B Tour would last for 106 live shows stretching over two years. The final concert took part at the ProgPower Festival
ProgPower UK
ProgPower UK is a progressive and power metal festival held annually in the United Kingdom since 2006. Its latest edition, which would have taken place in the Anson Rooms at the University of Bristol on 28 March – 29 March 2008, headlined by Evergrey and Vanden Plas, was cancelled due to...
in Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on 21 March 2006 and that was the last Christofer Johnsson vocal stage performance.
Therion released their first DVD entitled Celebrators of Becoming
Celebrators of Becoming
Celebrators of Becoming is a Therion box-set released on 5 May 2006. It contains 4 DVDs and 2 audio discs. It is available in two versions: The luxury digipak version in a slip case and the cheaper non-digipak version. Both versions contain all discs...
on May 2006. The set contains four DVDs, featuring live video from Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
recorded in 2004 and other live video materials, bands' documentary from the 2004–2006 World Tour, art movie "The Golden Embrace", all band music videos to date and bootlegs with commentary, and two audio CDs with a live show recorded in Mexico City.
Gothic Kabbalah, classical shows and The Anniversary Tour (2006–2007)
On September 2006 Christofer Johnsson announced that recordings of the new album Gothic KabbalahGothic Kabbalah
-External links:* * at Nuclear Blast USA* at Nuclear Blast Europe* Gothic Kabbalah at MusicBrainz: ,...
had been finished and the album was subsequently released on January 12, 2007. In early 2007, the band began promoting the album with a World Tour, headlined together with Grave Digger
Grave Digger (band)
Grave Digger are a German heavy metal/power metal band formed in 1980. They were part of the German heavy/speed/power metal scene to emerge in the early to mid 1980s.-Band history:...
and with support act Sabaton
Sabaton (band)
Sabaton is a Grammis-nominated power metal band from Falun, Sweden formed in 1999. The band's main lyrical themes are those of historical wars. This is heard in albums Primo Victoria, Attero Dominatus and Coat of Arms where all of the songs, except final tracks, take inspiration from historical...
. The tour included North and South America, and for the very first time in the band's history, Japan.
Meanwhile the band's first live concert with a symphonic orchestra and choir took place in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
on December 9, 2006, dubbed "Therion goes classic". Six months later another classical show followed in Miskolc
Miskolc
Miskolc is a city in northeastern Hungary, mainly with heavy industrial background. With a population close to 170,000 Miskolc is the fourth largest city of Hungary It is also the county capital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and the regional centre of Northern Hungary.- Geography :Miskolc is located...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
on June 16, 2007 in the framework of the Miskolc Opera Festival
Miskolc Opera Festival
The Miskolc Opera Festival or International Opera Festival of Miskolc is a cultural event held every summer in Miskolc, the capital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Hungary...
. Both concerts were played by members of local orchestras and choirs, including some soloists, while one of the soprano solos in Miskolc was sung by Lori Lewis
Lori Lewis
Lori Lewis is an American soprano currently residing in Salem, Oregon. She was one of the live members of the symphonic metal band Therion for the Gothic Kabbalah world tour, the 20 Year Celebration Tour in 2007 and the Sitra Ahra tour in 2010 in support of Therion's CD release, Sitra Ahra...
. Each show has contained a full orchestral version of Clavicula Nox, and covers of pieces by Antonín Dvořák
Antonín Dvorák
Antonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer of late Romantic music, who employed the idioms of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvořák’s own style is sometimes called "romantic-classicist synthesis". His works include symphonic, choral and chamber music, concerti, operas and many...
, Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
, Camille Saint-Saëns
Camille Saint-Saëns
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was a French Late-Romantic composer, organist, conductor, and pianist. He is known especially for The Carnival of the Animals, Danse macabre, Samson and Delilah, Piano Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto No. 1, Havanaise, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, and his Symphony...
and Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
. The second part of the shows has contained the band's assorted songs, among them Eternal Return, Draconian Trilogy, Sirius B and The Siren Of The Woods. In Bucharest, an orchestra-only version of The Flight Of The Lord Of Flies, and the pure classical fragments of The Khlysti Evangelist and The Wondrous World Of Punt were played - together with Clavicula Nox as the first act of this show.
The Romanian Television has recorded and broadcast the entire Bucharest concert (except some Wagner pieces, The Siren Of The Woods and Draconian Trilogy), and the Miskolc concert was also recorded. The latter was released on May 2009 under the name The Miskolc Experience
The Miskolc Experience
The Miskolc Experience is the title of a double live album by Therion. It was released in Europe in June 2009. Unlike their other live albums this doesn't only feature the band's original material, but also Therion covering various pieces from classical artists.- Disc 1 : Part 1 - Classical...
as a DVD + 2CD box set. The CD's are divided upon Part 1 (Clavicula Nox and classical covers) and Part 2 (Therion songs with orchestra and choir - except The Siren Of The Woods, which is also missing from the DVD), and the DVD also contains a "Making of" footage, and the first act of the Bucharest show.
