Leviathan II

Last updated
Leviathan II
Leviathan II.jpg
Studio album by
Released28 October 2022 (2022-10-28)
Genre Symphonic metal
Length46:22
Label Nuclear Blast
Therion chronology
Leviathan
(2021)
Leviathan II
(2022)
Leviathan III
(2023)

Leviathan II is the eighteenth studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion. It was released on 28 October 2022 by Nuclear Blast Records. [1] It is the follow-up to the first Leviathan album.

Contents

According to Christofer Johnsson, this second part of the trilogy attempts aimed towards a "more moody and melancholic" [2] sound, that rekindles the "mystic, melancholic aura" of their groundbreaking work Vovin [3]

Lyrical themes

As with most Therion albums, all songs are based on various mythologies, as well as other mystical traditions and lore.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Metal Storm 7.5/10 [5]

Leviathan II was well-received; Allmusic considered that, because of its diversity, it wouldn't appeal to every listener, but it still "does offer plenty for those who enjoy the more classical and prog metal characteristics in the band's sound". [6]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Aeon of Maat"2:37
2."Litany of the Fallen"4:11
3."Alchemy of the Soul"4:11
4."Lunar Coloured Fields"5:40
5."Lucifuge Rofocale"4:43
6."Marijin Min Nar"5:46
7."Hades and Elysium"4:23
8."Midnight Star"4:43
9."Cavern Cold as Ice"3:26
10."Codex Gigas"4:07
11."Pazuzu"4:28
12."Aeon of Maat (Alternative Vocals Version)"2:38
13."Pazuzu (AOR Version)"4:26
Total length:46:22

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carbonized</span> Swedish metal band

Carbonized was a Swedish avant-garde metal band formed in Saltsjöbaden in 1988. The band was formed by Lars Rosenberg in 1988, with Dismember vocalist Matti Kärki. Joined by drummer Piotr Wawrzeniuk, the trio was completed by Therion's Christofer Johnsson, who originally agreed to only perform session guitarwork but eventually became a full-time member.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christofer Johnsson</span> Swedish musician (born 1972)

Christofer Jan Johnsson is a Swedish musician and producer. He is a founding member and the guitarist for symphonic metal band Therion and was previously a member of Carbonized, Liers in Wait, Messiah, and Demonoid. In 2006, he announced he will no longer sing for Therion – though he will continue as guitarist for the group. He also has his occult vintage rock side project Luciferian Light Orchestra.

<i>Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas</i> 1993 studio album by Therion

Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas is the third studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion, released in April 1993. The album was remastered and re-released by Nuclear Blast in 2000 as part of The Early Chapters of Revelation box-set.

<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>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>Sirius B</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Therion

Sirius B is the twelfth studio album by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion. The album title refers to the star Sirius B. It was released simultaneously with Lemuria. The cover artwork was 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">Demonoid (band)</span> Swedish extreme metal band

Demonoid is a Swedish extreme metal band founded in 2003 that derives its influences from traditional death metal, thrash metal and black metal.

<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</i> (Therion album) 17th studio album by Therion

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

<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. It is the final part of the Leviathan trilogy of the band.

References

  1. Record label description
  2. "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.
  3. Record label description
  4. Leviathan II at AllMusic
  5. "Therion - Leviathan II review". Metal Storm. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
  6. AllMusic review