Leviathan (Therion album)

Last updated
Leviathan
Therion Leviathan AlbumCover.jpg
Studio album by
Released22 January 2021 (2021-01-22)
Genre Symphonic metal [1] [2] [3]
Length45:32
Label Nuclear Blast
Therion chronology
Beloved Antichrist
(2018)
Leviathan
(2021)
Leviathan II
(2022)

Leviathan is the seventeenth studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion. It was released on 22 January 2021 by Nuclear Blast Records. [4] It is the first part in the planned Leviathan trilogy, its sequels Leviathan II and Leviathan III were released on 2022 and 2023 respectively.

Contents

Two music videos were released for the album: Die Wellen der Zeit and Tuonela; also a lyric video was released for the song Leviathan. A few months after the release of the album, a third music video was made for Eye of Algol.

Vocalist Thomas Vikström confirmed that the band indeed aimed to make a more "normal" album again. [5] Christofer Johnsson has described the Leviathan trilogy as "hit albums" deliberately drawing influence from the most popular and beloved elements of their back catalog, with Leviathan I being bombastic and catchy. [6]

Lyrical themes

As with most Therion albums, all songs are based on various mythologies. All lyrics are written by Per Albinsson except "Psalm of Retribution", which was written by Christofer Johnsson.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Blabbermouth.net Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Critical reception of Leviathan was mostly positive; many critics compared the album to Therion's albums of 2000s and considered it a band's "return" after two softer and more complex concept albums. [8] [1] [9] [10] [11] [12]

Track listing

Leviathan- Standard edition
No.TitleMusicLength
1."The Leaf on the Oak of Far"Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Vikström3:38
2."Tuonela"Christofer Johnsson4:37
3."Leviathan"Christofer Johnsson4:01
4."Die Wellen der Zeit"Nalle Påhlsson3:46
5."Aži Dahāka"Christofer Johnsson3:06
6."Eye of Algol"Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Vikström4:03
7."Nocturnal Light"Thomas Vikström5:37
8."Great Marquis of Hell"Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Vikström2:36
9."Psalm of Retribution"Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Vikström5:02
10."El Primer Sol"Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Vikström3:37
11."Ten Courts of Diyu"Thomas Vikström5:29
Total length:45:32
Leviathan- Digipak Special Edition [13]
No.TitleMusicLength
12."Eye of Algol (Alternative Vocals Version)"Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Vikström4:05
13."Tuonela (Full Marco Vocals Version)"Christofer Johnsson4:41
14."Tuonela (Alternative Vocals Version)"Christofer Johnsson4:41
15."Tuonela (Instrumental Version)"Christofer Johnsson4:40
16."Tuonela (Orchestral Version)"Christofer Johnsson4:33

Personnel

Guest vocalists

Guest instrumentalists

Charts

Chart performance for Leviathan
Chart (2021)Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [14] 45
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [15] 173
French Albums (SNEP) [16] 162
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [17] 11
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) [18] 15
Polish Albums (ZPAV) [19] 25
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [20] 12

Related Research Articles

<i>Deggial</i> 2000 studio album by Therion

Deggial is the ninth studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion in 2000. As with many of Therion's other albums, Deggial features a choir and orchestra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Therion (band)</span> Swedish symphonic metal band

Therion is a Swedish symphonic metal band founded by Christofer Johnsson in 1987. Its name was inspired by the Celtic Frost album To Mega Therion. "To Mega Therion" is Greek for "The Great Beast" and was a title used by occultist Aleister Crowley. Originally a death metal band, Therion adjusted its musical style by adding orchestral elements, including choirs, classical musicians, and even a full orchestra at their concert performances. As a result, they are considered pioneers of the symphonic metal genre.

<i>Lepaca Kliffoth</i> 1995 studio album by Therion

Lepaca Kliffoth is the fourth studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion. The title refers to the qlippoth. Stylistically, it retains the aggressive riffing and sheds the harsh growls of the band's previous death metal output, while also incorporating more elements of traditional heavy metal and more pronounced gothic and symphonic elements, often leading to this album being viewed as a transitional album in Therion's discography.

<i>Beyond Sanctorum</i> 1992 studio album by Therion

Beyond Sanctorum is the second studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion, released in January 1992. It was re-released on 27 November 2000 under the Nuclear Blast label as a part of The Early Chapters of Revelation boxset. It contains remastered songs, as well as four bonus tracks.

<i>Theli</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Therion

Theli is the fifth studio album by Swedish 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. This was the last album on which Christofer Johnsson sang until 2004's "Lemuria". A music video was filmed for the song "To Mega Therion". The song To Mega Therion appears in the shockumentary film Traces of Death IV.

<i>Of Darkness...</i> Album by Therion

Of Darkness... is the debut studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion, released in February 1991. 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.

<i>Aarab Zaraq – Lucid Dreaming</i> 1997 studio album by Therion

A'arab Zaraq – Lucid Dreaming is the sixth studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion released in the year that the band celebrated their tenth anniversary. The record contains a few unused songs from Theli, a few cover songs the band had made, plus a full soundtrack Christofer Johnsson had made independently for the film called The Golden Embrace.