In May 2007 the 20 year anniversary tour of the band was announced. It was limited only for 16 gigs, exclusively in Europe. As an integral part of the shows the entire Theli album was played as the second act of the gigs, and ended with the main piece of the Gothic Kabbalah album: Adulruna Rediviva. The rest of the show has included The Wisdom Of The Cage, but the rest of the songs were chosen upon the fans' voting. The only exception was Kali Yuga Pts. 1-2. which was played, with the special occasion of playing Kali Yuga Pt. 3, which is a song of the new album, seen below.
The tour took part in November and December 2007, and included several guest musicians. The keyboard parts were played at every gigs by Ferdy Doernberg
Ferdy Doernberg
Ferdy Doernberg is an English-German heavy metal musician. He is the last original member of Rough Silk, which he founded in 1989. He has also performed with Helloween and Holy Moses. Since 1997, he has been the keyboardist for Axel Rudi Pell's band...
, and the first tour legs also included Piotr Wawrzeniuk
Piotr Wawrzeniuk
Piotr Wawrzeniuk is a Polish vocalist and drummer. Best known for membership in symphonic metal Therion, but also member of Serpent, Carbonized and The Robots.-Music career:...
and Messiah Marcolin
Messiah Marcolin
Messiah Marcolin , also known as 'Eddie Marcolin', is a vocalist best known for his work in the doom metal band Candlemass.-1984-1985:...
. In this part of the tour some songs were accompanied by a belly dancer
Belly dancer
A belly dancer is one who performs a belly dance. The phrase may also refer to:*"Belly Dancer" , a single by R&B singer Akon*"Belly Dancer" , a hip hop song*The Belly Dancer, a 2001 Turkish drama film...
on stage. All these guests returned, with Mats Levén, for the final show of the tour, which took part in Paris.
Sitra Ahra + others (2008–present)
In April 2008 it was announced on Therion's official site that the core group of musicians were parting ways. Christofer also noted that he was in no way ending Therion. Four months later Johan Koleberg, as the new drummer, and Nalle Påhlsson as bassist, were announced as the new band members.On August 5, 2008, Therion released their third live album —a double CD and one DVD set—entitled Live Gothic
Live Gothic
Live Gothic is the title of a live album recorded in Poland by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion released on July 25, 2008. The album is released on 2 CDs and 1 DVD.-Disc One: # "Der Mitternachtslöwe"# "Schwarzalbenheim"# "The Blood of Kingu"...
. The album was recorded in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
on February 14, 2007 and featuring 22 songs spread over the two discs, and the DVD is the visual version of the same concert.
As was promised by Christofer, after the busy year of 2007, the band did not plan any tours until 2010, nor were there any concerts scheduled, except a single open-air festival show in Płock, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
on 6 September 2008, which included the new rhythm section, and as a guest the band's former guitarist Magnus Barthelsson.
On May 10, 2009, Therion announced that Thomas Vikström had become a full-time member. This makes Thomas the first official vocalist Therion has ever had besides Christofer Johnsson. It happened just days after the releasing of the The Miskolc Experience
The Miskolc Experience
The Miskolc Experience is the title of a double live album by Therion. It was released in Europe in June 2009. Unlike their other live albums this doesn't only feature the band's original material, but also Therion covering various pieces from classical artists.- Disc 1 : Part 1 - Classical...
DVD.
In November 2009 the making of the new album was announced, which obtained the title of Sitra Ahra in February 2010. Several festivals, Mexican gigs, and a complete European tour have been scheduled.
On June 4, 2010, guitarist Christian Vidal joined Therion, but on July 15, 2010, Snowy Shaw
Snowy Shaw
Snowy Shaw, born Tommie Helgesson in 25 July 1968, is a Swedish heavy metal musician , based in the port city of Gothenburg in the west coast of Sweden. He has played with many heavy metal bands, like King Diamond, Dream Evil, Mercyful Fate, IllWill, Notre Dame and Memento Mori...
(Gothic Kabbalah, Sitra Ahra) left the band after problems with his throat, and having joined Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
. However, he rejoined Therion, and left Dimmu Borgir, on August 25, 2010. Sitra Ahra
Sitra Ahra
Sitra Ahra is the fourteenth full-length musical album by Therion released on 17 September 2010 in Europe, and 26 October 2010 in North America. It is the first studio release since Gothic Kabbalah in 2007...
was then released on September 17, 2010, although selling a mere 800 copies in its first week of release in America. One day after, a new design for the official home page was released. The tour for the album started in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, for a 17-day tour around South and Central America, on 1 October 2010. There was also a European tour for the album, from 29 October 2010 to 11 December 2010.
