Napalm Records is proud to announce the signing of Swedish symphonic metal pioneers THERION! Following the release of limited vinyl reissues of the band’s critically acclaimed classic albums Secrets Of The Runes, Lemuria, Sirius B and Gothic Kabbalah in autumn 2022, THERION is now joining forces with Napalm Records for the release of their new full-length later this year. Stay tuned for more information on the upcoming album!
THERION states: “After almost 30 years of being signed to Nuclear Blast Records, it felt like it was time to try something new when we were out of the contract. Napalm Records is one of the biggest and best metal labels around and they have shown interest in THERION for many years, so when the time came to look around for a new label, it felt natural to start negotiating with them. We came to terms and now we are thrilled to start working with them and have great confidence that they will do an amazing job with the coming final album in the Leviathan trilogy.”
Sebastian Münch, A&R, Napalm Records on the signing: “As a lifelong fan, it is with great pleasure that we announce the signing of THERION. As innovators of Operatic Metal, the band created timeless masterpieces with the albums Theli and Vovin. Recently, with the releases of Leviathan I & II Christofer started to tell a new musical story and a journey that we are very happy to walk together. Welcome to the Napalm family!“
Order the reissues of Secrets Of The Runes, Lemuria, Sirius B andGothic KabbalahHERE
THERION are: Christofer Johnsson – guitars and keyboards Sami Karppinen – drums Nalle “Grizzly” Påhlsson – bass Thomas Vikström – lead vocals Christian Vidal – guitar Lori Lewis – vocals
With over 100+ million streams and a tremendously successful album released just a year ago, symphonic metal titans THERION have not been idle and continue their epic Leviathan trilogy with their striking new video clip for ‘Codex Gigas‘. The new masterpiece from the Swedish powerhouse THERION ,Leviathan II, has finally been released today via Nuclear Blast Records.
Christofer comments “One day I was thinking about epic doom metal and wondering if it is harder to write a ”hit song” in that genre, or if it’s harder in regular metal. I’m a huge fan of Candlemass, and in my opinion, I haven’t heard any other band match their hit songs in the genre. So, I decided to try find out for myself how hard it is. Of course, I had to involve Thomas in the writing process, being an ex Candlemass singer. The result was “Codex Gigas”, a Candlemass-inspired Therion doom song. If it’s a hit or not will be up to the fans to judge.”
With defiant determination rarely found in a metal band, THERION have always and exclusively done what they deemed right. They never stuck to a successful formula for the sake of it, they never released the same album twice, and they never gave in to fickle friends like expectation, commercial aspects or trends. Which makes it all the more astounding that now, 35 years deep into their storied career, they are doing something every fan had hoped for but never actually thought possible. Enter Leviathan, enter a trilogy focusing on all the trademark elements that THERION are beloved by countless metal fans around the globe for. After the first part set hearts aflame in 2021, evoking goosebumps and reminiscing around the glory days of the nineties, the symphonic metal grand-seigneurs continue their surprisingly fan-friendly path with their epic odyssey Leviathan II.
“We wanted to give fans what they want this time,” musical professor Christofer Johnssoninforms us from his sunny new home on Gozo, Malta.
“We have been doing what we wanted for so long we just thought it fair to turn the tables just this once.” Turning 50, you might misinterpret a move like this with a certain mellowing of age. You couldn’t be more wrong, of course: Johnsson is still the musical frontiersman, looking for new challenges and hero’s journey under every stone he turns. However, after having finished the insanely sophisticated, elaborate triple album rock musical “Beloved Antichrist”, even a Christofer Johnsson felt he had reached a certain frontier here. “After‘ Beloved Antichrist’ I was lacking direction because I had done everything I ever wanted to do or achieve.” He sat down with lead vocalist Thomas Vikström to ponder their next move when it quickly dawned on them: “The only thing we never did was give the fans exactly what they wanted,” he grins drily.
About THERION: Since their early days – THERION originally formed as a death metal band back in the late 80’s – mastermind Christofer Johnsson has come a long way, defining and developing a perfect combination of orchestral, symphonic, gothic and incredibly catchy metal that is second to none.
With over 100+ million streams and a tremendously successful album released just a year ago, symphonic metal titans THERION have not been idle and continue their epic Leviathan trilogy with striking new single ‘Marijin Min Nar‘.