<i>Vovin</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Therion

Vovin is the seventh studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion. It is their bestselling album, selling over 150,000 copies in Europe alone. Even though it was released under the name Therion, Christofer Johnsson regards this as his solo album, as it was recorded entirely with studio musicians who were not members of the band.

<i>Crowning of Atlantis</i> 1999 studio album by Therion

Crowning of Atlantis is the eighth studio album by Swedish 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.

<i>Secret of the Runes</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Therion

Secret of the Runes is the tenth studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion. It's a concept album based on Norse mythology, where each song describes one of the nine worlds. Cover artwork was made by Thomas Ewerhard, it features nine Scandinavian runes, each corresponding to a certain mythological world.

<i>Live in Midgård</i> 2002 live album by Therion

Live in Midgård is the first live album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion. This double-disc album was recorded in Colombia, Germany and Hungary during the Secret of the Runes world tour in late 2001. Cover by Axel Jusseit and Thomas Ewerhard.

<i>Lemuria</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Therion

Lemuria is the eleventh studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion. The album title refers to the name of a supposed sunken continent Lemuria, much like Atlantis. It was released simultaneously with Sirius B. Cover artwork was made by Thomas Ewerhard.

<i>Gothic Kabbalah</i> Album by Therion

Gothic Kabbalah is the thirteenth studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion. It was released in Europe on 12 January 2007. The album was mixed by Stefan Glaumann, who also contributed to bands such as Rammstein, Evergrey, Europe and Def Leppard. The main line-up has been slightly changed since previous studio albums : Petter Karlsson returned to play drums, having already played with the band during Lemuria / Sirius B tour during the period of 2004–2006. Since Christofer Johnsson announced in 2006 he is retiring from singing, vocals on Gothic Kabbalah were performed by Mats Levén, as well as Snowy Shaw and three female singers: Katarina Lilja, Anna Nyhlin and Hannah Holgersson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lori Lewis</span> American opera singer

Lori Lewis is an American opera singer and soprano who is an official member of the Swedish symphonic metal band Therion.

<i>Sitra Ahra</i> (album) 2010 album by Therion

Sitra Ahra is the fourteenth studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band 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. The album title was announced on 4 February 2010. It refers to the qlippoth of Qabalistic lore.

<i>Les Fleurs du Mal</i> (Therion album) 2012 studio album by Therion

Les Fleurs du Mal is the fifteenth studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion. It is a cover album that was released on 28 September 2012 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the band. Named after the 1857 volume of poetry Les Fleurs du mal, the album is fully sung in French language. It consist of metal cover versions of French pop songs from 1960s and 1970s, mostly from the ye-ye genre.

<i>Beloved Antichrist</i> 2018 studio album by Therion

Beloved Antichrist is the sixteenth studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion. It is a triple album and was released on 9 February 2018 by Nuclear Blast Records. The album is the soundtrack to a rock musical by the band, who are accompanied by a large orchestra and choir. The staging of the rock musical was delayed indefinitely due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead, the band started to work on the next regular album Leviathan.

<i>Leviathan II</i> 18th studio album by Therion

Leviathan II is the eighteenth studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion. It was released on 28 October 2022 by Nuclear Blast Records. and it's the follow-up to the first Leviathan album.

<i>Leviathan III</i> 19th studio album by Therion

Leviathan III is the nineteenth studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion. It was released on 15 December 2023 by Napalm Records and it's the final part of the Leviathan trilogy of the band.

References

  1. 1 2 3 CD Reviews - Leviathan Therion - Blabbermouth
  2. Therion - Leviathan (Album Review)
  3. ALBUM REVIEW: Leviathan - Therion - Distorted Sound Magazine
  4. "THERION - Release Single And Music Video "Tuonela", New Album Leviathan Out Today!". www.nuclearblast.de. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  5. Therion Prove That Even In Symphonic Metal, Less Can Mean More — Knotfest
  6. "Interview: Therion's Christofer Johnsson talks pleasing fans with new album 'Leviathan;' looks back on thirty years of 'Of Darkness…' | Metal Insider". metalinsider.net. 2021-02-08. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  7. Leviathan at AllMusic
  8. Therion — Leviathan — Album Review
  9. Therion: Leviathan album review | Louder
  10. Review: Therion «Leviathan» (Nuclear Blast) | ANTICHRIST Magazine
  11. Therion — Leviathan (Album Review)
  12. Therion — Leviathan • GRIMM Gent
  13. https://www.discogs.com/release/17439172-Therion-Leviathan
  14. "Austriancharts.at – Therion – Leviathan" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  15. "Ultratop.be – Therion – Leviathan" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  16. "Lescharts.com – Therion – Leviathan". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  17. "Offiziellecharts.de – Therion – Leviathan" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  18. "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2021. 4. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  19. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  20. "Swisscharts.com – Therion – Leviathan". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 January 2021.