In March 2011, Katarina Lilja, one of the singers from Gothic Kabbalah
Gothic Kabbalah
-External links:* * at Nuclear Blast USA* at Nuclear Blast Europe* Gothic Kabbalah at MusicBrainz: ,...
, left the band for a second time to "re-join the boring civil world and not be a cool rockstar anymore". Linnea Vikström, daughter of Thomas
Thomas Vikström
Thomas Vikström is a Swedish vocalist best known for working with hard rock and heavy metal bands including doom metal legends Candlemass and power metallers Stormwind. He is the son of opera singer Sven-Erik Vikström...
was announced as her replacement in June 2011. Linnea will be unable to take part in the band's French festivals in June, but will be in the band for their appearance at Bloodstock Open Air
Bloodstock Open Air
Bloodstock Open Air is a heavy metal festival held annually at Catton Hall in Walton-upon-Trent, England, since 2005. Previous line-ups have included bands such as Opeth , Children of Bodom , Nightwish , Cradle of Filth , Testament , Arch Enemy , Europe and Twisted Sister .Originally on one stage...
2011 and onwards.
Therion have been confirmed as acts for other festivals in 2011, including Hellfest Summer Open Air
Hellfest Summer Open Air
Hellfest is an annual music festival which takes place in Clisson, France in mid-June. It is held within the Val de Moine sport complex in Clisson, approximately 35 km south-east of the city of Nantes, and approximately 400 km south-west of the nation's capital Paris. Billed as an "extreme music...
and ProgPower USA
ProgPower USA
ProgPower USA is a progressive and power metal festival held annually in the United States since 2001. Its twelfth edition will be held at Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia on September 14 – September 17, 2011, with Sanctuary and Therion as headliners....
. In April 2011 they were also confirmed for 70000 Tons of Metal
70000 Tons of Metal
70000 Tons of Metal is a heavy metal festival that takes place annually aboard the cruise ship the MS Majesty of the Seas. It first took place between January 24 and January 28 of 2011, departing from Miami, docking at Cozumel and returning to Miami. 2038 fans of 49 countries, 42 bands each...
, to take place in January 2012.
In the future, the release of a DVD about the 20th Anniversary Tour is expected. It will contain the recordings of the Budapest gig of this tour.
In an interview conducted by Onslaught Radio at Bloodstock, Snowy Shaw announced that the band are starting work on new material, but it is unlikely that the band will start work on it before the end of the year. In September 2011, Lori Lewis was announced as only the third ever permanent vocalist of Therion, after 4 years of close collaboration and session work with the band.
Therion will release a board game
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
called 011.
Symbols
Therion frequently uses visual symbols on its album covers. Most of them are based on magickMagic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
, occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
, and Dragon Rouge themes.
Hendecagram, the star of Qliphoth
Qliphoth
Qliphoth/Qelippot, alternatively Klippot/Kellipot etc. refers to the representation of evil or impure spiritual forces in Jewish mysticism.In the Kabbalistic spiritual cosmology, the Kelipot are metaphorical "shells" surrounding holiness...
, an eleven-pointed star also called Star of Seth, is the most commonly-used symbol by the band. The star symbolises the night side of the Qabalah. The hendecagram is important to Christofer's
Christofer Johnsson
Christofer Johnsson is a Swedish musician. He is a founding member and the guitar player for Therion and used to be in Carbonized, Liers in Wait, Messiah and Demonoid. He is a member of the magical order Dragon Rouge and founder of the defunct Dark Age Music label...
magick and his lyrics, and has been admitted as a band symbol. There is also a connection between the eleven points of the star and the Dragon Rouge's Draconian initiation, since its 1 + 9 + 1 levels together constitute 11 steps. The symbol appears on all the album covers (not only front covers, also in back and/or inlay) since Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas
Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas
Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas is the third studio album released on April 1993 by Swedish band Therion. The album was remastered and re-released by Nuclear Blast in 2000 as part of The Early Chapters of Revelation box-set.- Etymology :...
(1993).
Other symbols used include:
- PentagramPentagramA pentagram is the shape of a five-pointed star drawn with five straight strokes...
