Leviathan (Therion album)
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.
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. 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.
Lyrical themes
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; it's also featured in the cover art.
- Die Wellen der Zeit is about Nerthus, the 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, Sumerian goddess of love, similar to Venus.
- Great Marquis of Hell is about the 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 is about the 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
Track listing
Personnel
- Christofer Johnsson – rhythm guitar, keyboards, programming
- Christian Vidal – lead guitar
- Nalle Påhlsson – bass
- Thomas Vikström – lead and backing vocals
- Lori Lewis – soprano
Guest vocalists
- Rosalia Sairem – lead vocals, mezzo-soprano
- Chiara Malvestiti – soprano
- Taida Nazraić – lead vocals
- Noa Gruman – lead vocals
- Marko Hietala – lead vocals
- Mats Levén – lead vocals
- Hellscore – choir
Guest instrumentalists
- Jonas Öijvall – Hammond organ
- Snowy Shaw – drums
- Björn Höglund – drums
- Ally Storch – solo violin
- Fabio Amurri – keyboards, programming
Charts