Beloved Antichrist

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.

Beloved Antichrist was the band's first release of new original material since Sitra Ahra in 2010. Group founder Christofer Johnsson had toyed with the idea of writing an opera for 15 years and had finally decided to "do metal/rock music with opera" instead, citing his inability to write "the ‘boring’ stuff" like recitatives. Thus, Beloved Antichrist features exclusively operatic singing combined with an orchestra and electric instruments typical of a rock band.

The music was composed by Johnsson, Thomas Vikström, Linnéa Vikström and Christian Vidal, the lyrics were written by Per Albinsson and the album cover was created by Thomas Ewerhart. The album consists of 46 songs and is inspired by and partly based on "A Short Tale of the Antichrist" by Vladímir Soloviov. Johnsson expanded the story to include 27 characters played by 15 vocalists.

Reception
Beloved Antichrist has received generally favorable reviews. AllMusic said of the album: "taken as intended, as a whole, it is an exhausting, enthralling monolithic marvel." Another reviewer described that the album would be a challenge for new Therion fans, but also described it as "Christofer Johnsson’s masterpiece" which "takes everything that Therion has done to this point to a completely different level."

AllMusic described the album as "an exhausting, enthralling monolithic marvel," praising its conceptual depth and the execution of its complex musical arrangements. The review emphasized that the album, when taken as a whole, delivers a powerful and immersive experience.

Metal Hammer commended the album for its grandiosity and the sheer ambition of Christofer Johnsson's vision. The reviewer acknowledged that while the album might be a challenging listen for new fans due to its extensive length and operatic style, it stands as a testament to Johnsson’s dedication and creative prowess. They highlighted the album’s intricate storytelling and the seamless blend of operatic vocals with metal instrumentation as particularly noteworthy.

Sonic Perspectives called Beloved Antichrist "a daring and epic project" that pushes the boundaries of the symphonic metal genre. The review praised the vocal performances and the orchestration, noting that the album’s narrative depth and character development elevate it beyond a typical concept album.

Loudwire included the album in their list of the best metal albums of 2018, citing its ambitious scope and the impressive execution of its operatic elements. The review highlighted the album's ability to create a vivid and immersive world, comparing it favorably to previous works by Therion.

Metal Injection offered a more critical perspective, acknowledging the album’s ambition but suggesting that its length and complexity might be overwhelming for some listeners. However, the review still praised the quality of the music and the performances, particularly the vocal work and the orchestral arrangements.

Blabbermouth.net highlighted the innovative nature of the project, noting that Beloved Antichrist stands out in the band's discography for its operatic approach and the depth of its narrative. The review praised the album for its creative boldness and the meticulous attention to detail in both the music and the storytelling.

Personnel

 * Christofer Johnsson - guitars, keyboards, programming, Hammond organ, orchestral arrangement
 * Sami Karppinen - drums
 * Thomas Vikström - lead vocals
 * Nalle "Grizzly" Påhlsson - bass
 * Christian Vidal - guitar
 * Lori Lewis - vocals
 * Chiara Malvestiti - vocals