, closely Pythagorean pentagram (one point down), is shown on the Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho MegasSymphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho MegasSymphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas is the third studio album released on April 1993 by Swedish band Therion. The album was remastered and re-released by Nuclear Blast in 2000 as part of The Early Chapters of Revelation box-set.- Etymology :...
cover on the dragon's head. - Runes shown in the Secret of the RunesSecret of the Runes (album)Secret of the Runes is the tenth full-length musical album by symphonic metal band Therion. Cover artwork was made by Thomas Ewerhard. A music video was filmed for the Summer Night City cover.-Track listing:# "Ginnungagap " - 6:10...
front cover (and also in the booklet) are Nordic runes with Elder FuþarkElder FutharkThe Elder Futhark is the oldest form of the runic alphabet, used by Germanic tribes for Northwest Germanic and Migration period Germanic dialects of the 2nd to 8th centuries for inscriptions on artifacts such as jewellery, amulets, tools, weapons and runestones...
alphabet. - Celtic crossCeltic crossA Celtic cross is a symbol that combines a cross with a ring surrounding the intersection. In the Celtic Christian world it was combined with the Christian cross and this design was often used for high crosses – a free-standing cross made of stone and often richly decorated...
appears on the Secret of the RunesSecret of the Runes (album)Secret of the Runes is the tenth full-length musical album by symphonic metal band Therion. Cover artwork was made by Thomas Ewerhard. A music video was filmed for the Summer Night City cover.-Track listing:# "Ginnungagap " - 6:10...
booklet on the page with the lyrics to the song "Helheim." - Clavicula Nox, a magickMagic (paranormal)Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
al symbol, one of the key symbols in Dragon Rouge, is shown on the Crowning of AtlantisCrowning of AtlantisCrowning of Atlantis is the eighth album released by the symphonic metal band Therion. In the beginning it was an EP fleshed out with several covers and live tracks from Vovin Tour '98 that the record label and management insisted be placed on it to make it a full length album.-Track listing:# "The...
, Vovin (inlay), and "Eye of ShivaEye of Shiva"Eye of Shiva" is the third single released by Swedish heavy metal band Therion. The single was available only for radio stations. Title refers to Shiva, a form of Ishvara or God in the later Vedic scriptures of Hinduism.-Track listing:...
" covers. - Mjölnir, the Hammer of ThorThorIn Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
appears on the Secret of the RunesSecret of the Runes (album)Secret of the Runes is the tenth full-length musical album by symphonic metal band Therion. Cover artwork was made by Thomas Ewerhard. A music video was filmed for the Summer Night City cover.-Track listing:# "Ginnungagap " - 6:10...
inlay cover. - Three astronomical symbols are shown in the The Early Chapters of RevelationThe Early Chapters of RevelationThe Early Chapters of Revelation is a 3 CDs box-set released by Swedish heavy metal band Therion in 2000. Box-set contains remastered and rereleased first three albums of the official Therion's discography: Of Darkness..., Beyond Sanctorum and Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas...
box-set covers: VenusVenusVenus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
(♀), first quarter MoonMoonThe Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
(☽), and SunSunThe Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
(☉).
Current lineup
- Christofer JohnssonChristofer JohnssonChristofer Johnsson is a Swedish musician. He is a founding member and the guitar player for Therion and used to be in Carbonized, Liers in Wait, Messiah and Demonoid. He is a member of the magical order Dragon Rouge and founder of the defunct Dark Age Music label...
- guitars, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(1987–present), vocals (1987–2006) - Christian Vidal - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(2010–present) - Nalle "Grizzly" Påhlsson - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2008–present) - Johan Koleberg - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2008–present) - Thomas VikströmThomas VikströmThomas Vikström is a Swedish vocalist best known for working with hard rock and heavy metal bands including doom metal legends Candlemass and power metallers Stormwind. He is the son of opera singer Sven-Erik Vikström...
- lead vocals (2007–present); live only, (2007–2009), studio (2009-present) - Lori LewisLori LewisLori Lewis is an American soprano currently residing in Salem, Oregon. She was one of the live members of the symphonic metal band Therion for the Gothic Kabbalah world tour, the 20 Year Celebration Tour in 2007 and the Sitra Ahra tour in 2010 in support of Therion's CD release, Sitra Ahra...
