Leviathan (Therion album)
| Leviathan | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 22 January 2021 | |||
| Genre | Symphonic metal[1][2][3] | |||
| Length | 45:32 | |||
| Label | Nuclear Blast | |||
| Therion chronology | ||||
| ||||
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.
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[edit]
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.
- The Leaf on the Oak of Far is about Camulus, a Gaulish god of war.
- Tuonela is the underworld of dead in Finnish mythology.
- Leviathan is the enormous sea serpent from the Old Testament.
- Die Wellen der Zeit ("The Waves of Time" in German) is about Nerthus, Germanic goddess of peace and prosperity.
- Aži Dahāka is a monstrous snake-man in Iranian mythology.
- Eye of Algol is about a star in the Perseus constellation. In Greek mythology it is associated with the head of Medusa the Gorgon.
- Nocturnal Light is about Inanna (known better by some as Ishtar), Sumerian goddess of love, similar to Venus.
- Great Marquis of Hell is about demon Aamon, a Marquis of Hell in Ars Goetia.
- Psalm of Retribution is based on Kaballah and references A'arab Zaraq and qlippoth.
- El Primer Sol ("The first Sun" in Spanish) is about creator god Tezcatlipoca, as well as the Five Suns Myth in Aztec mythology.
- Ten Courts of Diyu is about the afterworld judgement in Chinese mythology.
Reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [7] |
| Blabbermouth.net |    [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[edit]
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Leaf on the Oak of Far" | Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Vikström | 3:38 |
| 2. | "Tuonela" | Christofer Johnsson | 4:37 |
| 3. | "Leviathan" | Christofer Johnsson | 4:01 |
| 4. | "Die Wellen der Zeit" | Nalle Påhlsson | 3:46 |
| 5. | "Aži Dahāka" | Christofer Johnsson | 3:06 |
| 6. | "Eye of Algol" | Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Vikström | 4:03 |
| 7. | "Nocturnal Light" | Thomas Vikström | 5:37 |
| 8. | "Great Marquis of Hell" | Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Vikström | 2:36 |
| 9. | "Psalm of Retribution" | Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Vikström | 5:02 |
| 10. | "El Primer Sol" | Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Vikström | 3:37 |
| 11. | "Ten Courts of Diyu" | Thomas Vikström | 5:29 |
| Total length: | 45:32 | ||
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Eye of Algol (Alternative Vocals Version)" | Christofer Johnsson, Thomas Vikström | 4:05 |
| 13. | "Tuonela (Full Marco Vocals Version)" | Christofer Johnsson | 4:41 |
| 14. | "Tuonela (Alternative Vocals Version)" | Christofer Johnsson | 4:41 |
| 15. | "Tuonela (Instrumental Version)" | Christofer Johnsson | 4:40 |
| 16. | "Tuonela (Orchestral Version)" | Christofer Johnsson | 4:33 |
Personnel[edit]
- Christofer Johnsson – rhythm guitar, keyboards, programming
- Christian Vidal – lead guitar
- Nalle Påhlsson – bass
- Thomas Vikström – lead and backing vocals
- Lori Lewis – soprano (3, 5, 7, 8 and 9)
Guest vocalists[edit]
- Rosalia Sairem – lead vocals (1, 6 and 10), mezzo-soprano (6)
- Chiara Malvestiti – soprano (3, 5 and 7)
- Taida Nazraić – lead vocals (2, 4 and 11)
- Noa Gruman – lead vocals (11)
- Marko Hietala – lead vocals (2)
- Mats Levén – lead vocals (9)
- Hellscore – choir
Guest instrumentalists[edit]
- Jonas Öijvall – hammond organ (5 and 6)
- Snowy Shaw – drums (4, 5, 7, 10 and 11)
- Björn Höglund – drums (1, 2, 3, 6, 8 and 9)
- Ally Storch – solo violin (2)
- Fabio Amurri – keyboards, programming
Charts[edit]
| 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 |
References[edit]
- ^ a b c CD Reviews - Leviathan Therion - Blabbermouth
- ^ Therion - Leviathan (Album Review)
- ^ ALBUM REVIEW: Leviathan - Therion - Distorted Sound Magazine
- ^ "THERION - Release Single And Music Video "Tuonela", New Album Leviathan Out Today!". www.nuclearblast.de. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ Therion Prove That Even In Symphonic Metal, Less Can Mean More — Knotfest
- ^ "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.
- ^ Leviathan at AllMusic
- ^ Therion — Leviathan — Album Review
- ^ Therion: Leviathan album review | Louder
- ^ Review: Therion «Leviathan» (Nuclear Blast) | ANTICHRIST Magazine
- ^ Therion — Leviathan (Album Review)
- ^ Therion — Leviathan • GRIMM Gent
- ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/17439172-Therion-Leviathan
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Therion – Leviathan" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Therion – Leviathan" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Therion – Leviathan". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Therion – Leviathan" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2021. 4. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Therion – Leviathan". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 January 2021.