Christofer comments: “When we did the songwriting for the Leviathan trilogy, it was basically me and Thomas Vikström that wrote everything. Nalle came up with one song and Christian Vidal came up with one too. But what they lacked in quantity, they made up with quality, as they both delivered a song that we thought was a good choice for a single.
Singles are usually the most commercial songs on an album, as the purpose of a single is not just to tease the fans, but also to throw out a hook to the general public and see if you catch some new listeners. ”Marijin Min Nar” is different in that regard, as it is not one of the more commercial songs. But instead it is a ”regular” song that both ourselves, people at Nuclear Blast and people we know who heard the album all found to be one of the most likeable songs on the album. So we though we’d have a go with this one as a single.“
With defiant determination rarely found in a metal band, THERION have always and exclusively done what they deemed right. They never stuck to a successful formula for the sake of it, they never released the same album twice, and they never gave in to fickle friends like expectation, commercial aspects or trends. Which makes it all the more astounding that now, 35 years deep into their storied career, they are doing something every fan had hoped for but never actually thought possible. Enter Leviathan, enter a trilogy focusing on all the trademark elements that THERION are beloved by countless metal fans around the globe for. After the first part set hearts aflame in 2021, evoking goosebumps and reminiscing around the glory days of the nineties, the symphonic metal grand-seigneurs continue their surprisingly fan-friendly path with their epic odyssey Leviathan II.
“We wanted to give fans what they want this time,” musical professor Christofer Johnssoninforms us from his sunny new home on Gozo, Malta.
“We have been doing what we wanted for so long we just thought it fair to turn the tables just this once.” Turning 50, you might misinterpret a move like this with a certain mellowing of age. You couldn’t be more wrong, of course: Johnsson is still the musical frontiersman, looking for new challenges and hero’s journey under every stone he turns. However, after having finished the insanely sophisticated, elaborate triple album rock musical “Beloved Antichrist”, even a Christofer Johnsson felt he had reached a certain frontier here. “After‘ Beloved Antichrist’ I was lacking direction because I had done everything I ever wanted to do or achieve.” He sat down with lead vocalist Thomas Vikström to ponder their next move when it quickly dawned on them: “The only thing we never did was give the fans exactly what they wanted,” he grins drily.
With over 100+ million streams and a tremendously successful album released just a year ago, symphonic metal titans THERION have not been idle and continue their epic Leviathan trilogy with striking new single ‘Pazuzu‘.
Christofer comments: ”Pazuzu” is a song originally written for another artist, but in lack of a positive answer on acceptance of the song, we decided to rewrite it for Therion instead. So stylewise it’s almost like a cover song on another artist – but still written by Therion. The song contains some powerful guest vocals from Eclipse singer Erik Mårtensson, in my mind the “Blackie Lawless of AOR”, definately one of my fave singers from the last decade of new bands.”
With defiant determination rarely found in a metal band, THERION have always and exclusively done what they deemed right. Never did they stick to a successful formula, never did they release the same album twice, never did they give in to fickle friends like expectation, commercial aspects or trends.Which makes it all the more astounding that now, 35 years deep into their storied career, they actually do something every fan had hoped but never actually thought possible. Enter Leviathan, enter a trilogy focusing on all the trademark elements THERION are beloved by countless of metal fans around the globe. After the first part set hearts a flame in 2021, evoking goosebumps galore and reminiscing the glory days of the nineties, the symphonic metal grand-seigneurs continue their surprisingly fan-friendly path with their epic odyssey Leviathan II.
“We wanted to give fans what they want this time,” musical professor Christofer Johnsson informs us from his sunny new home on Gozo, Malta.
“We have been doing what we wanted for so long we just thought it fair to turn the tables just this once.” Turning 50, you might misinterpret a move like this with a certain mellowing of age. You couldn’t be more wrong, of course: Johnsson is still the musical frontiersman, looking for new challenges and hero’s journey under every stone he turns. However, after having finished the insanely sophisticated, elaborate triple album rock musical “Beloved Antichrist”, even a Christofer Johnsson felt he had reached a certain frontier here. “After‘ Beloved Antichrist’ I was lacking direction because I had done everything I ever wanted to do or achieve.” He sat down with lead vocalist Thomas Vikström to ponder their next move when it quickly dawned on them: “The only thing we never did was give the fans exactly what they wanted,” he grins drily.