- vocals (2011 - present)
Members
| Album | Lead vocals | Lead guitar | Bass guitar | Drums |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paroxysmal Holocaust (1989) | Christofer Johnsson Christofer Johnsson Christofer Johnsson is a Swedish musician. He is a founding member and the guitar player for Therion and used to be in Carbonized, Liers in Wait, Messiah and Demonoid. He is a member of the magical order Dragon Rouge and founder of the defunct Dark Age Music label... |
Peter Hansson Peter Hansson Peter Hansson is a co-founder and guitarist of Swedish metal band Therion.- References :... |
Erik Gustafsson | Oskar Forss Oskar Forss Oskar Forss was a co-founder and during the years of 1987–1992 drummer of Swedish then-death metal band Therion.-Music career:Oskar Forss was a drummer of a pre-Therion band called Blitzkrieg. Due to personal problems with Forss, band decided to split up in ca. March 1988 but soon reformed having... |
| Beyond the Darkest Veils of Inner Wickedness (1989) | ||||
| Time Shall Tell (1990) | ||||
| Of Darkness... Of Darkness... Of Darkness... is a debut studio album released on February 1991 by the Swedish band Therion and it contains songs written in the early years of the band, during the 1980s. The album is indicated by the band itself as an end of its first era.... (1991) |
||||
| Beyond Sanctorum Beyond Sanctorum Beyond Sanctorum is the second studio album released on January 1992 by Swedish band Therion. The album was re-released on November 27, 2000 under Nuclear Blast label as a part of The Early Chapters of Revelation box-set... (1992) |
Christofer Johnsson Christofer Johnsson Christofer Johnsson is a Swedish musician. He is a founding member and the guitar player for Therion and used to be in Carbonized, Liers in Wait, Messiah and Demonoid. He is a member of the magical order Dragon Rouge and founder of the defunct Dark Age Music label... Peter Hansson Peter Hansson Peter Hansson is a co-founder and guitarist of Swedish metal band Therion.- References :... |
|||
| Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas is the third studio album released on April 1993 by Swedish band Therion. The album was remastered and re-released by Nuclear Blast in 2000 as part of The Early Chapters of Revelation box-set.- Etymology :... (1993) |
Magnus Barthelsson Magnus Barthelsson Magnus Barthelsson is a guitarist and former member of Therion , Grain, Feeble Lies, Conspiracy, Formicide.- References :... |
Andreas Wallan Wahl Andreas Wallan Wahl Andreas Wallan Wahl is a bass guitarist, drummer and vocalist; a former member of the Swedish heavy metal bands Therion , Serpent, Formicide, Concrete Sleep and Hexenhaus.- References :... |
Piotr Wawrzeniuk Piotr Wawrzeniuk Piotr Wawrzeniuk is a Polish vocalist and drummer. Best known for membership in symphonic metal Therion, but also member of Serpent, Carbonized and The Robots.-Music career:... |
|
| Lepaca Kliffoth Lepaca Kliffoth Lepaca Kliffoth is the fourth full-length studio release by Swedish heavy metal band Therion. The title refers to the Qliphoth.-Track listing:# "The Wings of the Hydra" – 3:33# "Melez" – 4:07# "Arrival of the Darkest Queen" – 0:54... (1995) |
Christofer Johnsson Christofer Johnsson Christofer Johnsson is a Swedish musician. He is a founding member and the guitar player for Therion and used to be in Carbonized, Liers in Wait, Messiah and Demonoid. He is a member of the magical order Dragon Rouge and founder of the defunct Dark Age Music label... |
Fredrik Isaksson Fredrik Isaksson Fredrik Isaksson , also known as "Fredda" or "Flap", is a Swedish bass guitarist, member of heavy metal bands: Therion , Grave and Excruciate.- References :... |
||
| Theli Theli (album) Theli is an album released by the symphonic metal band Therion. While Theli stays true to the band's roots in that it has a very dark sound, it is a major turning point in their history. Set, Egyptian god, is shown on the front cover... (1996) |
Jonas Mellberg | Lars Rosenberg Lars Rosenberg Lars Rosenberg is a bass guitarist in several musical bands: Therion , Entombed , Taura Serpent, Roachpowder, Carbonized, Mental Distortion, Monastery and Furcas. He is also a vocalist in Carbonized and Monastery.... |
||
| A'arab Zaraq - Lucid Dreaming A'arab Zaraq - Lucid Dreaming A'arab Zaraq – Lucid Dreaming is the sixth full-length musical album by Swedish heavy metal band Therion released in the year that the band celebrated their tenth anniversary... (1997) |
||||
| Vovin (1998) | Christofer Johnsson Christofer Johnsson Christofer Johnsson is a Swedish musician. He is a founding member and the guitar player for Therion and used to be in Carbonized, Liers in Wait, Messiah and Demonoid. He is a member of the magical order Dragon Rouge and founder of the defunct Dark Age Music label... |
Jan Kazda | Wolf Simon | |
| Crowning of Atlantis Crowning of Atlantis Crowning of Atlantis is the eighth album released by the symphonic metal band Therion. In the beginning it was an EP fleshed out with several covers and live tracks from Vovin Tour '98 that the record label and management insisted be placed on it to make it a full length album.-Track listing:# "The... (1999) |
