| Band
Members: |
Christopher Johnsson - Guitar,
Keyboards |
Kristian Niemann - Guitar, Keyboards
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| |
Johan Niemann - Bass, Guitar |
Peter Karlsson - Drums, Vocals
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| |
Guest musicians:***
Mats Levén - Vocals, Guitar***
Snowy Shaw/Katarina Lilja - Vocals***
Hannah Holgersson - Soprano vocals***
Jonas Samuelsson-Nerbe - Tenor vocals***
Anna Nyhlin - Soprano vocals on "The Falling Stone" and
"Path to Arcady"
|
Karin Fjellander - Choral soprano***
Ken Hensley/Joakim Svalberg - Hammond organ***
Rolf Pilotti - Flute on "Gothic Kabbalah" and "Trul"***
Stefan Glaumann - Tambourine***
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Disc 1
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Disc 2
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| Track
Listing: |
1.)- Der Mitternachtlöwe
- 5:38 |
1.)-The Wand of Abaris - 5:50
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| |
2.)-Gothic Kabbalah - 4:32 |
2.)-Three Treasures
- 5:20 |
| |
3.)-The Perennial
Sophia-4:53 |
3.)-Path to Arcady
- 3:53 |
| |
4.)- Wisdom and the
Cage - 5:01 |
4.)-TOF - The Trinity
- 6:17 |
| |
5.)-Son of the Staves
of Time - 4:47 |
5.)-Chain of Minerva - 5:21 |
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6.)-Tuna 1613 - 4:21 |
6.)-The Falling Stone - 4:46 |
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7.)-Trul - 5:11 |
7.)-Adulruna Rediviva 13:36 |
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8.)-Close Up the Streams - 3:55
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I thought it impossible that Therion would produce anything
as grandiose as the two album sets of Lemuria/Sirius B of
a few years back. But goodness, they have done just that.
"Gothic Kabbalah" is a huge, sprawling 2 CD set of mind boggling
symphonic metal. Gone are the death metal vocals, replaced
by a combination of operatic together with traditional rock
female and male rock voices, making the music more involving
and dramatic. The musicianship throughout is superb, especially
the drumming of Petter Karlson which is dynamic, with lots
of intricate cymbal work. But the writing of Christofer Johnsson
is at a peak of creativity. Using eastern motifs with big
operatic and symphonic themes to great dramatic effect. If
a comparison can be made, then the work of Arjen Lucassen's
Ayreon and Streams Of Passion comes to mind. But Therion are
very much of their own. There are more prog rock elements
to the music this time, helped by much more use of synthesizer
and some superb Hammond playing by Uriah Heeps Ken Hensley.
The production is one of the best I have heard on a metal
record. Every instrument and vocal is given room to breath.
Credit must go to the excellent mastering by the legendary
George Marino which is subtle and dynamic. The usual practise
in a lot of rock recordings these days of pushing everything
to the max is admirably avoided.
This is an incredible recording by a band who are very
much at the peak of their abilities. For me this is simply
one of the very best symphonic metal albums I have ever heard!
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