About THERION: Since their early days – THERION originally formed as a death metal band back in the late 80’s – mastermind Christofer Johnsson has come a long way, defining and developing a perfect combination of orchestral, symphonic, gothic and incredibly catchy metal that is second to none. Supported on the road with THERION’s first full European tour since several years in November and December 2022, Leviathan II will add another exciting chapter to THERION’s history.
Reigning from Sweden, legendary symphonic metal pioneers THERION trumpet their way back to the fans with four colossal reissues of their critically acclaimed albums released twenty years ago! With Napalm Records, get ready to grab limited edition vinyl copies of 2001’s Secrets Of The Runes, 2004’s double release of Lemuria and Sirius B, and 2007’s concept double album Gothic Kabbalah, all releasing on October 28, 2022. Each one of THERION‘s full-length offerings feature symphonic metal glory that combines the heavy death metal influences from the band’s early days and a rich presence of orchestral elements with lyrical focus on occultism, magic, and ancient traditions – finally available on LP again!
More than 20 years after the release of THERION’s legendary tenth album, Secrets Of The Runes, the album will be available on LP once again via Napalm Records on October 28, 2022! Secrets Of The Runes is a concept album inspired by Norse mythology, with its tracks centered around the nine worlds. Sonically, the ancient stories are wrapped in the band’s signature mix of their deep metal sound combined with bombastic classical arrangements and choir.
Compared to other albums by the Swedes, the sound Secret Of The Runes is more raw and brutal, and offers a high variety of sounds. On the one hand, acoustic, quiet tones dominate like on “Ljusalfheim”, while “Muspelheim”offers a splendid hard guitar explosion. At the same time, classical influences overlay it all and are complemented by Celtic and often even oriental melody lines. Secret Of The Runes is a perfect example of how THERION deftly blur the boundaries of metal and classical music!
Secrets Of The Runes track listing: 1. Ginnungagap – The Black Hole 2. Midgård – Olo Midgård 3. Asgård – The Bifrost Bridge 4. Jotunheim – Call Of Jotunheim 5. Schwarzalbenheim – Gold Der Underwelt 6. Ljusalfheim – The Shining Ones 7. Muspelheim – Gudaskymning 8. Nifelheim – Dimmornas Värld 9. Vanaheim – Seed Of Ing 10. Helheim – Den Dimhöljda 11. Secret Of The Runes
About Lemuria:
More than 15 years after its simultaneous original release with fellow catalog favorite Sirius B back in 2004, Symphonic Metal originators THERION re-release their album Lemuria in LP format on October 28, 2022 via Napalm Records! Both Sirius B and Lemuria – the latter of which references the mysterious sunken island Lemuria – feature over 170 musicians throughout the two recordings, positioning them as the most elaborate albums of their career. The styles range from gothic parts to melodic death metal and neo-classical elements to power metal in a complex and versatile way. This becomes particularly clear in the opener “Typhon”, which is introduced by some riffs, later transitioning into an orchestral, but not yet opulent passage. A wide range of feeling is also presented largely due to diverse vocals, including soprano and alto singers, tenor and bass singers, solo pieces and even atmospheric choirs. With “Uthark Runa”, the album veers back into heavy metal territory, but with a good portion of orchestral bombast added. Lemuria plays its way gently, melancholically and dreamily into our hearts, only to rock properly in the next moment with rhythmic melody and the ever-present bombast in the sound.
Lemuria track listing: 1. Typhon 2. Uthark Runa 3. Three Ships of Berik, Part 1: Calling to Arms and Fighting the Battle 4. Three Ships of Berik, Part 2: Victory! 5. Lemuria 6. Quetzalcoatl 7. The Dreams of Swedenborg 8. An Arrow from the Sun 9. Abraxas 10. Feuer Overtüre/Prometheus Entfesselt
About Sirius B:
Sirius B offers a high variety of musical styles, not only due the incredible talent of Christopher Johnsson, but the 170+ musicians involved in its recording process. The album picks up seamlessly where part one, Lemuria, left off, as opener “Blood Of Kingu” begins as a traditional heavy metal song before evolving into an extremely catchy operatic metal composition in the chorus, characterized by a great female vocal. The following “Son Of The Sun” is also dominated by these female vocals against classic metal riffs combined with catchy melodies. On “The Khlysti Evangelist”, singer Mats Leven takes center stage again and is supported by various male choir backings, giving the song a rather theatrical touch, but nevertheless making it one of the many highlights of this double album. With “Call Of Dagon”,THERION fully unleash all the bombastic elements that were available for this album. THERION convince on Sirius Bwith finest bombast – versatile yet heavy.