Tommy Eriksson | |||
| Deggial Deggial Deggial is the ninth full-length musical album by Swedish Symphonic metal band Therion in 2000. As with many of Therion's other albums, Deggial features a choir and orchestra... (2000) |
Kristian Niemann Kristian Niemann Kristian Niemann is a guitarist, ex-member of Therion, Lithium and Demonoid bands. He studied jazz at Musicians Institute. In 1996 his song "Industrial Type Thang" was featured in JSR Records' compilation Hottest Unknown Guitarists. His style of playing mostly centers around legato, sweep picking,... |
Johan Niemann Johan Niemann Johan Niemann is best known for being the actual bass player for Evergrey and co-founding the band Mind's Eye, for membership of Swedish heavy metal band Therion and as a member of the Scandinavian theatrical metal band Evil Masquerade.He is also currently live guitarist for Tiamat... |
Sami Karppinen Sami Karppinen Sami Kristian Karppinen is a former drummer of Swedish heavy metal band Therion , sound engineer and producer in Modern Art Studio, and session drummer.- References :... |
|
| Secret of the Runes Secret of the Runes (album) Secret of the Runes is the tenth full-length musical album by symphonic metal band Therion. Cover artwork was made by Thomas Ewerhard. A music video was filmed for the Summer Night City cover.-Track listing:# "Ginnungagap " - 6:10... (2001) |
||||
| Lemuria Lemuria (album) Lemuria is the eleventh full-length musical album by symphonic metal band Therion. The album title refers to the name of a hypothetical "Lost Land" called Lemuria. It was released simultaneously with Sirius B. Cover artwork was made by Thomas Ewerhard.-Track listing:#"Typhon" – 4:36#"Uthark Runa" ... & Sirius B Sirius B (album) Sirius B is the twelfth full-length musical album by symphonic metal band Therion. The album title refers to the star Sirius B. It was released simultaneously with Lemuria. Cover artwork was made by Thomas Ewerhard.-Track listing:... (2004) |
Christofer Johnsson Christofer Johnsson Christofer Johnsson is a Swedish musician. He is a founding member and the guitar player for Therion and used to be in Carbonized, Liers in Wait, Messiah and Demonoid. He is a member of the magical order Dragon Rouge and founder of the defunct Dark Age Music label... Mats Levén Mats Levén Mats Levén is a singer. His most notable recent collaborations have been with symphonic metallers Therion and doom metallers Krux.-Biography:... Piotr Wawrzeniuk Piotr Wawrzeniuk Piotr Wawrzeniuk is a Polish vocalist and drummer. Best known for membership in symphonic metal Therion, but also member of Serpent, Carbonized and The Robots.-Music career:... |
Richard Evensand Richard Evensand Richard "Ricky" Evensand is a Swedish drummer and contributed for several music bands: Therion , Chimaira , Ebony Tears, Sorcerer, Dog Faced Gods, Soilwork, Demonoid, Southpaw, Stardown.... |
||
| Gothic Kabbalah Gothic Kabbalah -External links:* * at Nuclear Blast USA* at Nuclear Blast Europe* Gothic Kabbalah at MusicBrainz: ,... (2007) |
Mats Levén Mats Levén Mats Levén is a singer. His most notable recent collaborations have been with symphonic metallers Therion and doom metallers Krux.-Biography:... Snowy Shaw Snowy Shaw Snowy Shaw, born Tommie Helgesson in 25 July 1968, is a Swedish heavy metal musician , based in the port city of Gothenburg in the west coast of Sweden. He has played with many heavy metal bands, like King Diamond, Dream Evil, Mercyful Fate, IllWill, Notre Dame and Memento Mori... Katarina Lilja Katarina Lilja Katarina Lilja is a singer from Örebro, Sweden. She was the vocalist of the band Sobre Nocturne and a session singer for the symphonic metal band Therion and a live member for the Gothic Kabbalah world tour, the 20 Year Celebration Tour in 2007 and the Sithra Ahra Tour in 2010.-Discography:* Sobre... Hannah Holgersson Hannah Holgersson Hannah Holgersson is a Swedish operatic soprano.She was born in Höör, Skåne County, Sweden. In 2003 Holgersson made her opera début as Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and in May 2004, she graduated from the Royal College of Music, Stockholm, receiving diplomas in voice performance and pedagogy... Anna Nyhlin Petter Karlsson Petter Karlsson Petter Karlsson is a multi instrumentalist and singer of Holocoaster and was a member of Swedish symphonic metal band Therion , lead vocalist and guitarist of Argento, member of other several bands: Master Massive, Kajarr, Conspiracy.He had a big impact on Therion's 13:th album Gothic Kabbalah,... Jonas Samuelsson Nerbe Lori Lewis Lori Lewis Lori Lewis is an American soprano currently residing in Salem, Oregon. She was one of the live members of the symphonic metal band Therion for the Gothic Kabbalah world tour, the 20 Year Celebration Tour in 2007 and the Sitra Ahra tour in 2010 in support of Therion's CD release, Sitra Ahra... (tour) |
