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""Leviathan" will no doubt disappoint Therion's most pharaonic admirers when others will reproach it for its already-heard air, but by synthesizing the essence of the band, it imposes itself as a most refreshing and natural album."
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4/5
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After a "Sitra Ahra" (2010) that didn't bring much new, a "Fleurs du mal" (2012) and its batch of covers of average French songs, without forgetting the (too) gargantuan rock opera "Beloved Antichrist" (2018) that many consider to be a monument, what was this "Levathian" going to bring us, seventeenth album of a band whose apogee was reached for many people 20 years earlier with "Secret Of The Runes" (2001) and the diptych "Lemuria" / "Sirius B" (2004)?
After the titanic work that his predecessor had asked him, Christopher Johnsson, thinking head of Therion, did not seem ready to embark on a new adventure quickly. Knowing moreover the means implemented for each of his achievements as well as his perfectionism, one could wonder how the Swede would manage to concretize an opus of disproportionate proportions in conformity with his standards in the difficult sanitary context that we know at present. Three years after having created a work like "Beloved Antichrist", the Swede succeeded in the challenge of offering him within a reasonable period of time a successor that is technically as colossal as ever in its symphonic scope. And when one knows that "Leviathan" is conceived as the first part of a trilogy, one realizes how far Johnsson is from from having lost all his inspiration.
This new delivery does not stand out stylistically from its elders, a collection of orchestral metal tracks. But Christopher Johnsson wished this time to give birth to an ensemble with the allure of a global anthem destined to please the fans. As he himself admits, he looked for what hit the bull's eye in his most popular songs to make an unstoppable album. From this desire stems a work that astonishes by its (relative) simplicity and its very rock catchphrase.
Eleven titles are tightly packed into a menu that does not exceed three-quarters of an hour. No filling but only what Therion knows how to do best, as a kind of anthology. Hence the impression of taking a delicious leap back in time to the era of "Lemuria" / Sirius B" or "Gothic Kabbalah", into which a number of tracks could slip, such as 'The Leaf On The Oak Of Far', which is an ideal start to the listening experience, 'Eye Of Algol' or 'Great Marquis Of Hell'. Some will judge that Johansson has given up his audacity in favor of a facility coupled with a certain passivity. Perhaps. But apart from the fact that the man always knows how to compose little gems of writing ('Psalm Of Retribution' or the nightwish-like 'Tuonela') or emotion like 'Die Wellen Der Zeit', beautiful breathing with grandiose breath, we prefer to see him finally renew this form of sobriety.
"Leviathan" will undoubtedly disappoint Therion's most pharaonic admirers when others will reproach him for his already heard air, but by synthesizing the essence of the band it is the most refreshing and natural album that this one has elaborated for a very long time. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
 01. The Leaf On The Oak Of Far
02. Tuonela
03. Leviathan
04. Die Wellen Der Zeit
05. Aži Dahaka
06. Eye of Algol
07. Nocturnal Light
08. Great Marquis of Hell
09. Psalm of Retribution
10. El Primer Sol
LINEUP:
Chiara Malvestiti: Chant
Christian Vidal: Guitares
Christofer Johnsson: Guitares / Claviers
Lori Lewis: Chant
Nalle Påhlsson: Basse
Rosalía Sairem: Chant
Sami Karppinen: Chant / Batterie
Thomas Vikström: Chant
Marco Hietala: Chant / Invité
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READERS
4.5/5 (4 view(s))
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STAFF:
4/5 (3 view(s))
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