Sirius B track listing: 1. The Blood of Kingu 2. Son of the Sun 3. The Khlysti Evangelist 4. Dark Venus Persephone 5. Kali Yuga, Part 1 6. Kali Yuga, Part 2 7. The Wondrous World of Punt 8. Melek Taus 9. Call of Dagon 10. Sirius B 11. Voyage of Gurdjieff (The Fourth Way)
About Gothic Kabbalah:
Originally released in 2007,Gothic Kabbalahis a concept album based on the book ‘Adulrunan och den götiska kabbalan’ by Thomas Karlsson. This book tells story of Johannes Bureus, who mixed the magic, astrology and alchemy of the 17th century with runes and old Norse gods in order to create his philosophy called ‘Gothic Kabbalah’. Musically, Gothic Kabbalah differs significantly from its two predecessors Lemuria and Sirius B, as THERION offer a more progressive approach, and due to the increased use of female lead vocals, the album is wrapped in a gothic touch. The operatic elements have been slightly reduced, though they are still omnipresent. Pieces like opener “Mitternachtslöwe”, the title track or “Son Of The Staves Of Time” show Christofer Johnsson’s gifted songwriting talents and reveal new facts with each listen. “Chain Of Minerva” surprises with a very unusual groove, but just like “Three Treasures”, it is an absolute highlight of Gothic Kabbalah.
Gothic Kabbalah track listing:
Disc One 1. Der Mitternachtslöwe 2. Gothic Kabbalah 3. The Perennial Sophia 4. Wisdom and the Cage 5. Son of the Staves of Time 6. Tuna 1613 7. Trul 8. Close Up the Streams
Disc Two 1. The Wand of Abaris 2. Three Treasures 3. Path to Arcady 4. The Trinity 5. Chain of Minerva 6. The Falling Stone 7. Adulruna Rediviva
With over 100+ million streams and a tremendously successful album released just a year ago, symphonic metal titans THERION have not been idle and continue their epic “Leviathan” trilogy with striking new single ‘Litany of the Fallen’.
Cristofer comments: ”Litany of the Fallen” is a song that could have been on any of the three parts of the Leviathan trilogy. It’s a song that binds them all together.”
THERION live: 15.11.22 PT-Lisbon, Cineteatro Capitólio 16.11.22 ES-Madrid, Mon 17.11.22 ES-Barcelona, Salamandra 18.11.22 FR-Paris, Trabendo 19.11.22 FR-Grenoble, L´Ilyade 20.11.22 CH-Pratteln, Z7 21.11.22 DE-Munich, Backstage 22.11.22 HU-Budapest, Dürer Kert 24.11.22 SK-Bratislava, Majestic Music Club 25.11.22 CZ-Zlin, Masters Of Rock Café 26.11.22 DE-Aschaffenburg, Colossaal 27.11.22 DE-Nijmegen, Doornroosje 29.11.22 PL-Krakow, Studio 30.11.22 PL-Warsaw, Progresja 02.12.22 RO-Cluj, Form Space 03.12.22 RO-Bucharest, Quantic Club 04.12.22 BG-Sofia, Mixtape 5 06.12.22 TR-Istanbul, Kucuk Ciftlik Park 07.12.22 TR-Ankara, Jolly Joker 08.12.22 TR-Izmir, Sold Out Performance Hall 10.12.22 GR-Athens, Club Piraeus Academy
Since their early days – THERION originally formed as a death metal band back in the late 80’s – mastermind Christofer Johnsson has come a long way, defining and developing a perfect combination of orchestral, symphonic, gothic and incredibly catchy metal that is second to none. Supported on the road with THERION’s first full European tour since several years in November and December 2022, “Leviathan II” will add another exciting chapter to THERION’s history.
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