Petter Karlsson Petter Karlsson Petter Karlsson is a multi instrumentalist and singer of Holocoaster and was a member of Swedish symphonic metal band Therion , lead vocalist and guitarist of Argento, member of other several bands: Master Massive, Kajarr, Conspiracy.He had a big impact on Therion's 13:th album Gothic Kabbalah,... |
||
| Sitra Ahra (2010) | Thomas Vikström Thomas Vikström Thomas Vikström is a Swedish vocalist best known for working with hard rock and heavy metal bands including doom metal legends Candlemass and power metallers Stormwind. He is the son of opera singer Sven-Erik Vikström... Snowy Shaw Snowy Shaw Snowy Shaw, born Tommie Helgesson in 25 July 1968, is a Swedish heavy metal musician , based in the port city of Gothenburg in the west coast of Sweden. He has played with many heavy metal bands, like King Diamond, Dream Evil, Mercyful Fate, IllWill, Notre Dame and Memento Mori... Linnéa Vikström Mika "Belfagor" Hakola Petter Karlsson Petter Karlsson Petter Karlsson is a multi instrumentalist and singer of Holocoaster and was a member of Swedish symphonic metal band Therion , lead vocalist and guitarist of Argento, member of other several bands: Master Massive, Kajarr, Conspiracy.He had a big impact on Therion's 13:th album Gothic Kabbalah,... Lori Lewis Lori Lewis Lori Lewis is an American soprano currently residing in Salem, Oregon. She was one of the live members of the symphonic metal band Therion for the Gothic Kabbalah world tour, the 20 Year Celebration Tour in 2007 and the Sitra Ahra tour in 2010 in support of Therion's CD release, Sitra Ahra... |
Christian Vidal | Nalle "Grizzly" Påhlsson | Johan Koleberg |
Collaborators and session members
- Tobias Sidegård - guitar, vocals (1996–1997)
- Kimberly GossKimberly GossKimberly Goss is the vocalist and founding member of the Finnish band Sinergy.-Early life:She was born in Los Angeles to a Korean father and a German-American mother, who was a jazz singer...
- keyboards, vocals (1996–1997) - Sarah Jezebel DevaSarah Jezebel DevaSarah Jane , better known by her stage name Sarah Jezebel Deva, is a British vocalist. She was the female vocalist in Cradle of Filth for 14 years and also fronts her own band, Angtoria. In 2009, Deva started her self-titled solo project. The debut album A Sign of Sublime was released in February...
- vocals (1997–1998) - Martina Hornbacher - vocals (1998)
- Waldemar SorychtaWaldemar SorychtaWaldemar Sorychta , is a German heavy metal musician, songwriter, producer and artist who lives in Dortmund Germany since 1982.- Career :He initially worked with the German thrash metal band Despair, founded in 1986....
- guitar (1998–1999), bass (2010 Sitra Ahra tour) - Wolf Simons - drums (1998–1999)
- Jan Kazda - bass, acoustic guitar (1998–2000)
- Anders Engberg (ex-Lions Share) - vocals (2000–2004)
- Karin Fjellander - vocals (2004–2006)
- Mats LevénMats LevénMats Levén is a singer. His most notable recent collaborations have been with symphonic metallers Therion and doom metallers Krux.-Biography:...
- vocals (2004–2008) - Snowy ShawSnowy ShawSnowy Shaw, born Tommie Helgesson in 25 July 1968, is a Swedish heavy metal musician , based in the port city of Gothenburg in the west coast of Sweden. He has played with many heavy metal bands, like King Diamond, Dream Evil, Mercyful Fate, IllWill, Notre Dame and Memento Mori...
- vocals (2006–present) - Katarina LiljaKatarina LiljaKatarina Lilja is a singer from Örebro, Sweden. She was the vocalist of the band Sobre Nocturne and a session singer for the symphonic metal band Therion and a live member for the Gothic Kabbalah world tour, the 20 Year Celebration Tour in 2007 and the Sithra Ahra Tour in 2010.-Discography:* Sobre...
- vocals (2006–2007, 2008–2011) - Lori LewisLori LewisLori Lewis is an American soprano currently residing in Salem, Oregon. She was one of the live members of the symphonic metal band Therion for the Gothic Kabbalah world tour, the 20 Year Celebration Tour in 2007 and the Sitra Ahra tour in 2010 in support of Therion's CD release, Sitra Ahra...
- vocals (2007–present) - Linnea Vikström - vocals (2011–present)
Discography
- Of Darkness...Of Darkness...Of Darkness... is a debut studio album released on February 1991 by the Swedish band Therion and it contains songs written in the early years of the band, during the 1980s. The album is indicated by the band itself as an end of its first era....
(1991) - Beyond SanctorumBeyond SanctorumBeyond Sanctorum is the second studio album released on January 1992 by Swedish band Therion. The album was re-released on November 27, 2000 under Nuclear Blast label as a part of The Early Chapters of Revelation box-set...
(1992) - Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho MegasSymphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho MegasSymphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas is the third studio album released on April 1993 by Swedish band Therion. The album was remastered and re-released by Nuclear Blast in 2000 as part of The Early Chapters of Revelation box-set.- Etymology :...
(1993) - Lepaca KliffothLepaca KliffothLepaca Kliffoth is the fourth full-length studio release by Swedish heavy metal band Therion. The title refers to the Qliphoth.-Track listing:# "The Wings of the Hydra" – 3:33# "Melez" – 4:07# "Arrival of the Darkest Queen" – 0:54...
(1995) - TheliTheli (album)Theli is an album released by the symphonic metal band Therion. While Theli stays true to the band's roots in that it has a very dark sound, it is a major turning point in their history. Set, Egyptian god, is shown on the front cover...
(1996) - A'arab Zaraq - Lucid DreamingA'arab Zaraq - Lucid DreamingA'arab Zaraq – Lucid Dreaming is the sixth full-length musical album by Swedish heavy metal band Therion released in the year that the band celebrated their tenth anniversary...
(1997) - Vovin (1998)
- Crowning of AtlantisCrowning of AtlantisCrowning of Atlantis is the eighth album released by the symphonic metal band Therion. In the beginning it was an EP fleshed out with several covers and live tracks from Vovin Tour '98 that the record label and management insisted be placed on it to make it a full length album.-Track listing:# "The...
(1999) - DeggialDeggialDeggial is the ninth full-length musical album by Swedish Symphonic metal band Therion in 2000. As with many of Therion's other albums, Deggial features a choir and orchestra...
(2000) - Secret of the RunesSecret of the Runes (album)Secret of the Runes is the tenth full-length musical album by symphonic metal band Therion. Cover artwork was made by Thomas Ewerhard. A music video was filmed for the Summer Night City cover.-Track listing:# "Ginnungagap " - 6:10...
(2001) - LemuriaLemuria (album)Lemuria is the eleventh full-length musical album by symphonic metal band Therion. The album title refers to the name of a hypothetical "Lost Land" called Lemuria. It was released simultaneously with Sirius B. Cover artwork was made by Thomas Ewerhard.-Track listing:#"Typhon" – 4:36#"Uthark Runa" ...
(2004) - Sirius BSirius B (album)Sirius B is the twelfth full-length musical album by symphonic metal band Therion. The album title refers to the star Sirius B. It was released simultaneously with Lemuria. Cover artwork was made by Thomas Ewerhard.-Track listing:...
(2004) - Gothic KabbalahGothic Kabbalah-External links:* * at Nuclear Blast USA* at Nuclear Blast Europe* Gothic Kabbalah at MusicBrainz: ,...
(2007) - Sitra Ahra (2010)
Influences
Pre-Theli- Celtic FrostCeltic FrostCeltic Frost was a metal band from Zürich, Switzerland. They are known for their heavy influence on the extreme metal genres. The group was first active from 1984 to 1993, and re-formed in 2001. Following Tom Gabriel Fischer's departure in 2008, Celtic Frost decided to break up again...
- Into The Pandemonium - Uli Jon Roth - Beyond The Astral Skies
Theli
- Pink FloydPink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
- Atom Heart Mother - Klaatu - Hope
For the records from Vovin and onwards, the inspiration comes from classical composers like Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
and Richard Strauss
Richard Strauss
Richard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...
, heavy metal acts from the 1980s like Accept
Accept
Accept is a German heavy metal band from the town of Solingen, originally assembled by former vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, guitarist Wolf Hoffmann and bassist Peter Baltes. Their beginnings can be traced back to the late 1960s...
and Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, 1970s hard rock bands like Uriah Heep
Uriah Heep (band)
Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and regarded as a seminal classic hard rock act of the 1970s. Uriah Heep's progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always been massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and David Byron's operatic vocals...
, etc.
See also
- Musical projects of Therion members: CarbonizedCarbonizedCarbonized were a Swedish death metal band formed 1988 in Saltsjöbaden. The band was formed by Lars Rosenberg in 1988, with Dismember vocalist Matti Kärki...
, SerpentSerpent (band)Serpent is a Swedish doom metal side project formed by Therion and Entombed members.-Last known line-up:*Piotr Wawrzeniuk - vocals, bass guitar*Ulf Samuelsson - guitar*Per Karlsson - drums-Former members:*Lars Rosenberg- Bass*Johan Lundell - Guitar...
, DemonoidDemonoid (band)Demonoid is a Swedish extreme metal band founded in 2003 that derives its influences from traditional death metal, thrash metal and black metal....
, ShadowseedsShadowseedsShadowseeds II is a dark wave/esoterical musical project consisting of Thomas Karlsson and Tommie Eriksson, who before 1999 spelled his name Tommy Eriksson.Shadowseeds released their first album The Dream of Lilith in 1995 on Dark Age/Megarock Records... - Dragon Rouge
External links
Official websites- Official website
- Therion Society – Official fan club
Other sites
- Therion at Encyclopaedia MetallumEncyclopaedia MetallumEncyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives is a website which lists bands from various forms of heavy metal music...